“Sherlock Hound” (Meitantei Holmes), Original Japanese Promotional Poster c. 1984, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) N273

This is an original Japanese B2 promotional poster for the beloved anime series Sherlock Hound (名探偵ホームズ / Meitantei Holmes), the Japanese-Italian co-production created by TMS Entertainment and RAI and first released in the mid-1980s.

What makes this poster especially desirable is that it does not rely on standard finished cel imagery. Instead, it presents a suite of delicate watercolour image boards / concept illustrations, giving it the feeling of an animation-development sheet rather than a routine commercial poster. For collectors of anime art, this is precisely its appeal: it offers a direct window into the visual world-building of one of the era’s most charming and artistically distinguished series.

Background

Sherlock Hound reimagines Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective universe as an anthropomorphic adventure set in a warmly evoked, quasi-Victorian London inhabited by canine characters. Holmes, Watson, Mrs Hudson, Moriarty and the supporting cast are all transformed into dogs, yet the series retains the spirit of classic detective fiction while introducing comic invention, steampunk machinery, and richly atmospheric settings.

The project holds particular importance in animation history because of its early connection to Hayao Miyazaki, who directed and storyboarded several of the most celebrated episodes before production was temporarily interrupted by rights issues concerning the Conan Doyle estate. As a result, imagery associated with Sherlock Hound is often closely linked to Miyazaki’s pre-Studio Ghibli visual language: European architecture, expressive character acting, intricate vehicles, and a lyrical sense of place.

Poster design

This is a wonderfully subtle and art-led design.

The upper register is dominated by a large, softly rendered image-board scene showing Holmes and Watson in a hushed London street at dusk, joined by policemen beside a brick wall and terraced houses lit from within. The loose pencil contours and pale blue-pink washes create a misty, almost nostalgic atmosphere.

The lower section is composed as a grid of six smaller concept views, each expanding the world of the series:

• bustling Victorian streets and shopfronts
• a richly observed urban corner filled with signs and pedestrians
• a lighter street scene with horse-drawn transport
• a lively crowd sequence
• a cosy interior breakfast setting
• and, crucially, a dramatic mechanical contraption image, underscoring the series’ playful steampunk side and Moriarty’s eccentric inventions

The overall effect is closer to a presentation board of development art than a conventional poster. It is understated, elegant, and highly evocative.

At the bottom, the Japanese title 名探偵ホームズ is printed simply and cleanly, while the small copyright line at lower right credits TMS / RAI.

Why it matters

This poster is especially appealing for three overlapping reasons:

1. Animation-art appeal
It functions almost like a portfolio sheet of concept art rather than a standard advertising image.

2. Hayao Miyazaki association
Because Sherlock Hound occupies an important place in Miyazaki’s early career, material connected to the series has strong crossover appeal for collectors of his work and of pre-Ghibli anime history.

3. Aesthetic distinction
Its muted watercolour palette and observational city scenes make it stand apart from louder, more commercial 1980s anime posters. Framed, it reads beautifully as artwork in its own right.

Condition

Very Good+.
The poster shows light, honest signs of age and handling consistent with a vintage promotional piece. There are small pinholes / display marks, gentle rippling, and minor general wear visible in the photographs. The reverse is blank and clean overall.

The artwork remains highly attractive, with soft colour, strong visual clarity, and excellent display presence. Framed, it will present extremely well.

Please review the photos carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese poster from the period, not a reproduction or reprint.

Certificate of Authenticity included.