Did you know that Sherlock Holmes at different times has been portrayed as a gnome, a fox, a mouse and even… a cucumber?! Since the publication of the first book about the famous detective in 1887 to the present day, more than 100 attempts have been made to adapt this character in different ways, and some of them are so strange that it’s difficult to believe in their existence.
Without further ado, we present to you… the top 7 weirdest Sherlock Holmes adaptations!
7. Sherlock Gnomes
What’s the difference? As you can probably guess from the title alone, this animated film follows the adventures of garden gnomes. And Sherlock is one of them!
What’s it about? When a group of garden gnomes mysteriously disappears from various gardens in London, Gnomeo and Juliet (based on Romeo and Juliet) seek the help of the legendary detective, Sherlock Gnomes, to solve the case.
Fun fact: The film’s screenplay was written by Ben Zazove, who previously worked on animated films like “Smurfs: The Lost Village” and “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.”
6. Without a Clue
What’s the difference? There’s no real Sherlock Holmes in this film! Dr. John Watson is the true mastermind behind Sherlock’s detective persona.
What’s it about? Watson hires an alcoholic actor named Reginald Kincaid to portray the brilliant detective for the public that demands to know Sherlock Holmes from his stories. Together, they solve crimes and fool everyone into believing Holmes is real. However, when a dangerous criminal emerges, Watson must reveal the truth to save the day.
Fun fact: Ben Kingsley, who plays Dr. Watson in this movie, 25 years later would go on to play a bumbling actor simply pretending to be another iconic pop culture character – in “Iron Man 3.”
5. Sherlock Hound
What’s the difference? In this show, Sherlock is a dog living in a world populated by other anthropomorphic animals.
What’s it about? Sherlock Hound, together with his trusted companion Dr. Watson and a cast of animal characters, solves various mysteries and thwart the plans of cunning villains, including the notorious Professor Moriarty.
Fun fact: The show was created by the famous anime director Hayao Miyazaki and is an Italian-Japanese co-production.
4. The Great Mouse Detective
What’s the difference? In this Disney-produced feature, all the main characters are… mice! But unlike the previous example, they are actually mouse-sized and live in a regular human world instead of populating some alternate one.
What’s it about? When a young mouse named Olivia’s father is kidnapped by the villainous Ratigan, Olivia seeks Basil’s help. Together with his loyal companion Dr. Dawson, Basil sets out to rescue Olivia’s father and stop Ratigan’s evil plans.
Fun fact: It was the first animated feature from Disney to use computer-assisted production techniques, specifically in the Big Ben clock tower sequence.
3. Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century
What’s the difference? As the title suggests, the story takes place in the 2100s, although Sherlock Holmes himself is the same one as the “original” (well, sort of).
What’s it about? In a world filled with advanced technology, Holmes is brought back to life through a cloning process. Teaming up with a robot Watson, the duo solves crimes in New London. Holmes uses his deductive reasoning and keen intellect to unravel mysteries while adapting to the futuristic setting.
Fun fact: The character of Inspector Beth Lestrade, a descendant of Inspector Lestrade from the original stories, serves as a liaison between Holmes and the New Scotland Yard.
2. Sherlock Holmes (2014 TV series)
What’s the difference? NHK’s television series “Sherlock Holmes” takes a unique approach by portraying Sherlock Holmes as a puppet and a 15-year-old student at Beeton School.
What’s it about? The story begins with Holmes being assigned a new roommate, John H. Watson, a transfer student from Australia. However, trouble arises as Moriarty, the deputy headmaster of the boarding school, develops a dislike for Holmes. While the series explores the dynamics of teenage life, it also hints at the rivalry between Holmes and Moriarty, even though their conflicts remain within the realm of adolescent experiences and do not involve actual crimes.
Fun fact: Instead of smoking a pipe, this young version of Sherlock Holmes blows a party horn whenever he thinks about something.
1. Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler
What’s the difference? Sherlock (or, rather, Sheerluck) is… a cucumber. Yes. Really. And Dr. Watson is a tomato. It’s actually an episode of “VeggieTales” – a popular American Christian animated series for kids.
What’s it about? Set in the town of Bumblyburg, the vegetable duo of Sheerluck Holmes and Dr. John Watson are tasked with retrieving the stolen Golden Ruler, a symbol of leadership and authority. Sheerluck’s pride and self-centeredness hinder the investigation, causing conflict with his loyal friend Watson.
Fun fact: The episode begins and ends at an ice cream parlor known as Doyle’s (named, of course, in honor of Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). Also, among the side characters there are Detective Bill Trout from the Forensic Investigators of South Hampton (F.I.S.H.) and Sergeant John Spud from the Canterbury Highway Patrol (C.H.I.P’s).
Now that we’ve covered some of the craziest interpretations of Sherlock Holmes in popular culture, let’s get back to a more classic image of him… although in rather fantastical circumstances.
In our game “Sherlock: Hidden Match-3 Cases,” the greatest detective becomes the hero of unbelievable new investigations. Something wicked is going on in the worlds of well-known books – their plots are changing, with the main characters being defeated while the villains prevail. The magic of literature is at work here, and this magic is real! Now, “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and many other classic novels are not at all like you remember them.
Jump into the game today to help Sherlock Holmes solve numerous mysteries and restore balance and justice. “Sherlock: Hdden Match-3 Cases” is available on all major platforms and can even be played in a browser version on our website.