"Buben" Animation Studio
"Buben" Studio presents
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and the Little Black Men
Dedicated to Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle and director Igor Fyodorovich Maslennikov
What's the news, Watson?
Watson...
I was just asking you: what's new?
"The robberies through chimney flues continue.
Yesterday, a certain Ms. Andrew had her candlesticks and silverware stolen."
- Um, "The police..." - Boring!
- Beg your pardon? - The criminal world is degenerating.
Strange. The sky seems clear...
Did you hear that, Watson?
Watson!
What's this?!
Don't touch it, Watson! It could be one of Moriarty's plots!
- Look, Holmes, it's a suitcase! - Don't open it!
What?
I said: check what's inside.
Some sort of blueprint...
Miss, uh...
What a luck! It here! Me drop it chimney!
- Is this suitcase yours? - Oh yes! Oh yes, mine!
What's in it?
Totally unimportant paper!
Stamped "Top Secret"?
Give paper, quick!
And if we don't?
I not recommend joke with me!
You look!
You give!
Hmm,
this sort of evidence...
...is nothing that we...
...haven't seen before!...
Holmes! Holmes!!
Let's see... the Admiralty's stamp. Definitely a spy.
She's gone.
Not she, but he.
It was a man dressed in a woman's dress, Watson.
Didn't you notice?
Why the devil did you take out that paper, Watson?
You could've just let him take the suitcase!
And a very strange accent, too. Doesn't sound like any that I know.
Heh, but heavens, what a scamp!
Broke in, left footprints everywhere,
and spoilt a truly worthy thing!
So, Holmes, two hours have passed.
What are we waiting for?
Mr. Holmes, there's a small, completely black little man waiting to see you.
Aha! He's back for the second half! Excellent!
Watson, hide behind the door. Let's give him a proper greeting.
Oh my God! Lestrade! But we thought...
But why do you look like that?
A matter of national importance.
I ran all the way here.
Not a single cabman would take me.
I beg you, get me a glass of water!
Year 1465.
What?
I've just dated the old manuscript whose corner is sticking out of your pocket.
It is a skill of mine.
Hah, this? No, it's today's Times.
It's just that I spilled some ginger beer on it
and, of course, soot...
Anyway, that has nothing to do with the matter at hand.
Have you heard of the explosion in the Admiralty?
About 10 a.m.?
- You heard? - I think all of London did.
What was it?
A bomb, sir!
A fireplace was blown up at the office of the head of the secret department, Admiral Benbow.
Any victims?
The Admiral is concussed and all the windows in the building shattered...
All the windows?
Then maybe we should arrest the glazier? He surely planted the bomb!
Pray proceed, Lestrade!
The old man was found lying unconscious on the floor.
Then... the police were called, and the doctor... hrm...
We managed to revive him,
But I'm afraid that because of the blow, the old man... how shall I put this...
Well, he's talking nonsense,
...about some sea battle... - Lestrade.
All of this is very interesting,
but you can't bring yourself to tell me the main thing.
Would you like me do the honours?
The secret documents are gone.
You're a clairvoyant, sir!
How could you have learned of this?
I did everything to make sure not a single word got into the newspapers!
It's a state secret!
Bring it out, Watson.
Saved! Saved! Oh, Holmes!
Oh, Holmes!
I've seen you on different cases, sir,
and must admit that sometimes the results you showed weren't bad,
but this... so fast!
Holmes, you have surpassed yourself!
Your hand, sir!
What's this? You don't want to shake the hand of a Scotland Yard Inspector?
Nonsense, Inspector.
Holmes, aren't we going to tell him that...
Gentlemen! On behalf of the British government,
on behalf of the First Lord of the Admiralty,
on behalf of the Diplomatic Protection department of Scotland Yard,
and on my own behalf:
I would like to thank you for your help with the investigation! Yes!
- But... - Yes, yes, yes.
The criminal's got the second half,
and he was in our hands but, alas, he got away.
Fortunately, we know his distinguishing features.
We'll find him, Lestrade!
To the Admiralty! You will tell us the rest on the way.
Watson, take your revolver.
This case is very mysterious!
It's clear that the criminal got into the office through the chimney flue,
stunned the Admiral,
but why did he need to blow up the fireplace, eh?
It would've been more logical to blow up the safe,
and moreover, the safe was opened, not forced!
So the criminal knew the secret code!
But how, eh?
Go away! What's this? Shoo! Away!
Is this London or a dog playground? Will you leave me alone?!
Another thing is bothering me.
The distance between the Admiralty and Baker Street is at least a mile.
How did he overcome this distance in a minute?
What are you saying?
Who, apart from Admiral Benbow, has access to the secret documents?
His deputy... I swear I'm gonna choke this dog...
A cramp in my side... Lord Schopenha-
-uer.
Schopenhag? Strange last name. Very suspicious. He might be a spy.
You're right, Watson.
Where's Lestrade?
The Admiralty
Let us out, let us out please!
My orders are not to let anyone leave the building.
Lestrade, I want you to have all small-sized employees of the Admiralty
covered in soot, and lined up in the corridor.
We'll organise an identification.
Women as well?
No. No women, only men.
Understood.
Hey! Come here, you!
...in soot, soot! Cover everyone, everyone!
So? How is he?
Unchanged, sir. He refuses to go to the hospital.
All right. You can go.
Anchor to my throat!
I've suffered a hole above the waterline,
but the old tub is still afloat!
Good day, Admiral. My name is Sherlock Holmes.
I'm a detective.
Would you be so kind as to tell us what happened here?
I've already told everything to that police sniffer dog.
But I swear by all the bulkheads, let me not drink rum anymore,
I have nothing to tell.
The morning started as usual,
I had just taken over the watch,
was sitting at this very table and working away like a galley oarsman!
Paperwork, sir - the devil curse it - a sea of paperwork!
Excuse me, was the safe closed?
Yes!
Suddenly, I was hit by a piece of mainsail mast on my head!
Turks, young man! They attacked out of the blue!
"A boarding!" I was fighting like a sea lion.
I chopped them up like they were sea kelp!
I chased them across the whole ship!
I drove them into the hold,
then the powder keg blew up,
A wave washed over me and threw me overboard to the sea devils!
I don't remember anything after that.
Alright, let's begin the investigation.
So. So.
Ah! An aquarium!
The water washed all the footprints away.
I must disappoint you, Lestrade; your clever theory was incorrect.
The criminal couldn't get in through the chimney flue
for the simple reason that it was bricked up on top.
But... I myself climbed up the chimney, personally, up to the very roof!
After the explosion, Lestrade, only after the explosion.
But before that, it was blocked by grating and bricked at the top.
I swear by shark's guts that the young man is right.
All pipes in the Admiralty have been completely sealed since King George's time.
It is protection against spies, or let me drown in Tuscarora Deep!
You didn't tell me that.
And you didn't ask.
Excuse me, Admiral. Admiral!
Dr. Watson would like to see the wound on your head.
- Me? - He's a very experienced specialist, don't worry.
Why would I worry? Let him see.
My captain's bridge is all right,
a small bump, but that's nothing.
You should've seen, young man, what a hole I got at Peloponnese!
Aha! A little investigative experiment.
Admiral, please stand over here.
Inspector! Come here.
You are the same height as the criminal.
Raise this fire poker and put it like this.
What is the meaning of this, young man?
It means, Admiral, that you have told us a lie.
You were not sitting at the table when the criminal struck his blow,
otherwise the bump would've been on top.
You were standing by the safe,
by the opened safe, I emphasize!
You wanted to cover that up,.
Shall I tell you why?
My God! If the Board of Admiralty should find out...
Shame! Resignation!
They didn't even need to know the secret code. Follow me.
Damned habit. It is stronger than me.
I beg you to say nothing, sir! I started as a common sailor!
- Unbelievable! - Outrageous!
What do they think they're doing?
We'll complain to the First Lord of the Admiralty!
The employees are all gathered for the identification, sir!
Right. He's not here.
It's him!
You're mistaken, sir! That is our cleaning lady,
the shiest and most timid creature on Earth!
I'm telling you, this is a man dressed in a woman's dress.
I will prove it.
- By Jove! It is, indeed, a woman. - A negress, sir.
No need to cover her in soot.
It not me! It not me! I not guilty!
The same accent, Watson! Wouldn't you agree?
She has a poor command of the language, and barely speaks at all.
That's why she was hired - so she wouldn't talk too much.
But that was a man, a very strong one.
She's from somewhere in the Andaman Islands.
Of course! The Andaman Islands!
Hence the accent!
Miss, do you have a brother?
I know nothing, I not understand!
A twin brother, I'm 100% certain!
Well, gentlemen, something is starting to become clear.
I think, Lestrade, that this Miss shall stay in Scotland Yard for a while,
and we shall go to Baker Street to have lunch.
Watson, what time is it?
Quarter past two.
While we ride about to and fro, the criminal will get away with the paper!
He won't go anywhere, Lestrade. He needs the second half.
He will hunt for it, and we will be hunting him.
As for the Miss, she's not likely to tell us anything.
All right.
But first, let's go to my place. I need a change of clothes.
Mister Holmes! Mister Holmes!
I went to local greengrocer, I was absent for only half an hour!
My God! My new tea set, armchair, tablecloth, silverware are stolen!
The little black man!
I should have foreseen this. Should've organised an ambush!
Holmes, have you read about the chimney flue robberies in the newspapers?
The method is always the same:
Nobody sees the criminals, small black footprints,
they steal candlesticks and silverware.
It is petty theft and has nothing at all to do with our spy.
Let's have lunch, eh?
No, I feel these are links of the same chain.
He was looking for the blueprint,
and the candlesticks and silverware were just a diversion.
Inspector,
I'll ask you to climb up the chimney flue.
- What? Again? - We need to check.
There may be evidence there.
Watson, we shall climb to the roof, naturally, via the stairs...
But Holmes...!
Inspector, we'll meet you at the chimney flue.
Watson!
It's him!
He's clearly giving signals to someone.
Look! He has an accomplice!
A second one! Which one is ours?
A third!... A fourth... a fifth...
A sixth... a seventh!
My God, there are seven of them!
No, eight!
- Oh, a ninth one!
Holmes, it's a whole gang!
Calm down, Watson, it's just Lestrade.
Holmes, you were right. Look what I found in the pipe.
Get down! Hide!
Oh, they've noticed him.
Dancing men! Fortunately, I know this cipher.
"Hi, how was the catch?"
How fortunate that they've mistaken Lestrade for one of their own!
Answer something back to them, Lestrade!
What can I answer? I don't know this language!
Well, just wave in response.
"Today meeting on boxer when strike ten."
Answer them, Lestrade! Wave wave wave!
- "At boxer", where is that? - Elementary, Watson.
Figg's amphitheater on Tottenham Court Road.
Where they hold boxing matches! James Corbett against Bob Fitzsimmons.
And what about "strike ten"?
It means Bob will knock out James in the 10th round!
Lestrade, you will attend this meeting!
Lestrade! Lestrade! Do you see anyone?
N... no one.
Strange. Doctor, can you check the time? But be careful.
- Ten to ten. - I don't understand.
They should already be here.
Maybe your blockheads have scared them away, Lestrade?
I-I've p-p-picked the best ones. T-t-they're the a-aces of t-the aces of Scotland Yard.
I'd love some hot tea...
M-maybe they are in-n-side?
Look, the match is over... Corbett won in the tenth round.
It was "on" boxer! "On", not "in"!
Watson, what's the time now?
There's Big Ben over there... Now it will strike on the hour...
God, I'm an idiot!
Lestrade, hit me with a stick!
Watson, if you're going to write about this case,
write "IDIOT" in big font three times and underline it!
"ON boxer"! I should have guessed straight away!
Follow me!
But the ambush...
No time! The three of us will take them!
Big Ben!
Named after the greatest boxer in England, Benjamin Caunt.
Big Ben IS the "boxer"!
Neun...
Zehn...
Elf... eleven?
I thought I have 10 workers?
Who is this? Wer ist es?
Is this familiar?
Mein Gott! Das ist fantastisch! Unglaublich!
Why do I need "The Times" of year 1465?
Where's the second half of the blueprint?!
Hands up! Uh, hande hoch!
Hugo Oberstein!
Sherlock Holmes!
I should have guessed long ago who was the head of this black gang.
The blueprint!
Of coooourse...
Watson!
Lestrade...
I remember... it was like this... with Moriarty...
on the edge of... Reichenbach... Falls.
The blueprint!
Screw you and your blueprint!
Holmes, the police arrived. The gang's been arrested.
Uh, do you need help?
I'll manage...
To Berlin!
Shoot!
Shoot at the crow!
Damnation!
You could have done without the cinema cliches!
Actually, you're already dead!
Who knew that his crow was trained to carry mail...
Yep, and the blueprint is probably already in Berlin.
Not the whole blueprint, Lestrade, but just half of it.
They won't understand anything without the second half.
That goes for us as well!
What sort of blueprint was it, Lestrade?
The newest invention of British scientists. A submarine.
What is this? The captain's bridge?
These are torpedo tubes.
Torpedo tubes on the top? Don't make me laugh, Watson.
Those are clearly tanks for sucking the air in!
Damnation!
Never mind, I'll bring it in as it is.
Maybe no one will notice.
Hugo Obernstein. He was an old acquaintance.
He was sent to do hard labor on the Andaman Islands for double espionage.
He escaped with ten locals.
They are known to be the smallest people in the world;
each one is the height of a ten year old boy.
He formed a gang with these ten little negroes
who, dressed as chimney sweeps, "swept clean" the houses of respectable Londoners.
But Hugo wanted to be rehabilitated.
He didn't know how to get into the Admiralty - the flues were bricked up.
But by a lucky coincidence...
One of the aborigines happened to meet his compatriot
that had been living in London for about five years already.
She worked as a cleaning lady in the Admiralty,
but she refused point blank to help the criminals.
So they kidnapped her,
and sent one of the chimney sweeps in her place.
For Europeans, all blacks basically look alike.
He had gunpowder in a rubbish bag, to blow up the safe,
for they never did know the secret code!
But here, fortune smiled upon them once again...
Boom! Bang!
Underwind turn!
Fire smashes the weapons! Boom!
Your ship is sunk, sir!
Blub, blub, blub...
Victory, gentlemen!
Aha! It has struck ten! Hoist the flag!
Stow the holds!
Well... to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and the unbeatable British navy!
But why, then, did he blow up the fireplace?
- He didn't. - Then who did?
The Admiral.
But he was unconscious!
My dear friend, do you remember the Admiral's words about the Turks?
We thought they were nonsense; delirium, but here's what I've read in this book:
"The battle of Navarino was fought on the 8th of October 1827
in Navarino Bay on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese peninsula."
Aha, here it is:
"During the course of the battle,
An amazing example of valour was displayed by sailor James William Benbow.
Upon being stunned by a piece of the mainsail mast,
he not only remained conscious, but got into an unbelievable rage
and chased the Turks across the whole breadth of the ship,
after which he herded them into a hold and blew up the powder cellar.
For that feat, the sailor James William Benbow
was promoted to the rank of junior officer."
A fire poker blow that would have laid low any other man
resurrected in the Admiral's mind the similar trauma that he had suffered 60 years ago -
the blow from the mainmast.
He once again thought that he was fighting the Turks in that famous battle,
and he simply repeated his actions of that day. Elementary!
To arms! The Turks! A boarding!
You know the rest.
Holmes, you are an absolute genius!
I would've been if I hadn't messed things up with the "boxer".
We nearly lost them because of that.
Yep...
Let's drink, Watson, to strong admiral heads
and the unbeatable British navy!
Epilogue.
On 28 August, 1914, in the Heligoland Bight,
under conditions of limited visibility,
a German and an English submarine collided.
It was the moment of truth.
That was how both halves of the blueprint were at last reunited.
screenwriter Aleksandr Bubnov
art directors - Aleksandr Bubnov, Irina Kovtun, with input from Zoya Trofimova
music Yevgeniy and Aleksandr Galperin
sound director Sergey Anisenko
rerecording sound engineer Oleg Kulchinskiy & "Le Doyen" studio
animators Yevgeniy Alyohin, Larisa Bulash, Irina Vovokogon, Aleksandr Bubnov, Tatyana Gagurina, Igor Homenko
with assistance from O. Aksenova, V. Shevchuk, K. Korniyenko, L. Estrin, A. Potyomkina
drawn animation Boris Bubnov
artists Viktoriya Berezina, Inna Romanyuk
associate directors Irina Romanyuk-Gaponova, Olga Aksenova
film group in Moscow technical director - Leon Estrin
assistant art director - Anna Yudina director's assistant - Mariya Kullanda
Everything will drown here without me. (voices: Aleksey Kolgan, Larisa Brokhman)
casting Yelena Gabets
recording of actors by "Belyy zvuk" studio, directed by Andrey Korinskiy
compositing Dmitriy Lomakin, Mihail Slavov
sysadmins D. Averkiyev, S. Rudnik
character setup Larisa Bulash
songs heard in the film: "The Irish Washerwoman" performed by "RUN" (Kyiv)
Henry Purcell's march, performed by Kyiv Philharmonic Orchestra soloists G. Safonov and A. Strogan
Holmes' violin solo played by German Safonov
Many thanks to all who donated to this animated film creation
LiveJournal bloggers:
Separate thanks to: Leo Kaganov & Natasha Kaganova, Alex Semenyak,
Aleksey Budovskiy, Konstantin Bronzit, Yelena Ilyanko, Anna Moiseyeva,
Sergey Kapkov, Aleksandr Kabanov, Nastya Solomintseva, Andrey Korinskiy
Special thanks to Volodya, Tanya and Yulia
director Aleksandr Bubnov
The End
Subs by Niffiwan @ animatsiya.net, revised from earlier subs by 1) Aleksandr Bubnov's channel @ youtube, and 2) spiritcc @ tumblr
(with timings by sve-tka, edited by lxgique, cosmoglaut, charliebrown1234, shaddicted, 221bees & abitnotgoodyeah)
(c) "Buben" studio, 2012