The Secret of NIMH (1982)

The Secret of NIMH (1982)

8/10

Starring the voices of

Elizabeth Hartman

Hermione Baddeley

John Carradine

Dom DeLuise

Derek Jacobi

Directed by Don Bluth

The Secret of NIMH is a very deep tale of a secret society of rats and their connection to a certain Jonathan Brisby, a mouse. For an animation, I have to be honest, this is very surreal. The whole plot is deep, strange, and the tiny thread of the challenge faced by Mrs. Brisby concerning her son Timmy is what ties the whole story together. What we’re watching is a mother trying to save her son.

Based on Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, a children's book written in 1971, the movie is a wonderful project by Don Bluth, his first full-length film, which he wrote, directed, and produced.

This animated adventure starts with a brief tale of Mrs. Brisby’s son, who is ill with pneumonia. The whole movie then grows into something with many characters, secrets, and an adventure, all centered around this main issue: Timmy being sick. Mrs. Brisby’s need to find a way to save her son is the tether of this animated film, as we explore many things and get to know more about NIMH, the rats, and The Great Owl.

I can say, even though this was not done by Disney, it really trumps some of the works done by the Mouse House to date when it comes to the plot. As for the animation, it’s first class for any animated film done in the 80s. The great plus for me in this animated masterpiece is the way the story is captivating, secretive, and genuinely mysterious, especially about what NIMH is and why the rats acted so strangely. That powerful writing makes this something an adult will enjoy viewing, while the comic aspects and the adventure are gentle enough for children to enjoy.

Mrs. Brisby’s need for a solution, other than listening to the wise mouse Mr. Ages, who told her to let Timmy rest and give him some medicine, comes from the fact that the farm she lives on is being ploughed. We learn from the film that ploughing has come early, and Mrs. Brisby can no longer wait for Timmy to get well before moving. She has to move immediately. The problem is, Timmy’s illness could lead to his death if she tries to move him. Mrs. Brisby’s courage and her love for her son are the inspiration for this adventure, and the movie never stops unveiling things, even when you think it’s done and there’s nothing more to know.