The Great Mouse Detective

London's hidden corners host a city of mice where crime hides in the shadows of grand clocks. When Professor Ratigan abducts a celebrated toymaker, Basil of Baker Street steps in to crack the case. Basil enlists his loyal ally Dr. David Q Dawson, a practical, sharp-witted physician who keeps the duo grounded amid feints and traps. The pair chase through dim alleys, clever disguises, and perilous rooms, piecing together Ratigan's scheme while navigating a maze of decoys. What follows is a tense pursuit across rooftops and alleys, punctuated by brisk wit and daring rescues, as Basil uses brains and charm to outsmart the mastermind. Rivalry with Ratigan intensifies.

Directed by Burny Mattinson and John Musker, The Great Mouse Detective adapts Basil of Baker Street from Eve Titus with Paul Galdone and Vance Gerry. Released in 1986 as part of Disney's animated features, it blends a mystery homage with lively animation, reflecting Disney's adaptation craft today.

The film earned about $38.6 million worldwide on a $14 million budget, reflecting solid performance for a mid-80s animated mystery and underscoring Disney's continued willingness to fund screen adaptations of classic literature. Its success helped justify more family friendly mysteries.

Audiences remember Basil and Ratigan as a witty detective duo whose dynamic set a template for playful mystery in animation. Vincent Price's voice became iconic, and the film's London fog, clockwork traps, and clever disguises continue to echo in later cartoons and parodies, with Ratigan's persona standing as signature villain.

Critics at the time praised the film for its brisk humor, sharp dialogue, and inventive action sequences, while noting the clear homage to classic detective fiction. The story explores themes of friendship, intellect over force, and the tension between societal order and clever misdirection, and a light touch of humor.