The Secret of NIMH (1982)

The Secret of NIMH (1982) — a dark, beautifully hand-drawn animated adventure — follows widowed field mouse Mrs. Brisby as she races against time to save her dying son and move her family before the farmer’s plow destroys their home. When Timothy’s illness makes the move impossible, Mrs. Brisby seeks help from a secretive colony of escaped lab rats living under a rosebush. There she learns that the rats — and her late husband — were subjects of experiments at N.I.M.H., which gave them extraordinary intelligence and set them on a path toward independence. As the rats plan a daring exodus, internal betrayals and a dangerous plot to kill their leader Nicodemus threaten everything. Seeing the film is an immersive experience: richly detailed, sometimes gothic animation; tense, suspenseful sequences (from the eerie Great Owl to the menacing cat and the plow’s approach); and an emotional core driven by maternal love, courage, and moral complexity. The story mixes wonder — the rats’ ingenious underground world and their technological cleverness — with darker themes about science, freedom, loyalty, and sacrifice. Memorable characters (Mrs. Brisby, Nicodemus, Justin, Jenner) and a haunting orchestral score deepen the mood. Overall, viewers can expect a moving, visually striking fable that’s more mature and somber than typical children’s cartoons: suspenseful moments, quiet tenderness, bittersweet resolutions, and a strong sense of atmosphere that lingers after the credits roll.

Actors: Elizabeth Hartman, Derek Jacobi, Dom DeLuise

Director: Don Bluth

Runtime: 82 min

Genres: Adventure, Animation, Drama

6.9 /10 76 /100 7.5 /10 7.3 /10