Of course, when looking for something else you find a gem…As you guys know, I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and an anime fan. So when I turned on my Hulu and Sherlock Hound was suggested to me. I was intrigues. Apparently, it has a cult following and everyone loved it. So I had to check it out.

Sherlock Hound is a 26-episode Italian-Japanese animated television series that aired from November 6, 1984, to May 20, 1985. The series is a loose adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, reinterpreted in a world of anthropomorphic dogs. Nothing like dogs representing my favorite characters. This anime is a lighter and softer interpretation of Sherlock Holmes. The series is not related to the children’s novels by Karen Wallace, or those by Brenda Sivers, which have a similar premise. Also, this series, despite the name, isn’t adapted from The Hound of the Baskervilles… when people think this though, it makes sense.

In Victorian-era London, the show follows the adventures of Sherlock Hound, a canine version of Sherlock Holmes, and his loyal assistant, Dr. Watson. Together, they thwart the evil schemes of Professor Moriarty and his subordinates, Todd and Smiley. The detective elements of the series have been simplified for children. I really got a kick out of the inclusion of Jules Verne-esque steampunk technology which seems to be the rage now when telling Sherlock stories. I have listened to a few audiobooks about it… So this seems ahead of its time.

The show was a joint project between Japan’s Tokyo Movie Shinsha and the Italian public broadcasting corporation RAI . Despite borrowing characters from the original novels, the storylines are almost entirely original, focusing on cases of theft rather than murder because it is in fact a kids show.

The show has many of the same characters from the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

• Sherlock Hound: The canine version of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Hound is a brilliant detective known for his keen intellect, sharp observation skills, and quick thinking. He is always ready to solve mysteries and outsmart villains with his trusty magnifying glass, smoking pipe and deerstalker hat. It is a kid’s show, so there is no hard drugs like the books. But he is regularly conducting chemical experiments that lead to clouds of noxious fumes. He also seems to have feelings for Mrs. Hudson. But everyone is taken with her.
• Dr. Watson: Sherlock Hound’s loyal assistant and best friend, Dr. Watson is a kind-hearted and dependable dog who often provides comic relief. He accompanies Sherlock on all his adventures, offering support and occasionally getting into amusing predicaments. He seems to be quicker on the uptake than in other adaptations.
• Professor Moriarty: The main antagonist of the series, Professor Moriarty is a cunning and devious villain who constantly plots schemes to outwit Sherlock Hound. Despite his evil intentions, his plans are often foiled by Sherlock’s cleverness. This is a different twist because in the original stories, Moriarty only appears in two of the written works. Many adaptations use him as the main arch nemesis of Sherlock and this show is no different.
• Mrs. Hudson: Hound and Watson’s landlady. In most adaptations, Holmes’s long-suffering landlady is shown as middle-aged or older, but in this version she is a young widow and a love interest of many, including Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty. Her late husband Jim was a pilot and Hound finds her contacts in the world of aviation useful;  she can also be quite quick and resourceful herself when need be, plus she appears to be both an experienced high-speed driver and a crack shot with a revolver.
• Inspector Lestrade: Hound’s go-to guy in the police force, he’s also the first to call on Hound for assistance on a case. Though he is a well-meaning and passionate police officer, he’s not the most attentive of people. He is usually assisted by several policemen in trying to catch and arrest Moriarty, but they always fail at trying to catch him. Lestrade often seeks Sherlock’s help in solving complex cases and is one of the few police officers who respects Sherlock’s methods and abilities, however he always seems annoyed when Hound arrives for a case. He keeps harping on how Scotland Yard always gets their man… Except this iteration never sees him get his man.

The show is very 80’s and has a very nostalgic for that time in my life. Even though I was not born yet. I also enjoy watching the work of people who enjoy and want to respectfully emulate the things that I also enjoy. The show contains campy actions scenes that are reminiscent of the 80’s but were fun to watch nevertheless. I found myself wondering how the show was going to end that was

There were a few episodes that stand out to me because they are awesomely cute and because I like the stories they were derived from. As is the way with my listicles… Let’s get into it.

1. “The Crown of Mazalin” – An aristocrat’s son is the main suspect after a crown on loan from the Queen goes missing. Hound is asked to investigate, not knowing Professor Moriarty has been watching the location. (Loosely based on “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet.”) Accusing the son of stealing something… I mean that would make me angry.
2. “A Small Client” – Sherlock Hound and Dr. Watson help a young girl who has lost her father. Their investigation leads them to uncover a larger conspiracy involving  the rising counterfeit money problem in London. (Loosely based on “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb.”)
3. “Mrs. Hudson Is Taken Hostage” – Mrs. Hudson is kidnapped by Professor Moriarty, and Sherlock Hound must rescue her. Professor Moriarty thinks he has found a weakness in Hound, his landlady Mrs. Hudson, but things don’t go as planned since everyone falls for her charm. (Loosely based on “The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax;” the Holmes decoy from “The Empty House” and “The Mazarin Stone” is also referenced.)
4. “The Speckled Band”– A young girl, Ellen, returns to England after several years in America and finds her uncle is not quite who she remembers. Professor Moriarty is impersonating her uncle. A rainstorm brings Sherlock and Watson looking to stay the night. They uncover a sinister plot involving Ellen’s uncle and his secretive research. They face multiple attacks and warnings, indicating someone wants them gone. (Loosely based on “The Speckled Band”) The Speckled Band is by far my favorite Sherlock Holmes story and there are many nods to the story. Like the bending of the fire poker. IYKYK
5. “The Air Battle Over Dover“- Sherlock Hound investigates sabotaged planes and faces an aerial battle. The planes are for the England’s new Air Mail postal service to Europe, and it’s up to Hound, Watson and Mrs. Hudson to find out who. But we know it’s Moriarty, who bought up all the stamps and wants to have the market cornered. The plan seems like it would work… however… Blowing up planes with people on them seems extreme. Also Mrs. Hudson shows that she has much talent.
6. “Treasure Under the Sea” – Sherlock Hound and Dr. Watson embark on an underwater adventure recover a submarine stolen by Professor Moriarty. (Loosely based on “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans.”) I wonder why Hound is the only one that can seem to get it bad
7. “The Green Balloon” – A green balloon containing a distress call leads Sherlock Hound to a family in need of help in a lighthouse on Dolphin Island. I am sure as a kid I would have tried that. But I doubt it would have gotten as far as it did in the show.
8. “The Adventure of the Thames Monster” – Sherlock Hound investigates a mysterious creature terrorizing the Thames River. A sea monster seems to be attacking ships on the River Thames and devouring them whole, and after a passenger goes missing in one of the attacks and no body can be found, Hound is called in to find him.
9. “The Runaway Freight Car?” – Professor Moriarty devises a plan to steal gold aboard a freight car. The tension rises as it is revealed that the special freight car has disappeared from the train, prompting an immediate investigation. Hound and Watson are already aboard the train heading home. So they get right to work locating the missing train.

In the end, it was a fun, light hearted show to help me get my mind off of the real world. The disguises were too much or maybe the police were exceptionally dumb… (Or maybe it was just a kid story.) They made me laugh so I guess they served their purpose. It was true to many of the characters especially the duo of Hound and Watson and I get why it has a cult following now. If you have a chance to watch… the episodes are available on Hulu as well as YouTube. Even the dubbing was great. The casting of voice as of Hound and Watson was great. The character of Moriarty’s voice actor seems familiar to me.