本部由上海美术电影制片厂出品的国产动画片，一共十三集。主要讲述十二生肖的来历。第一集闯妖洞，第二集机灵鼠，第三集大力牛，第四集白额虎，第五集长脚兔，第六集塌鼻龙，第七集青青蛇，第八集雪白马，第九集剑角羊，第十集红脸猴，第十一集五彩鸡，第十二集花尾狗，第十三集大耳猪。在每一集的故事中，都会有一个邪恶的妖怪。每消灭一个妖怪就牺牲一种动物。为了纪念他们，就成为了这一年的生肖。 十二生肖，是中国传统文化的重要部分，由十二种源于自然界的动物即鼠、牛、虎、兔、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗、猪组成。本部动画就是在讲述这十二生肖的英雄神话故事。

Set in the 22nd century in New London, Inspector Beth Lestrade of New Scotland Yard is chasing grotesquely deformed French rogue geneticist Martin Fenwick, when she realizes that his companion is none other than the 19th century criminal mastermind, Professor James Moriarty (this is not the original Moriarty but in fact his clone, created from cells taken from his corpse, which Holmes had buried in a Swiss ice cave). Famous biologist Sir Evan Hargreaves (who looks just like Doyle) has just invented cellular rejuvenation. Beth knows that Holmes survived and actually lived to a ripe old age, and further knows that his corpse is preserved in a glass-walled, honey-filled coffin in the basement of New Scotland Yard (this may be both a reference to the legend that Alexander the Great's body was preserved in honey, which does not rot, and also to the fact that, as stated in the original stories by Doyle, Holmes became a beekeeper once he retired). She takes the body from the basement and delivers it to Sir Evan. The biologist then uses his cellular rejuvenation technique to return life and youth to Holmes's body, so that the detective can combat Moriarty. As a descendant of the original Inspector Lestrade, Beth has inherited Dr. Watson's journals. When she has her law enforcement robot, or compudroid (whom she calls Watson) read them for information about Holmes, it ends up emulating the personality of the good doctor. Holmes also ends up getting his old Baker Street rooms back (they'd been preserved as a museum). Lestrade's compudroid assumes the name, face, voice, and mannerisms of Dr. Watson to assist Holmes in both his crime-solving duties and his difficult assimilation to England in the 22nd century. During the series, Holmes and Watson often work on retainer for New Scotland Yard, with Beth Lestrade as their supervising officer and Superintendent Greyson as hers, but they also work for private citizens. They are often assisted by the new Baker Street Irregulars: soccer player Wiggins, the Eliza Doolittleish Deidre, and the paraplegic Tennyson (who communicates through electronic beeps only Holmes seems to comprehend ironically). However, Wiggins and Deidre understand and communicate with Tennyson in The Adventure of the Dancing Men. The primary villains are Moriarty and his henchman Fenwick, but they only appear in about half of the episodes.