Suspenseful and heartwarming, this beautifully animated odyssey stars Mrs. Brisby, a mild-mannered mother mouse with a plan to move Heaven and Earth (or at least her house and home) to save her family from Farmer Fitzgibbon's plow. Along the way she gets some help from a lovelorn Crow, a busybody neighbor mouse, and a fearsome Great Owl. Unfortunately, Mrs. Brisby will need an engineering miracle to hoist her home; for that she must face a mysterious rat, fend off a ferocious cat and claim a magic amulet. But when Mrs. Brisby discovers the astounding secret of NIMH...it could change her life forever! This timeless tale of love, courage, and determination will transport the whole family into an enchanting world where the bravest hearts live in the meekest of mice.

To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she suspected.
Rated G however moderate violence and intense scenes

A widow field mouse needs help moving her family.

3/4 (Good)

This movie is loaded with BS and nonsense. But it also has adorable mousies, so I'm happy.

(Oct. 2021) ( )

An utterly gorgeous animated film, and with a story and tone that both, particularly for its time, are quite nuanced and mature while still accessible to children. The protagonist's quiet, dignified bravery both for her children and for the characters she meets is a fine example for emulation. If I were to find two minor peeves, they'd be that the mythology is a little underdeveloped, and the ending always feels like it comes prematurely, both of which I suspect are due to the film's short 80 minute running time (which in turn is likely a result of the limited budget). Possibly Don Bluth's finest work, though depending of course on personal taste, "American Tail" in particular might be able to edge it out. Regardless, it is warmly recommended to any fan of animated films, adult and child alike. ( )

The Secret of NIMH is Don Bluth’s take on the award-winning novel by Robert C. O’Brien. It’s major success is in the effect of Bluth’s style on the settings and characters. In animating the tale, Bluth adds significant weight and mood to the setting through artful use of movement and shadows, and brilliant colors. Similarly, many of the characters are fleshed out and in serve as much more colorful versions of their O’Brien counterparts. However, like many adaptations the Secret of NIIMH falls apart in its treatment of O’Brien’s original plot. Where O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby finds that her fate is intertwined with that of the rats through her connection to experiments at NIMH, in Bluth’s film there is a magical element that is wholly unexplained, and the extra problems introduced through an embellishment of the Rats dilemma are solved through a sort of Deus Ex Machina-a mystical amulet with no explained relevance. Recommended as entertainment for youth, but those seeking quality should read the book instead. Appropriate for both school and public libraries. ( )