Sherlock Holmes is returning to the screen in a format that departs from the traditional portrayals of the character. Harry King Television is currently developing an animated series titled Animated Sherlock, which aims to explore aspects of the Great Detective’s cases that were not included in previous accounts.
The production draws its narrative foundation from The Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a book series by Nicholas Sercombe. The premise of these novels suggests that the original accounts written by Dr. John Watson were heavily sanitized to suit the morality of the 19th century. This new adaptation intends to include those missing elements.
The creative team behind the project includes veteran animation and film professionals. David Lipman, known for producing Shrek and Shrek 2, is spearheading the series. Nicholas Sercombe, the author of the source material and CEO of Harry King Television, will serve as the showrunner. The writing staff features Michael Ryan (Planet 51) and Tim John (A Street Cat Named Bob).
The series is expected to depart from the traditional “mystery of the week” format, instead utilizing season-long narrative arcs. While these arcs will tell original stories, they are designed to maintain direct connections to the established Arthur Conan Doyle canon. The choice of animation as a medium is intended to facilitate a stylized tone for the project.
As of October 2026, Animated Sherlock remains in active development. This project is distinct from other Holmes-related media currently in production, such as Prime Video’s Young Sherlock or the microdrama Moriarty Rising. No specific premiere date has been confirmed at this time.
