Sherlock Hound

Sherlock Hound, or Meitantei Holmes, was a collaborative animated series produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha and RAI, famously involving Hayao Miyazaki, who directed the first six episodes before his involvement was curtailed due to licensing disputes with the Conan Doyle estate. Seeking to modernize the classic detective stories, the production team chose to reimagine the characters as anthropomorphic dogs to appeal to a younger audience while maintaining the sophisticated mystery and charm of Victorian London settings.

The series is celebrated for its distinctive visual style, characterized by detailed backgrounds and elaborate mechanical designs, particularly the steam-powered contraptions. Although the production suffered from a lengthy hiatus following the initial episodes, the series was eventually completed and aired in its entirety in 1984. It is now considered a cult classic of the mid-eighties anime scene, praised for its whimsical atmosphere and high production values that bridged the gap between Japanese animation and European storytelling sensibilities.