Harry King TV has moved forward with Sherlock Holmes’ animated take, spearheading the project with David Lipmann with company CEO Nicholas Selcom.
The London and LA-based production company has revealed plans for the Toon series. This was revealed along with the working title “Animated Sherlock,” which is drawn from Sercombe’s “Sherlock Holmes’s Adventures of the Minor” novel, marking a departure from the franchise’s live-action roots.
Lipman brought heavyweight animation credentials to the project, producing the first two “Shrek” films. His resume ranges from both live-action films such as “Serenity” and “The Professor” in addition to animation work for “Len and Stimpeaus” and “The Tale of Despeaux.”
The creative team will expand with the addition of Michael Ryan, known for his animated features “Planet 51” and “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank”, with Tim John, who worked on “The Street Cat Named Bob.”
The animated series is distorted towards a mature audience, and forms each season around the Central Mystery Ark, connecting individual episodes to Doyle’s original Holmes Canon. The show promises to explore the backstories of Holmes, Watson, Mrs. Hudson and Moriarty characters through a contemporary lens aimed at international adult demographics.
“Using animated routes allows us to rethink Sherlock Holmes on a grander, more imaginative and risk-scale than before,” Sercombe said. “David, Michael and Tim piloting the series with us combine animated legacy with a beloved classic IP. We are creating our own Sherlock Holmes universe that feels both timeless and completely fresh.
The Animation Project marks another extension of Harry King TV’s scripted content pipeline and is based on the recent launch of an unscripted arm with the format “Curiosity”.
Sercombe’s production background includes British comedy legends Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer and Dame Edna characters from Barry Humphries, Top Tips, Two Old Farts in the Night, and Bob’s Fab Ads.