Sherlock Holmes is a detective character created by Scottish author and physician, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He is a minor character in The Great Mouse Detective (which heavily draws influence to the real-life character alone).
A brilliant London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take on almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve difficult cases.
Sherlock is briefly mentioned in this film by the narrator (famous Sherlock actor Basil Rathbone) as being amongst the greatest characters in British literature.
In the film, Holmes appears as the "neighbor" to Basil of Baker Street. He is the world's greatest human detective (Basil being the world's greatest mouse detective). While Basil, Dawson, and Olivia Flaversham look for Toby, they observe Holmes with Watson (depicted as silhouettes against the wall). The two depart the scene to continue their own investigations, allowing Basil and the company to "borrow" Toby in the meantime.
Sherlock makes a cameo in the Disneyland version of this attraction, his distinctive silhouette being seen from a second-floor window in the town. The reasoning behind this is likely in reference to the Wind in the Willows' narrator Basil Rathbone who famously portrayed the detective.
Trivia[]
Sherlock Holmes' voice in The Great Mouse Detective is taken from clips of the original Sherlock Holmes films.
Sherlock has been references, homaged and parodied in a number of Disney products.
Basil of Baker Street was created as the Great Mouse Detective's analogue to Sherlock.
A similar series to Sherlock, titled Elementary, starred Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes. Both Miller and Cumberbatch would later star together in the 2011 stage play adaptation of ‘’Frankenstein.
In the Enola Holmes film series, he is played by Henry Cavill and Ian McKellen, who plays him in Mr. Holmes. Both actors are known to have portrayed comic-book characters, as well: Superman for Cavill (in the DC Extended Universe) and Magneto for McKellen (in the X-Men live-action movie series).
In the Touchstone Pictures film Shanghai Knights, which is set in 1887, the character of Roy O'Bannon uses the moniker of Sherlock Holmes after seeing a clock reading "Sherlock Watchmakers - Holmes County Ireland", while sneaking into a royal gathering. His friend Artie, who is later revealed to be Arthur Conan Doyle, asks Roy if he could use the name for a book he is writing, most likely later intended to be A Study in Scarlet.
