Sherlock Hound: The Complete Series (Review)
Friday, 29th January 2010, 18:40

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Introduction
Before you start window-shopping and price comparisoning, let’s get this clear first, Sherlock Hound will be an HMV exclusive when it is released, so now you know where to go.

It’s that curious thing about selling anime in the West; it helps to have a point of reference. And there is just one point of reference that Joe Public will be aware of, Hayao Miyazaki. The sole time that Japanese animation made an impact was when Spirited Away took that elusive Academy Award, and catapulted anime into the mainstream, from which it immediately began spiralling back down into the niche from which it leapt. But if there is one thing that is guaranteed to sell anime, especially in the UK, it’s Hayao Miyazaki, and his Studio Ghibli. MVM, Manga and Beez may release series upon series, movie upon movie, but those analysing sales figures always look with a degree of envy and avarice at Optimum, who with their relatively small range of Ghibli films somehow manage to outperform everyone else. But you can’t keep a good anime marketer down, and not all Miyazaki is Studio Ghibli. Some of the more tenuous links may be ill advised though. I still scratch my head when I see the cover of Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence, with it’s “From the makers of Spirited Away” tagline. Technically Studio Ghibli did work on the animation, but it is a Production I.G. movie. Manga are on firmer ground with their other output, and last year they did release the early Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata project Panda Go Panda. This year is another year for Ghibli releases from Optimum, the oft delayed Ocean Waves comes out at the start of the year, and later on we should also see the Miyazaki directed Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea in cinemas in February, and on DVD later on.

It’s the ideal time to capitalise on heightened public awareness, which is no doubt why Manga Entertainment are bringing the complete Sherlock Hound to DVD on five discs. Made in 1984, this is the last television production that Hayao Miyazaki worked on, and he served as series director for the show alongside creator of Ulysses 31, Kyosuke Mikuriya. Miyazaki also directed six of the episodes as well. The mid-eighties were probably the last time we saw anime on prime time television, although few of us recognised it as such. Kids TV was replete with serial animations brought over from Japan (usually Japanese European co-productions), dubbed and shown weekly to audiences of millions. I’ve already reviewed the Mysterious Cities of Gold for this site, and I’m sure children of the eighties will remember shows like Ulysses 31 as well. There was also a great vogue for adapting classic tales and giving them an animal makeover to better appeal to young viewers. Around the World With Willy Fog had a whole menagerie for its cast, while Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds obviously aimed at a more canine demographic.

As you can probably guess, Sherlock Hound aims at that same audience as well, replacing the good detective and his sturdy ally with man’s best friend. Sherlock Hound and Dr Watson together investigate crimes and help those in need in this 26 part series, occasionally hampered by Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, and often up against their most villainous foe, Professor Moriarty. Occasional assistance comes from Hound’s housekeeper Mrs Hudson, while Moriarty wouldn’t be complete without his henchmen, Todd and Smiley.

The episodes are distributed as thus…

Volume 1
1. The Four Signatures
2. The Crown of Mazelin
3. A Small Client
4. Mrs Hudson is Taken Hostage
5. The Adventure of the Blue Carbunkle

Volume 2
6. The Green Balloon
7. A Sacred Image Disappears
8. The Speckled Band
9. Treasure Under The Sea
10. The White Cliffs of Dover

Volume 3
11. The Sovereign Gold Coin
12. The Stormy Getaway
13. The Runaway Freight Car Loaded With Gold Bullion
14. The Coral Lobsters
15. The Golden Statue of the Great Burglar

Volume 4
16. The Secret of the Sacred Cross Sword
17. The Adventure of the Thames Monster
18. The Adventure Of Three Students
19. The Rosetta Stone
20. The Silver Blade Getaway

Volume 5
21. The Disappearance of the Splendid Royal Horse
22. Disturbance, The World Flight Championship
23. The Secret of the Parrot
24. The Bell of Big Ben
25. The Priceless French Doll
26. The Missing Bride Affair

Picture
You should know what to expect by now from Sherlock Hound. It’s a 4:3 regular image, an NTSC-PAL conversion with a bit of judder during the pans, a smidge of aliasing, and the occasional softness. Dating from the early eighties, Sherlock Hound is an unashamedly creaky production, hand drawn and cel animated throughout, with simple but effective character designs, and a cheap and cheerful approach to the animation. There’s limited use of stock footage, but not to the extent that it becomes wearying, and despite the simplicity of the animation, it is fluid and effective for the most part. There are one or two touches of inspiration too, and not surprisingly in those episodes Hayao Miyazaki personally directed.

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