Sherlock Holmes Gets Animated Treatment as Harry King Television Taps ‘Shrek’ Producer David Lipman (EXCLUSIVE)
Harry King Television is moving forward with an animated take on Sherlock Holmes, enlisting David Lipman to spearhead the project alongside company CEO Nicholas Sercombe.
The London and LA-based production company revealed plans for the toon series, with the working title “Animated Sherlock,” which will draw from Sercombe’s “The Unexpurgated Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” novels while marking a departure from the franchise’s live-action roots.
Lipman brings heavyweight animation credentials to the project, having produced the first two “Shrek” movies. His resume spans both animation work on “The Ren and Stimpy Show” and “The Tale of Despereaux,” plus live-action films including “Serenity” and “The Professor.”
The creative team expands with the addition of Michael Ryan, known for animated features “Planet 51” and “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank,” alongside Tim John, who worked on “A Street Cat Named Bob.”
The animated series will skew toward mature viewers, structuring each season around central mystery arcs while connecting individual episodes to Doyle’s original Holmes canon. The show promises to explore character backstories for Holmes, Watson, Mrs. Hudson and Moriarty through a contemporary lens aimed at international adult demographics.
“Taking the animation route allows us to reimagine Sherlock Holmes on a grander, more imaginative and risqué scale than before,” said Sercombe. “Having David, Michael and Tim steering the series with us combines their legacy in animation with the well-loved classic IP. Together we are creating our very own Sherlock Holmes universe that feels both timeless and completely fresh – rich in character, humor and adventure. We can’t wait for ‘Animated Sherlock’ (wt) to surprise audiences globally and imbue one of the world’s most beloved literary icons with newfound energy.”
The animated project marks another expansion for Harry King Television’s scripted content pipeline, building on the company’s recent launch of its unscripted arm with format “Curiosity.”
Sercombe’s producing background includes collaborations with British comedy legends Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Barry Humphries’ Dame Edna character, and performers like Mel Smith and Bob Monkhouse across series including “Top Tips,” “Two Old Farts in The Night,” and “Bob’s Fab Ads.”
