New Sherlock Holmes Animated Series Announced

Sherlock Holmes has to be one of the most commonly adapted literary characters around. And aside from the many many live-action adaptations, there have been a few animated ones. Some like 1983's Shelock Holmes and a Study In Scarlet play it fairly straight while others, like Shelock Holmes In The 22nd Century and Sherlock Hound take some liberties with the source material. A new animated series adaptation has been announced from Harry King Television, to be headed up by David Lipman and company CEO Nicholas Sercombe.

Currently going by the working title Animated Sherlock, the series will be based on Sercombe's The Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes novels. Lipman produced the first two Shrek movies, and worked on The Ren and Stimpy Show and The Tale Of Desperaux, plus live-action movies including Serenity and The Professor.

Also joining the team is Michael Ryan, known for animated movies Planet 51 and Paws Of Fury: The Legend of Hank and Tim John who worked on A Street Cat Named Bob.

The series will skew towards mature audiences, structuring each season around a central mystery arc while connecting individual episodes to Arthur Conan Doyle's original canon. The show promises to explore backstories for Holmes, Watson, Mrs Hudson and Moriarty through a contemporary lens.

“Taking the animation route allows us to reimagine Sherlock Holmes on a grander, more imaginative and risqué scale than before,” said Sercombe. “Having David, Michael and Tim steering the series with us combines their legacy in animation with the well-loved classic IP. Together we are creating our very own Sherlock Holmes universe that feels both timeless and completely fresh – rich in character, humour and adventure. We can’t wait for ‘Animated Sherlock’ (wt) to surprise audiences globally and imbue one of the world’s most beloved literary icons with newfound energy.”

The description of the first Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes novel A Balls-Up In Bohemia reads:

Dr. Watson was the chronicler of every Sherlock Holmes adventure published in The Strand magazine between 1887 and 1927. He reported them with honesty in the bluff, army-style of a military doctor, so frank in their account of human behaviour that they were too risqué for the morals of Victorian England. George Newnes, the editor, purged each story before its publication. Newnes also replaced Watson’s jocular illustrations with Sidney Paget’s more innocuous portrayals. Newnes deleted everybody’s backgrounds but in these accounts Watson reveals Holmes’s family: his father, Professor Julian Cornelius Bortzoy Holmes; his wife, Wendy; his sister, Rachel, as well as Mycroft. Watson also exposes Mrs. Hudson’s property empire and he tells us how Professor Moriarty became “the Napoleon of crime.” Some of this new material is shocking, even by today’s standards! Book 1 synopsis, An esteemed new client engages the services of Sherlock Holmes. He embarks upon an adventure that takes him all the way across London whilst Dr. Watson tries to extricate himself from a very unwise marriage. Watson moves in to 221 Baker Street where he receives an unexpected early-morning call from Mrs. Hudson, who has something of great importance to share with him.

Sercombe's producing background has seen him work with British comedy legends such as Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, Mel Smith, and Bob Monkhouse as well as Dame Edna Everidge. Harry King Television is based in London and L.A., so it should be able to bring some authentic British-ness to the series.

No broadcaster or streamer has yet been announced for Animated Sherlock, and the release date remains a mystery.

[source]