Before Dracula, Before the Wolfman, Before Frankenstein’s Monster, there was Jekyll and Hyde.
The London Assignment is a short animated Supernatural Action Horror Mystery Fiction Prequel to Van Helsing, both released in 2004 with the prequel produced by Production I.G and animated by Sunwoo Entertainment. It stars Hugh Jackman who returns to provide the voice for Van Helsing.
A string of strange murders are going on in London, and the Vatican sends Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) and Carl (David Wenham) to look in to the matter. They then discover a fiendish plot by one Dr. Jekyll/Mr Hyde (Dwight Schultz/ Robbie Coltrane) which involves Queen Victoria (Tara Strong).
This prequel has examples of:
- Absurdly Spacious Sewer: After the underground train crashes, Van Helsing and Friar Carl chase after Mr. Hyde through rather spacious sewer lines.
- Badass Boast:Mr. Hyde: Who are you?Van Helsing: What you fear most. (Dramatic Thunder)
- Big Bad: Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.
- Blunt "Yes": A humourous example-Victoria: Are you giving me an order?!Van Helsing: Pretty much.
- Deadpan Snarker: Van Helsing, Carl and Hyde all have their moments.Hyde: You're no policeman!Van Helsing: You don't miss much.
- Dem Bones: While making their way to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde's lair through a patch of underground fire, Van Helsing and Friar Carl are attacked by a horde of undead beefeaters.
- Disguised in Drag: Van Helsing makes Friar Carl dress as a woman and hang around London at the night to lure out Mr. Hyde.Van Helsing: Stop squirming!Carl: If you'd brought me the proper size corset, I wouldn't have to squirm!Van Helsing: There! A vision of loveliness!Carl: I told the Cardinal when he got your cable, I am not a field man!Van Helsing: There's not much danger of you being mistaken for any kind of man, Carl.Carl: Ugh, you put on too much powder, and this lip rouge with this scarf?! No real lady would be caught dead (Beat)...Perhaps not the best choice of words.Van Helsing: Carl, for a friar, you know an awful lot about lip rouge.Carl: Anything worth doing is worth doing well...even being demon bait.
- Evil Plan: Dr. Jekyll plans to use the souls stolen by him to turn Queen Victoria young again, and then marry her.
- Foregone Conclusion: If you have seen the original film, you know that it would end with Mr. Hyde escaping and Van Helsing following him to Paris.
- Groin Attack: While disguised as a woman, Friar Carl has to fend off advances from a man by kicking him in the groin.
- The Jekyll Is a Jerk: The original Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde feature as the main villains of the story, with both being monstrous in their own way. While Hyde is still the murderous brute he was in the live-action film, Jekyll is a self-deluding stalker who's been more than willing to profit from Hyde's murders in order to advance his own scheme.
- Monumental Battle: The hot air balloon that Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde tries to escape with crashes on the London Bridge, where the final battle takes place.
- My God, You Are Serious!: Van Helsing's reaction to Victoria's true identity (since he's more used to seeing her as the old woman she should be at the time of the story, rather than the young woman in front of him).Victoria: Sir, since it is obvious that you do not recognise me, I am Alexandrina Victoria Wettin by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith.Van Helsing: Queen Victoria?! [He bursts out laughing, only to then catch sight of Victoria's Death Glare) Seriously?
- Prequel: The animated film takes place before the events of the original film.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde's lackeys have red glowing eyes.
- Slashed Throat: The story opens with Mr. Hyde cornering his latest victim and slicing her throat open.
- Royal Brat: The young Victoria has shades of this, she improves after Van Helsing saves her… until she returns to her older form.
- Stalker with a Crush: Dr. Jekyll has been obsessed with Queen Victoria (and convinced that she returns his feelings) since he first saw her on her coronation day.
- Traintop Battle: Soon after discovering Mr. Hyde in the underground train, Van Helsing has to battle him on top of it.
- Two Aliases, One Character: It turns out that Jack the Ripper was actually Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.
- Wham Line:Victoria: Why would I need someone to give me youth?! I'm only twenty years old!Van Helsing: Your Majesty...you're seventy.
- Would Hit a Girl: Dr. Jekyll is Jack the Ripper, killing prostitutes in Whitechapel to use their souls in his plans to de-age Queen Victoria.
- Your Soul Is Mine!: After killing his victims, Mr. Hyde uses a special vial to collect their souls, which are then used to de-age Queen Victoria.
