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Clip description
A criminal and ‘master of disguise’ (voiced by Patrick Frost) has taken on the form of a moustachioed dustbin, but Great Detective Alex Holmes (voiced by Lachlan Haig) and his faithful but reluctant canine assistant Watson (voiced by David Burchell) are on to him. When the criminal makes a quick escape, Alex decides that in order to catch him, they too must become masters of disguise. They meet some interesting characters at the bus stop and when the bus departs and the stop sign disappears, Watson is again suspicious.
Curator’s notes
This imaginative and multilayered claymation was created by the ongoing partnership of director-animator Michael Cusack and producer-director of photography Richard Chataway who together run Aniflex, an animation company based in South Australia. In addition to advertising, the duo are also responsible for a number of award-winning short animations for both children and adults including AFI award-winning shorts Waltzing Matilda (1985) and Gargoyle (2006).
In the well-worn tradition of playing with the characters and conventions of the Sherlock Holmes detective series by British author Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (1859–1930), this new take on the famous partnership is given life and humour through the animators’ understanding of movement, timing and characterisation. Cusack brings personality and a real sense of life to his characters, child detective Alex and his droll sidekick Watson.
