Sherlock Holmes to Watson Hakase

Sherlock Holmes to Watson Hakase, known internationally as Sherlock Hound, was a Japanese-Italian animated television series produced by NHK and Tokyo Movie Shinsha in collaboration with RAI. The production is historically significant for the early involvement of Hayao Miyazaki, who directed several episodes before moving on to found Studio Ghibli. The show reimagined the classic Arthur Conan Doyle stories with anthropomorphic dogs, blending traditional Victorian settings with anachronistic, whimsical steampunk technology.

The character designs were crafted to be approachable and expressive, reflecting Miyazaki's signature attention to detail and kinetic storytelling. While the series faced initial production delays due to copyright complications with the Doyle estate, it eventually aired in 1984 to critical acclaim. It remains a beloved example of 1980s collaborative international animation, noted for its high production values and the distinct visual flair that would become a hallmark of Miyazaki's later work.