Best 'Sherlock Holmes' Adaptation? It's Not the BBC Series, but This Animated Hidden Gem

The debate over which Sherlock Holmes film or series is the best will never cease. We offer a different perspective: watching the 1986 Disney animation The Great Mouse Detective is a truly enjoyable experience, not only because of the animation itself, but also because it's such a faithful adaptation of the original.

Based on the children's books by Eve Titus, which reimagine the works of Conan Doyle, the movie features a fast-paced plot, excellent classic animation, and a wonderful score by Henry Mancini.

What Is 'The Great Mouse Detective' About?

On the birthday of young Olivia, a bat bursts into her home and abducts her father, a toy maker. Seeking help, Olivia heads to Baker Street, home to the famous detective Basil.

Along the way, she meets Dr. David Dawson, who has just returned from Afghanistan. Basil immediately realizes that Professor Ratigan, who is plotting a crime of epic proportions, is behind the abduction.

'The Great Mouse Detective' Presents a Surprisingly Canonical Version of Sherlock Holmes in a World of Mice

Of course, one must make allowances for the fact that it is aimed at children. However, if you're a fan of the various incarnations of the great detective, you will notice many canonical details in this animation.

Basil is a bit of a curmudgeon who is rather quick-tempered: he uses disguises, plays the violin, conducts chemical experiments at home, and is utterly obsessed with solving crimes. His personality is reminiscent of the Sherlock Holmes found in the books, with a hint of the Cumberbatch version.

Basil's adversary is clearly a counterpart to Professor Moriarty: a rat masquerading as a mouse. The villain's true scheme is initially unclear, and the final showdown is reminiscent of the fateful encounter at Reichenbach Falls.

'The Great Mouse Detective' Is a Product of Classic Animation With a Brilliant Soundtrack

Classic animated movies possess a special warmth and liveliness, and The Great Mouse Detective is no exception. Viewers can examine the traits of each character and the details of their clothing or simply delight in the amusing moments.

The filmmakers drew inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki's The Castle of Cagliostro when creating the climactic scene at Big Ben – they visited the actual landmark to study it and even used computers to calculate specific details.

Henry Mancini's soundtrack is magnificent – he was one of the greatest film composers and is known for the Pink Panther theme and the song "Moon River."

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Great Mouse Detective'?

• The Great Mouse Detective has 79% from both critics and viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.1/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Great Mouse Detective scored 3.6/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Great Mouse Detective'?

The Great Mouse Detective is available to stream on Disney+.