The Great Mouse Detective: Disney's Underappreciated 26th Animated Film

YKYWGMDTMTW...
(You Know You've Watched the Great Mouse Detective Too Many Times When...)
Inspired by Disney film The Great Mouse Detective and The Basil of Baker Street Mysteries by Eve Titus.
Written by Skye of Baker Street. <sailorchibiskye@sailormoon.com>
Edited by Diane N. Tran. <escottish140@hotmail.com>

Originally posted on Basil of Baker Street Forum and Basil's Public Reading Forum.
Original publication on the BOBS Forum and PR Forum on © 29 August 2002
Re-publication for this GMD site © 10 September 2002

(Editor's Note: Written text is copyright of the author. Rebroadcast, redistribution, or reproduction of this document, in whole or in part, is prohibited without prior, written permission.)

The top item in your X-mas list is the beanie set and a Toby plushie.

...and you already have them.

You know the dialogue by heart.

You scare your friends by threatening to quote the movie.

At the appropriate places, you have to clamp your mouth shut from shouting "Flaversham!"

...and shout it anyway knowing it's impossible to NOT shout it.

When listening to the soundtrack you know what part of the movie it is and what dialogue was said.

...and are able to time it right and say it aloud with the soundtrack.

You plan to go to England to prove that there is a Lower 221B Baker Street.

You know there's no such thing as watching GMD too many times.

The top question on your mind is "What does the 'Q' stand for?"

You glance at the screen in disbelief and shock (possibly crying) when Basil "dies".

...and you've seen this movie 10+ times.

You've seen GMD so often you've lost track as to how many times you've seen it.

...but you're certain that number is over 20.

Whenever you see a mouse you double-check to see if it was wearing a deerstalker and Inverness.

You plan to one day buy a basset hound and name it "Toby".

You plan to one day buy a mouse and name it "Basil", "Dawson" or "Olivia".

You visit the BoBS forum even when at school/work.

It takes a whole hard-drive to store all the GMD stuff you've collected.

You agree that Sherlock Hound is quite a bishounen, but he's no match for Basil. (Bishie-mouse!)

You buy the Disney sheet music book just for the GMD music.

...and you don't play any musical instrument.

You can quote Basil's deductions by heart.

You now know what Gutenberg's Principle of Opposing Forces in Motion is.

You know the Latin scientific name for "sewer-rat" is.

You know that "Basil" is his last name and that Mrs. Judson said "pfft!" not "Port!" (Reference to the idea of Basil's name being 'Basil Port'.)

You know the dialogue by heart...in French and/or Spanish.

You've been to Diane Tran's website more than 20 times.

You believe that the hatred between Basil and Ratigan was all caused by a lollipop. (See the fanfic "Ratigan on the Couch.")

You take up playing the violin and when your parents ask why you reply "Basil plays it."

Your old VHS version of GMD is so worn out from being played too much and skips in certain places.

...which doesn't bother you because you can say what words were skipped aloud.

You know the dialogue but heart in a language besides English, French or Spanish.

You now know never to give a mouse an alcoholic drink.

You send several e-mails and/or letters to Disney demanding to know why GMD is so under-appreciated.

You cheered silently to yourself when a brief clip of the Big Ben chase was played at the beginning of Fantasia 2000 at the I-MAX Theater. (True experience for me!)

You wince every time Ratigan hits Basil.

...and glare whenever he comes on screen.

You've claimed to see a mouse with a sailor outfit on and another mouse with a striped shirt and an eyepatch at a local port.

When the nice people in white coats come you exclaim, "Ratigan's behind all this, isn't he!?"

You e-mail and/or send letters to Disney demanding more GMD merchandise.

Keep a list of how many people you've shown GMD to and if they reply they liked it, immediately show them the BoBS forum.

...and then proceed to show them Diane's site.

You become extremely depressed on vacation/holiday when you realize you left your GMD VHS or DVD at your house.

...and immediately leave from vacation/holiday to retrieve the VHS or DVD.

Constantly wonder why Disney has not replied to your e-mails or letters.

Quiver in fear of the thought of Basil having Brain's voice. (Reference to "Search for Mickey Mouse.")

Wonder why Ratigan has so many human treasures.

Wish you knew a number 50 for this list. (Eheheh...*sweatdrop*)

You know of no other mice. (Mickey? Mickey who?)

You know Basil hates being forum-goers personal Barbie doll.

You know there's a little mouse version of all famous and infamous people in the world.

...and that those mice versions have minds and attitudes all their own.

You know there are various mistakes in the animation of GMD.

...but you don't care because it's still the best movie ever.

You've read Diane's essays and profiles more than once.

You've read the GMD pastiches and fanfics several times.

You wait in anticipation of the next chapter of "The Mad Doctor of London" by Ethel. (*ahem* )

You know out of all the Disney characters that Basil looks the best in a deerstalker and Inverness. (Sorry Roquefort!)

You wonder if there's still a tiny hole in the Big Ben's clock face after all these years.

When someone mentions 'the Master' you know immediately whom they're referring to.

You wish you were mouse-size just so you can ride your dog around.

You are taken back home by the nice people in white coats because they couldn't stand another minute of your GMD chatter.

You look at people with shock when they say they've never seen GMD.

...and faint when they say they've never heard of it before.

...but are relieved when they show some recognition at the mention of the Big Ben chase.

Don't mind the odd looks from your friends when you suddenly shout "Flaversham!" at the top of your lungs.

You have occasional dreams about GMD.

Don't question how in the world Basil managed to befriend and train Toby.

Own every bit of GMD merchandise available.

Make your own GMD merchandise. (Wasn't it Ming who drew a picture and placed it on a t-shirt? Or was it Diane, or Ethel?)

You wonder why all the comics for GMD are foreign.

You plan to translate these comics when you get your paws on one.

You watch the Big Ben scene (only) about 15 times in a row because of its amazingness.

You lose contact with reality from watching GMD a hundredth time.

Your family's attempts to stop you from watching GMD are completely useless.

You stop a random person in the street to talk with them about GMD.

...and find that its one of those nice people in white coats on holiday.

...causing them to ditch their white coat for a straitjacket due to your GMD talk.

You wonder why there's a Sherlock Holmes Museum but no Basil of Baker Street Museum.

You wander around with mouse ears, a deerstalker, and Inverness.

You call your best friend "Dawson".

...and they don't mind.

You've been drawing nothing but mice for the past couple months.

You wonder where Basil got a suit of armor from.

You plan to see "Jekyll and Hyde" just to see Barrie Ingham and to hear Basil's voice again.

You know what Basil's name is and means in various dialects of Elvish. (*glances at Diane*)

You meant "Holmes" but wound up saying "Basil" instead.

You meant "Watson" but wound up saying "Dawson" instead.

Don't question what purpose some of Basil's experiments are for; you just know that they must be important somehow.

Know what the scientific name for "salt water" is.

To express your emotions you play the violin.

Attempt to learn how to change from a sailor outfit to a deerstalker and Inverness in 5 seconds like Basil.

Wonder how Bill the Lizard got from being a chimney sweep to being one of Ratigan's lackeys.

Argue that the Reichenbach Falls fight was NOTHING compared to the Big Ben chase.

Have the hardest time deciding who's the better detective; Holmes or Basil?

Realize that in the Ultimate Survival Guide no where does it mention how to escape from a large famous clock while being chased by a maniacal rat.

You also realize it never mentions how to escape a trap with a mousetrap, revolver, arrow, axe, anvil and a camera.

You've written a YKYWGMDTMTW list with 100 items on it. (*bows* Thank you, thank you.)

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