Sherlock Hound - DVD

Sherlock Hound - Case File 6

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Editorial Review:

Hayao Miyazaki stopped working on Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes," 1981) long before these final episodes were completed in the Japanese-Italian coproduction, although some of the designs retain his stamp. The stories both satirize and invoke Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's great detective as he outwits both Inspector LeStrade and a comic version of Professor Moriarty. The Professor and his underfed henchmen Todd and Smiley almost succeed in stealing a fabulous diamond in "The Priceless French Doll." But, as Holmes predicts, no criminal can foresee every complication that may arise. "The Secret of the Parrot" and "The Bell of Big Ben" are needlessly complicated, but the comic denouements may please young viewers. In the final episode, "The Missing Bride Affair," Holmes and Watson aid a pair of star-crossed lovers--as the original Holmes did on at least one occasion. (Rated 7 and older: minor cartoon violence, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File III

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Moriarty VS Holmes 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

After losing a star director, and battling copyright law to get this show on the air, this series started to really shine. This volume is from after the loss of Miyazaki, and this time the episodes glitter beyond even my expectations. The character may be just staying the same, and the plot twist may not be that deep, but that means anyone can understand and enjoy whats going on.

There are only four episodes this disc:

Episode 11- "The Targeted Coin Bank"
A rich industrialist enlist Holmes and Watson to figure out why money is being stolen from his huge bank, made in his own figure. When they spot two familiar goons, they think the mystery's solved. But what does the millionare's son (who loves the people of his dads city) have to do with the missing money?

Episode 12- "The Professors Big Failure in the Storm"
This episode is exactly what the title proposes: the prof goes after a treasure, and gets caught up with when Holmes and Watson take off after in a diragible.

Episode 13- "Missing Freight Car?! The Professors Magic Trick"
Holmes and Watson are traveling via train, on a late night ride home. Between the two passenger cars is a freight car full of gold buillion. When the ride gets bumpy, Moriarty strikes, and upon arrival at the station, the two passenger cars are together with the middle freight car gone!

Episode 14- "Gourmet!Coral Lobsters"
The detectives are called to test a famous oceanologist's aquarium security system. While it would seem he collects only rare fish, but gems are also a hobby. When his beautifull coral and jewel-encrusted lobsters disappear, we find out Moriarty has one weakness: his favorite food is lobster. If he eats enougbh of this brain food, will he be able to fool Holmes and Lestrade?

This disc contains the same old redone transfer and quality, with very few marks or fuzz from the original 8mm left over. This time around, we get one special feature: a restored and creditless opening and ending. This is great, but why wouldn't theyvadd the restored credits to the show?

This disc comes through despite it having one less episode, however for kids or adults, this one will go by super fast. Anyone can enjoy these episodes, and you don't have to follow the series in order to get whats going on. Another great installment!

Editorial Review:

Hayao Miyazaki directed and/or wrote the first episodes of Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes," 1981), featuring a canine cast. These adventures were made three years later, as part of a Japanese-Italian coproduction, with different artists: all that survives of Miyazaki's work are the designs of the main characters. Instead of mysteries, the stories play as slapstick adventures, with Holmes outwitting Professor Moriarty to recover the treasures of a rich industrialist or protect a stubborn banker. In episode 14, Holmes foils Moriarty's attempt to steal some diamond-studded carved coral lobsters from a private aquarium--which suggests just how silly the story lines are. Moriarty's perpetually starving assistants Todd and Smiley and Inspector LeStrade and his Keystone Bobbies provide most of the comedy in what became an innocuous but undistinguished series for small children. Suggested 7 & Up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File 5

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Hayao Miyazaki only wrote and/or directed the first few episodes of Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes," 1981). Little of his vision of a canine detective survives in these later slapstick adventures, which were made three years later by different artists in a Japanese-Italian coproduction. Most of these episodes suffer from a surfeit of pseudo-Victorian gadgets and a lack of real storytelling. In "World Flight Championship," Professor Moriarty steals an advanced plane engine for a race, then attacks the other entrants with elaborate pincers, saws, etc. "The Rosetta Stone," in which a Japanese exchange student helps Holmes and Watson defeat Moriarty with a giant kite, recaptures some of the entertainment of the early installments in the series. The laughs are provided by Moriarty's overworked, underappreciated assistants Todd and Smiley, and the inept Inspector LeStrade and his Keystone Bobbies. (Suggested 7 and older: minor cartoon violence, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File 4

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Nessie, Mechanical Monsters, and gold! 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I realize that this review only for fans, or parents desperate to find something for their kids. You don't have to be an anime fan, however, to appreciate the slapstick simplicity of this fun series.

Again, as I said in my Case File 1 review, this series has had it's share of bumps. It's original episodes were produced, but put on hold after a tiff with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate. And after it was resolved, they decided to air it and make more episodes. One of the most famed Japanese animation directors, Hayao Miyazaki was involved with the original six. They even played two episodes as a movie double-featured with his first movie, Nausicaa of the valley of wind.

Four episodes, same as the last!

Episode 15- "Did You See the Shining Thief?
Moriarty kidnaps a famed sculptor, and a bunch of gold bullion, and when Holmes and Watson investigate on behalf of the sculptors wife they find drawings of a Moriarty statue!

Episode 16- "Magic Castle! Holmes, Dead or Alive"
When a magic sword comes to a museum in London, Smiley and Todd break in, yet leave the sword behind! The sword reveals a secret treasure in owners family castle. Holmes heads into the castle to stop Moriarty, but it seems he may not make it out!

Episode 17- "The Monster of the Thames River"
A mysterious 'monster' keeps dragging huge ships under the waves. But when a flutist is dragged in with a ship, his fiancee seeks the famous detective Sherlock Holmes to find him, believing he is still alive.

Episode 18- "The Blundered Operation at Loch Ness"
A french art student seeks Holmes' help when three of his friends disappear from their hotel rooms without even packing their bags. Soon after, forgeries appear at Sotheby's, with slight changes made to them. Holmes has to dechipher the clues left behind to find the art students.

This disc is remastered from it's original format, and looks great. Audio is crisp, though hard to hear the music over the dialouge sometimes. They included another hidden little bonus feature with 14 original japanese trailers for the series original run! Check out this awesome volume, and come back to check them all out.

Editorial Review:

Although Hayao Miyazaki directed and/or wrote the first episodes of Meitantei Holmes ("Famous Detective Holmes"), these adventures were made years later, as part of a Japanese-Italian coproduction that had a different crew. Holmes's steam-powered automobile and the primitive airplanes in the early episodes bear Miyazaki's stamp, but when the later artists tried to follow his lead, they got carried away with silly gadgets. Professor Moriarty flies a pteranodon-shaped airplane in episodes 15 and 18; he builds an elaborate underwater railway and a monster submarine in 17. Even the clever story in 16, in which Holmes uses optics to reveal the secret writing within a crystal sword case, is marred by the intrusion of a cartoony burrowing machine. The terminally inept Inspector LeStrade and Moriarty's put-upon assistants provide slapstick humor that may appeal to smaller children. Suggested 7 & Up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File II

Amazon Price: List Price: $29.98 By: Geneon [Pioneer] Amazon Marketplace: 2 new & used starting at $49.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Hayao Miyazaki directed the first six episodes of Meitantei Holmes (literally "Famous Detective Holmes," 1981) and wrote the scripts for some of them. Copyright disputes held up the Japanese-Italian coproduction until 1984, when it was continued with different artists. The rumpled designs for the canine versions of Holmes and Dr. Watson bear Miyazaki's distinctive stamp, as does the look of many of the vehicles, including Holmes's steam-powered automobile and blimp, the various biplanes, and an outsized gunship from the British Navy. Holmes repeatedly outwits the vulpine Moriarty, despite the bumbling interference of Inspector LeStrade, but the later stories grow increasingly silly. In "The White Cliffs of Dover," it's Mrs. Hudson who stops Moriarty's plot to sabotage the first London-Paris airmail service. The English dub is dismayingly flat, and the subtitled Japanese version makes more entertaining viewing. Suggested for ages 7 and up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon

Sherlock Hound - Case File 1

Amazon Price: List Price: $29.98 By: Geneon [Pioneer] Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $55.94

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Meitantei Holmes (literally "Famous Detective Holmes," 1981) was the last TV series Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro) worked on, directing the first six episodes and writing scripts for some of them. Copyright disputes held up the Japanese-Italian coproduction until 1984, when it was continued with different artists. A few episodes relate to the original stories: "The Crown of Mazalin" is based loosely on "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet." But this canine detective acts more like a standard cartoon Good Guy than a calculating criminologist, and Professor Moriarty resembles Oil Can Harry from Mighty Mouse. The series invites the viewer to play Sherlock Holmes and pick out elements that Miyazaki would develop further as his personal style evolved in his features: the mechanic's daughter in "Small Client" is clearly the ancestor of Mei in Totoro. The English vocal cast turns in such uniformly drab performances (in affected British accents) that it's more entertaining to watch the Japanese version with subtitles. Suggested for ages 7 and up: Minor cartoon violence, tobacco use. --Charles Solomon