← Back to results
Van Helsing: The London Assignment
2004 30 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★6.5
Action, Animation, Fantasy, Horror
Director: Sharon Bridgeman
Trailers
Description
It tells of the events before the film, in which monster hunter Gabriel Van Helsing travels to London to investigate a series of horrific, and decidedly supernatural murders, being committed by the mad scientist Dr. Jekyll, in the form of his evil alter-ego, Mr. Hyde.
Starring
Hugh Jackman
Actor
Robbie Coltrane
Actor
David Wenham
Actor
Grey Griffin
Actor
Awards
1 win & 1 nomination.
Key opinion
Van Helsing: The London Assignment serves as a functional and atmospheric animated prequel that successfully mirrors the visual and tonal aesthetics of the 2004 feature film. While critics appreciate its dark, stylized depiction of Victorian London and the multidimensional portrayal of Dr. Jekyll, some find the narrative experience brief, unremarkable, or too derivative of standard blockbusters.
| Production | The dark, atmospheric visual design of the moonlit London streets effectively captures a sense of mystery and gothic dread. | |
| Score | The ominous, hypnotic musical score expertly complements the film's tension and dark fairy-tale tone. | |
| Originality | The portrayal of Dr. Jekyll as a complex, tortured villain provides a compelling antagonist that exceeds typical monster-movie tropes. | |
| Production | The animation quality is mixed: while some find the character models and London landscapes impressive, others criticize the technical execution as feeling dated or overly reliant on basic CGI. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the narrative weight are divided; fans value the tighter focus on a single mission and character backstory, while others find the plot thin, predictable, or lacking in lasting impact. | |
| Adaptation | The characterization of Van Helsing is polarized: some feel it successfully mirrors Jackman's persona, while others note a disconnect in agility and personality compared to the live-action version. |