The Secret of NIMH - A Movie Review

Even the smallest of beings can conquer bravery.

Based on the book written by Robert C. O’Brien, The Secret of NiMH is a 1982 animated adaptation. Mrs. Brisby finds herself on an unexpected adventure. When her son falls ill, the field mouse must seek help from a colony of rats. Little does she know of the discoveries she will make.

As one of the largest non-Disney films upon its release, The Secret of NIMH defines courage. I was mesmerized by this film when I was young. Supplying an effective adventure from the perspective of a mouse, The Secret of NIMH has reached multiple generations.

Mrs. Brisby is an influential character to female audiences. I never realized it until my most recent watch, but I also looked up to her as a kid. Not the most courageous mouse, Mrs. Brisby takes chances like no other. Her love for her children is endearing.

The late Elizabeth Hartman connected to her character. She was also shy in real life. We can all connect to Mrs. Brisby as we have all been in her place. It’s okay to be scared. That’s the definition of bravery.

The Secret of NIMH has an ensemble of characters. Jeremy always made me laugh with his humorous personality. We spend time getting to know the characters. Despite being mice, they have real personalities. One of my favorite parts about this film is that it explores a life that you would never think about.

Mrs. Brisby’s children were my favorite. Each child is realistic, acting as curious, bossy, or trying to keep things together. I don’t know if anyone else agrees, but the dynamic between the family is not talked about enough. The scene where they surround the sick Timothy’s bed is both an endearing and heartwrenching scene.

Voice talents include Derek Jacobi, Dom DeLuise, Arthur Malet, Hermione Baddeley, John Carradine, Peter Straus, Paul Shenar, and the film debuts of Shannon Doherty and Wil Wheaton. The cast took the time to invest in their characters. One actor actually went back to re-record his dialogue as he did not feel sinister enough for his character.

The designs for backgrounds, characters, shading, and coloring are remarkable. The Secret of NIMH succeeded in tricky animation that must not have been easy. At the beginning of production, animators decided to view the film only with the backgrounds. The one thousand seventy-eight backgrounds, to be precise.

Did you know that more than six hundred colors are used in the film? I’m impressed with the animator’s dedication to the color scheme hoping it would catch the audience’s attention. They succeeded.

Don Bluth made this a character film. He worked hard on the emotion. Most importantly, he emphasizes a message about courage. Bluth directed the most dramatic sequences, planning out excellent staging and direction.

Bluth went ahead and made The Secret of NIMH his own visual adaptation. I read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH when I was in middle school. I have to say that I found the film more exciting than the book. Half the book is taken up by Nicodimus’s story about the rats. In the film, it’s told in a few minutes.

Just like the filmmakers, I am surprised that The Secret of NIHM was given a G rating. The film is very dark for children. It contains frightening sequences. And it also contains more adult themes that young adult minds won’t grasp.

Young children may find The Secret of NIMH’s dark nature scary. Still, The Secret of NIMH is not a film to skip out on. Find it and watch it.