Search

2014-04-11

Sherlock Hound Returns to DVD This September

Discotek Media announced today that they have acquired the rights to Sherlock Hound, and will be releasing the complete TV series on DVD box set this September 30.  They will include both Japanese and English-language versions, perhaps using a dual-sided format similar to the older (now out-of-print) Pioneer DVD releases.  It will be great to see this classic anime series return to American shores, and especially nice to have all 26 episodes in one box.

Sherlock Hound originated as a 1981 TV anime series, directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated at Japan's Telecom studio (associated with TMS), alongside such luminaries of the period as Yoshifumi Kondo and Kazuhide Tomonaga.  Unfortunately, only six episodes were completed when the project was scuttled.  Fortunately, interest in the series was revived after two episodes were shown in theaters alongside Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind in 1984.  This led to a new production at TMS in 1984 and 1985.

Personally, I find the original 1981 Miyazaki-directed episodes to be far superior to the later episodes; you can spot the dramatic drop-off in talent, as most of the best animators and artists followed Miya-san to Studio Ghibli.  That said, this is a really fun cartoon show that doesn't aspire to be anything more than a really fun cartoon show, with MacGuffin-fueled plots and ridiculous car chases.  And having English dubs helps tremendously with selling to a wider audience.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Sherlock Hound again.  I do have the three Pioneer DVDs with the Miyazaki episodes (they're scattered about, the fiendish bastards!), but I'll definitely pick up the new Discotek release when it arrives this September.

No word yet on extras or bonus material, such as essays or audio commentaries.  As always, I'm happy to contribute and am regularly harrassing the Discotek people with emails.  Maybe I should send a fruit basket or something.  Who do I have to call around here?

3 comments:

Jeffrywith1e said...

This is wonderful and timely news. The kiddos and I just finished all of the episodes that were available on Youtube recently.

Chris Sobieniak said...

I believe the releases Pioneer had of the show were double-sided, not dual-layered. The English version was on one side while the Japanese on the other. That was how they chose to handle that release since I recall once having volume one.

ItchyScratchyUrr said...

i turned down buying the last release as it was english only- japanese intro was better, and hate having options taken away- at least it had no indication of a jap dub on the box.

More Ghibli Blog Posts To Discover