By the way guys; I know a lot of people aren't a big fan of sponsors as they feel intrusive, and I completely get that, really I do. But RUclips is such an unreliable source of income with its constant copyright strikes and demonetisations, that we really do need them for a reliable and predictable way of earning a living. So I thank you for your patience and understanding. With that said, feel free to check out the links below. I do turn down a lot of Sponsors I think would be rubbish, so play tested RAID before agreeing to work with them, and to be honest.. for something completely free, it is actually a pretty decent game. Install Raid for Free ✅ IOS: clik.cc/bWRUY ✅ ANDROID: clik.cc/KxudB and get a special starter pack 💥 Available only for the next 30 days!
It kills me inside that this type of animation isnt coming back and we are stuck with the 3d animation that is pumped out now. It's alright but damn id love to see some variations and maybe some darker stories
I would love it if they did, movies like this and the Black Cauldron really interested me as a kid (esp the magic elements), but movies like that 'don't sell' anymore I suppose - it's straight to dvd if anything. If it isn't that it's yet another Princess movie (I loved the classics, but damn, a little variety wouldn't hurt) or a remake, with likely a bunch of memes/fart jokes shoehorned in as well. A lot of recent stuff is just a carbon copy...imo.
I mean... we do have Breath Of The Wild... at least. Because that game HEAVILY riffed on this style and almost nobody seemed to notice lol. Very odd to me.
Lo K this type of animation is also more expensive and takes more time While 3D takes less time and is cheaper at least compared to 2d animation So that's kinda of why you don't see it allot anymore
I wish they woulda just followed the books like the author’s daughter did carrying on his legacy via Rosco & the Rats of NIMH & R-T, Margaret & the Rats of NIMH
I read the book first, but I honestly didn't mind the inclusion of magic. I liked the idea that the Rats have advanced past humanity, and are starting to delve into things humans haven't discovered yet.
@@Mikazuchireborn I certainly don't mind it. Like you mentioned, it adds a new depth to the story. I enjoyed the book more for its consistency, but the charm of this movie is undeniable.
Having a widow as the protagonist was always,to me, a great choice of character : as a mother she has a strong will to protect her children, but also a drive to know more about her husband and why he died.
I also liked seeing a female protagonist that was both a widow and a mother! Already this added so many layers to her. Mrs Brisby was nurturing and feminine at times, but was also capable of getting in on the action and doing difficult things herself. She was able to ask for help, but was not helpless. The other characters may have recognised her only as Mr Brisby’s wife, but as the central character of the story, to the audience she is more than just the wife of a husband we never see on screen (except in a brief flashback)
That and to me at least: the shrew is sort of supposed to be an example of an early era social worker, who were originally upper class rich women with little to do stopping by on the less fortunate to check on them. That's why she has the very pompous personality. One of the early jobs of social workers that still transcends today was dropping in on families with a lost member to help out around the home and help them readjust to life again. Hence we see her doing chores around a house that isn't hers. Both Mrs. Brisby and the children seem accustomed to her dropping by at this point, implying she had already been doing it for some time.
Like them just being magically able to read. He looked at the words and understood them. No. The scientists taught them how to read. Also the divide between the rats and our main character is less distinct. She lived in a very normal mouse den inside a giant brick. She didn't have all those candles and furniture.
@@GameNinja13 the entire point is that they aren't normal rats anymore and reading isn't hard wired into their DNA. The rats are going to have to teach their children to read just like humans do, especially if they want to keep advancing. I think it's pretty obvious that they would care.
Exactly! I relate to this deeply. I felt like everything I knew when I was younger was wrong. Partly we are not entirely wrong. Don Bluth was part of Disney and his art style matches what some of their movies looked like back then. But yeah, I was today years old (22) when I learned they weren't the same. No wonder I love Secret of Nimh and the Land Before Time more then some of the really old Disney movies. I really enjoyed Beauty and the Beast and kinda liked Cinderella, Snow White on the other hand. I remember my Mom telling me and my siblings that we didn't quite enjoy that movie, I'm not sure if it was because it was scary or just boring to us. Not sure which one.
the so called magic is just how mrs. brisby sees it. you have to remember that she's a normal field mouse with no way to understand what the rats really are, rats with human level smarts, or what they are truly capable of. she can't comprehend certain things so thru her eyes it's simply magic. that's why the owl so horrifying. the owl represents death itself to a mouse. the amulet was a device to remind us, the viewer, that technology can't anwser all our questions and we must still have faith. intresting side note, her children are more advanced then she is. more intellagent. she mentions that they can already read and do it better then she ever could.
To explain about Justin makin’ eyes at Mrs. Brisby in the lights scene: In the book, Justin is depicted as being very handsome and and charismatic/charming. But it’s never implied he ever has a “moment” with Mrs. Brisby in the book like you see in the movie. Obviously she dismisses the moment they had. The amulet does not exist in the book. It’s a really weird inclusion that changes the entire finale of the story. I’m not really sure why, and it feels very forced as a plot device, especially knowing the plot of the book, the finale is just as intense if not moreso. Jeremy is essential to the plot since he is the only reason Mrs. Brisby finds out about the owl, and saving him earned her a favor owed from Jeremy. So he flew her to the owl’s tree. There was no way for Mrs. Brisby to get there otherwise. He is not nearly as much of a stumbling goofus in the original story, just obsessed with shiny things rather than string. He was originally after a shiny piece of Christmas tinsel that he got entangled in, rather than some red yarn.
@@patricio8569 I think at least that part is very well put into the movie. I do think the Justin moment is a bit weird, but I see it more as a charismatic guy meeting a woman for the first time and, due to her status, wanting to have it confimred that he's charismatic. ...Does that make sense? I'm not sure I'm explaining this well XD
@@Ergeniz considering how much the film actually kept, and made the ending more movie friendly(the books ending is rather anti climatic) the movie does the book justice.
When transferring mediums such as from book to film a lot of compromises often have to be made. Obviously they can't keep everything from the book or the movie would be much longer and more expensive. It's also necessary sometimes to add somewhat implausible but still within the realm of possible elements such as the magic. It helps fill in holes and also is just nice to look at.
Interesting fact: the voice actress who did Mrs. Brisby died shortly after doing this film. She sadly had sever depression and took her own life. ): I honestly felt I can hear it in Mrs. Brisby's voice. I loved this movie, though the spider scene always freaked me out.
Jeremy had a much more important role in the book. After Mrs. Brisby/Frisby saved him from the cat he said he owed her a favor. She told him about her dilemma, and he didn't know how to help, but he told her about how all the birds would go to the Great Owl for advice when they were in trouble. He took her to the owl, and the owl would have refused to see her except Jeremy told how they met. The owl agreed to do what he could for her because she saved a bird's life. In the movie Auntie Shrew told her to go to the owl, and the owl spoke to her without Jeremy vouching for her, so Jeremy's presence was not so necessary.
Mrs. Brisby really is quite a marvelous main character; she's scared for a majority of the times when she's doing Important Plotpoint Work (like speaking with the owl, going to see the rats, etc.). As in literally trembling in fear. You get the feeling that she really is just a regular person. But she still goes through with it because of her bedridden son. She's a really good role model, especially for children (or more particularly girls) who might not see themself as the next Xena, exemplifying that you don't have to be fearless or unusually smart or brawny or anything like that to be a hero. You just need the will to do something. ...I agree that the crow is annoying XD
Believe it or not, My mother grew up loving this film, AND YES, she has alot of the same traits as Ms brisby. Its kinda nuts. O_O regardless, whether she has had this film influence her or not, I would never trade my mom with anyone else in the world. She is what I believe a mother should be, not flawless by any means, but definitely wise, capable, kind, and puts her children above her needs. She is currently working alongside my sister at the age of 52 and I tell her I love her any chance I get.
I love what the Nostalgia Critic said about the film. It seems to be a film about Nature vs Science vs the Unknown. The unknown is symbolized by the amulet. It's a fascinating video.
Jeremy actually does serve a purpose in the plot, and I think it's quite sophisticated. His appearances are fairly evenly spaced, and serve as interlude scenes that 'clear the palate', so to speak; but in addition to that, he serves to illustrate the advancement of Mrs Brisby's character arc. Watch the film again, and note how Brisby's interaction with Jeremy is subtly different in each scene. You watch her progress, step by step, from passive and hapless, to confident and dominant.
The Secret of NIMH is one of my favorite movies. I watched it a lot as a kid, along with The Last Unicorn. They're definitely some of my favorites, even to this day.
The Last Unicorn and Hey Good Lookin’ are interesting 1982 animations, but The Secret of NIMH and Pink Floyd’s The Wall are masterpieces (suck on that, Channel Awesome!!!!!).
Thats not the point tho. I grew up watching this movie. I love it, but I've always thought....where did this magic come from and why? It is just....there. It'd be like watching any other movie and one of the characters just has the ability to shoot magic missles and save the day for no reason what so ever
That's always been the biggest weakness of Don Bluth films!! He forcefully inserts magic to evoke wonder in every move but all it does is detract from a coherent plot! Films should not be about forcing something pretty, it should be about having a solid story first! That's why it's actually good for artists to delegate plot to more grounded writers, because they can better focus what should and shouldn't be in a film! I love Anastasia but WTF Rasputin is some zombie necromancer who no one ever interacts with except one time at the end. And the stupid cat sidekick from American tale is just a rehash of that crow. Every single story is so muddled.
@@goldcherries Actually in case of Anastasia, Rastutin's magic is more integrated to the worldbuilding, at least by the fact that the historical figure had a lot of rumors about him posessing mystical knowledge and herecy. As well as the "undead" theme as his assasins claimed that he survived a poisonoing and even after multiple gunshots still managed to escape before being caught and thrown into the hole in the ice in the river. Sure, all this happened before the revolution, but you can see where the inspiration comes from.
I've literally been obsessed with this movie since I was a kid admiring it as a dark masterpiece, and when I found out that don bluth had pretty much challenged disney with his films it blew my mind even more. John Carradine voicing the great owl and Paul Shenar as Jenner were pefectly casted with that all knowing but wise voice of a diety and for the most evil voice to ever speak into a mic right behind Vincent Price. So glad you've reviewed this film, more people need to know about it!💜
As someone who read the book, while I still love the movie, I feel like it lacked anything the original material had to offer. In the book Jeremy wasnt just a last-minute comedy relief character, Mr Ages wasn't a jerk, they got more into NIMH, Timmy was given a little more depth than "The sick kid" overall, while the movie did an amazing job at telling *A* story as well as on animation, I feel that it had no correlation to the book as it vastly underachieved the amazingness of the book
I hate the book compared to the movie. I hate how the book is completely disinterested in Mrs. Frisby's own story. I hate how it forgets about her for a full third of the book, as it goes back to tell the not terribly interesting story of how the rats got their intelligence. I hate how the resolution of Frisby's story is treated as a complete afterthought, as the rats' story takes the focus. I hate that she's the same person at the end that she is at the beginning. The movie keeps Mrs. Brisby front and center, and gives her a genuine character arc.
Same opinion. I watched the movie for the commentary on NIMH and animal experiments only to see that the entire explanation was shortened to seconds. Some things don’t convert well into movies, I guess. Loved Brisby here though.
it's hard to implement everything from the books, there is always going to be a compromise to make the movie the best it can be without drawing things out too long.
There is one simple rule: If you read a book, don't watch the according movie. You will always (!) be disappointed because the vision in your head isn't matching the vision of the filmmaker or even the author. And: A movie HAS to cut some things. Because a book is usually read in a few days to weeks, a movie has a runtime of 1.5 to 2 hours maybe. I want to mention that I hate all those "the book was better" sayers (you didn't do that here, but still said that the movie is lacking things... obviously). Just read the book and don't watch the movie. Or do it the other way around - in this case you will enjoy the movie and think that some books are pretty boring and too long in comparison.
Here's my take on the presence of the 'magic' and it making sense within the plot of the movie. I think it's subtly implied that the Rats of NIMN are actually more intelligent then even humans are and that their technology only appears magical but is in fact just super fucking advanced. They're so smart in fact that I think Nicodemus has actually achieved some form of psychic ability and telepathy. I think in the book he's in reality burning the words into the pages with his mind rather then writing them.. and only holds the pen (which obviously isn't even touching the page) to mimic the action of writing. He also seems to know the future as he knew Mrs. Brisby would come to him without anyone telling him, and the way he talks almost seems like he knows whatever Ms. Brisby was going to do or say around him but simply was humoring her and acting like he didn't to maybe be polite(?) He may have even known Jenner was going to murder him but perhaps let it happen anyway.. maybe he knew the sequence of events would be the only outcome that would lead to both Jenner and his plan being exposed, and also Mrs. Brisby's home being saved.. or something. Maybe Nicodemus felt that strong of a debt to Johnathan and his widow that he was willing to sacrifice himself if it meant the house being moved.
Yess that’s the way I saw it! Cuz magic is often defined as any sort of science that is not yet understood soo all their intelligence is so advanced & incomprehensible to us that as outsiders our minds can only perceive it as magic
I really like this idea! I always figured magic was just a thing in their universe, but your idea is much more interesting and would also explain why we only see the rats using it (unless I’m wrong, I haven’t watched the movie in years).
@@howlinghellgar2214 Thanks, glad you like it. One of my favorite scenes of this is right after the "we know too much" boat scene with Nicodemus. When Ms. Brisby gets out of the boat and leaves then decides to come back and volunteer to drug Dragon. Nicodemus just sits in the boat staring at the shore the whole time. Like he was just waiting for when he knew she'd come back and tell him that.
I always thought that Nicodemus' magical abilities came from him being the smartest rat and well read enough to teach himself actual magic. He's the rat version of Merlin. And you forgot to mention that the movie is an adaptation of "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brian.
Capn WBAtismo I know what a Nymphomaniac is but OP’s comment was a typo and you mentioned furries and Nymphs (The creatures) aren’t animals. So I guess everyone in the comment thread is confused.
16 hours a day, that means 8 hours of sleep a day. I once “worked” on a short film two days in a row for 11 and 15 hours. The last day I basically went insane and started hitting my head against every vertical object that crossed my path on my way home. Not very good for your mental health. I can’t imagine how tired and disillusioned they must have felt in the process.
I want to automatically say that it was all worth it for what I feel is one of the greatest animated films of all time, but who knows what each worker went through. I only hope that no one got into a serious accident, or was too greatly troubled from all their hard work for this film, and that they were somehow extra rewarded. I hope that they at least knew at one point of their lives, how fantastic and brilliant millions of people of all ages and gender, thought this film was. And if they’re still around, I hope they realize how beloved this film is still, to this day..
Nah, she wouldn’t be able to protect it if others wanted the crystals power. She didn’t want to have to worry about guarding it and having people come for her and her family. She just wanted to be with her children. Justin protecting it for her makes perfect sense. If she would ever need it again, she’d be able to get it from Justin. Also, I always believed even as a kid that the magic was just Mrs. Brisby’s way of seeing their intelligence. And maybe the crystal is a symbol of faith or hope.
That's how I felt the magic was. Such a heightened level of capability gain through experimentation could be seen as magic through someone else's eyes. People have seen new forms of inventions and science as 'magic'.
I personally feel that Jermony does have some relevance to the plot as he is the one Mrs. Brisby asks to take her to the great owl since judging by the flight scene they have together shows that the great owl lives in an area quite a distance from the farm.
6:27 it’s implied yes. Out of curiosity, I looked it up, only under unusual circumstances or experiments in labs, that mice and rats can mate, but can’t produce offspring because they are a two different species. Also, in nature, rats are predatory toward mice and they are known to kill and eat them, as they are above them in the food chain. But these aren’t ordinary rodents, after all. lol They’re more like tiny, smart little people inside rodent bodies, thanks to NIMH. (NIMH is a _real_ organization, btw)
@@williampulfer-melville8536 I think it was supposed to be an allegory of how Jewish immigrants fled to escape religious persecution. The mice were constantly getting attacked by cats in Russia, that's why they sing about how there won't be cats in America because it's better and they'll have more opportunities.
Fun fact this was actually based on a book called the rats of Nimh. However it didnt have the magic elements in it and focused more on how the rats came to be and the story of Jonathan as well though it didnt explain how he died it did mention his death and How he helped the rats and other mice in the experiments That was the main bulk of the book rather than what The film was focusing on.
What i like about this movie is its Australian setting with some of Australian animals like the Ecindna and Half the cast being Australian i like it mainly because I'm Australian
The way I viewed the magic aspect is they still possessed enough wonder in the world around them, and were smart enough to figure out how to harness it. Almost as if Magic is in the wonder and mystery of the world around them.
That movie was my childhood as a little kid. I think Don Bluth did a fantastic job on his first movie. The colors, characters, and the animation itself were just something else. :)
@@chasedbyvvolves9256 I know the phrase "Deus ex Machina." The different spelling should've tipped you off I was talking about Steve's pronunciation ;)
h. ann Loads if people don’t know things. You can either laugh at them or help them learn something new. I’m sure there are things that you don’t know either
hey steve, here are a few animated films from my childhood that aren’t super well known: -we’re back! a dinosaur’s story -thumbelina: a magical story -the adventures of lolo/scamper the penguin -ferngully: the last rainforest -astro boy
When I was little, I watched and rewatched TSON on my tube tv and portable DVD player built into the car. This, All Dogs Go To Heaven, The Land Before Time, Scooby Doo, etc. were the makings of my childhood. Honestly? I forgot that this movie was this dark. I didn’t think it was dark at all with how it was handled. It didn’t scare me, it didn’t give me nightmares. I was 4-5 when I watched it, and it really isn’t as spooky scary as parents make it out to be for children. We need this kind of content to understand that the world isn’t a bunch of ‘if you shake your bum in front of your friends and family, you’re a cool person!!!’ People die. People have bad things happen to them and their families. Telling your child they can’t watch this ‘because it’s too scary,’ is literally just going to make the child be more scared of the movie. Sure, some children are sensitive, but they need to learn this sooner rather than later, lest they become an ungrateful, bratty child who thinks the world revolves around them, and nine year olds need to have a boyfriend purely for a social standpoint. That happened yesterday. She also complained about her friends hating her bc she doesn’t have a thigh gap. Wtf are people doing to children.
The reason a lot of characters outside of Nimh don't have or use full names is because they were normal animals until Jonathan Brisby teaches them concepts he picked up from his time in the lab. So Mrs Brisby actually doesn't have a name, she just took the surname that Jonathan chose.
I was raised on Don Bluth movies. Including watching this one as a kid many times. I believe The secret of nihm is a great movie. I'd much rather watch the secret of nihm than a lot of the animated content now a days.
I always saw the magic element as the Rats are going through their own rapid evolution. Like you see a female rat wearing clothing from the middle ages.
Only now do I see I understood nothing of this cartoon as a kid yet I was obsessed with it although it scared me. I loved Jeremy, I loved the amulet, Nicodemus, the darkness of it, loved loved loved. It made all the sense in the world to me 😂
This was my absolute favvv when I was growing up! The songs give you such feels and I love the creepiness and dark animation of the Great Owl, Nicodemus, and the story about escaping Nimh. I also agree the scene where Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy are fleeing from Dragon is so intense and wonderful, you can't help but hold your breath for her as she narrowly escapes all those close calls! Another one of my favorite characters was Martin, her older son, he was such a little turd but I just couldn't help but laugh at him and all his lines! I'm still a Don Bluth Fan to this day and I think he really captured the heart in his animations!❤️🐭😍
This movie is one of my favorites of my childhood, and is still one of my favorite animated movies to date. I always loved the settings and the character animation.The animals always moved more like animals than people, with the exception of the rats of NIHM, which makes a lot of sense. I always adored the attention to detail in this film. This movie is also the reason why none of the "scary" scenes from Disney movies spooked me as a child.
The wonderful thing about don bluth's studio is how beautifully they captured movement. When I watched NIMH I was mystified by the fluidty of each little tiny movement in each character. All the subtlety to it too. I like that 3D animation is getting more stylized but I have yet to see stuff like this movie intigrated into animation yet, or at least, mainstream. There's a big reliance in quick, direct movement with tiny pauses. I'm excited to see 3D keep going though, and who knows, maybe we'll start seeing the circle come round and give us dark and powerful stuff like this again. (Although if I just have'nt found 3D animated stuff like this but it exists, I'd love any suggestions >o>) Keep up the awesome work, steve!
One of my all time favorites. And Jeremy was in it because he's in the book. Though as a kid he was always one of my favorites. He's just so nice and likeable and eagerly helps out Mrs. Brisby.
Also one of my childhood films. I loved the mystical/magical part and was terrified about the science/human part. The flashback scene where the mice get sucked into the dark towards their death is a picture that got stuck in my head.
I still think it's one of the most gorgeous pieces of animation to this day! I instantly fell in love with Don Bluth style the moment I saw NIMH as a kid :)
Love Mrs. Brisby but I think Ellen Ripley has her beat in “best female protag ever” if you’re going to include all of cinema. Definitely top 5 though and possibly best animated female protagonist
Agreed Mrs Brisby is definitely up there, and wow such motherly love. She's terrified of everything but her love for her children drives her forward. The only animated mother I can think of that could beat her is Hana from the anime Wolf Children who is in so far over her head it is tragic but like Mrs Brisby love drives her forward.
This film was literally my childhood, I remember watching it over and over again and enjoying every minute of it, so it’s nice to finally see someone review it. (Note: I know there’s probably other reviews out there but I haven’t looked myself, this just kind of popped in in my recommended)
My nana would read me this book when I was a child . I remember thinking how big this was at the time . The animation Still holds up today. It helped pave the way for darker animation later on . Rip Nana she died at age 98. I love this story
@@znightowlz6585 Oh it doesn't even hold a candle to the original. But to me it hilarious in its terribleness, especially the "twist" as to who the villain is. I don't know, guess I just enjoy its campy terribleness, ya know?
Courtney Amber aah yes, like problem solvers and Xavier renegade Angel. Granted Xavier renegade angel is deliberately made that like with genius writing and comedy. But problem solvers is just bad but hilariously bad
I friggin loved Secret of Nimh as a kid. Sadly my first experience was with Nimh was in the sequel. As a kid it was fine, but I thought it was a Disney movie at first.
This was my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE movie when I was younger. Honestly, I think I would still enjoy this movie. And as far as the 'magical' stuff goes, I always believed it was supposed to be technology created by the enhanced rodents. You see plenty of scientific stuff, but the only thing that eluded me was the amulet itself.
The movie is very different from the book, considering there's no magic whatsoever and Jenner doesn't even appear, he's only mentioned a couple times. Also, Brutus can talk and isn't a violent savage.
The book is better on background, as is usually typical of movies based on literature. I think the magical element is added in the movie as an easier way to provide info and explanations.
Have you read the book? There was plenty of room for the film to interpret Jeremy the Crow in less annoying ways, but he's a character from the book, he's an obstacle, and Mrs. Brisby taking pity on him simultaneously shows how generous she is while endangering the odds of her own mission. He later helps her out, winning back some of what he took from her before, ultimately being redeemed but not at any point becoming valuable overall. I really enjoyed the book, and it was amazing to me to have the film be so faithful to the original material. This is probably the only time I've ever seen a film manage to capture what really made the book so great. Everything is so ominous, the dangers Mrs. Brisby faces feel so real and threatening, seeing her make it through all of this really makes you feel just how strong she is. This film isn't simply good, it's a rare gem among films, one of the most impactful things I've ever seen.
I was REALLY wondering when this movie was gonna appear around here, it's been years since the last time I saw it (a kid back then) so let's see if it's as scary as I remember... Anyway, don't worry about sponsorships, YT by itself is no job for, what, 99,99% of people?
@Winging Eye eww someone who randomly assumes things about random people online and judges them for that assumption even though they know nothing about that person
As a big fan of the film, I'll add a couple of things.. There are two kinda notable issues with the film really, one is rightly the pendant... it wasn't in the original book at all, which is why it seams a bit forced, and also it kinda goes against the spirit of the book. In the book, it's them all working together that saves the day.. in the film, it's magic.. There are quite a few changes, most of the back story it didn't have time for (half the book tells of the Rats going from living on the streets, to NIHM, to learning to live with their new world, learning about building and then coming up with up with the big plan). Jenner is well done, even though in the book he was killed (believed) long before they got to the farm.. anyway, the change for magic is... well, it's a bit of a downer on the film cause it's all Desu Ex. the other issue is one slight problem with the Rotoscoping.. It was great and made a great feel, but due to bits you hinted at, it did have a major price. the ending fight scene is pretty much a shot for shot copy of an older Zorro film. Not just the fighting itself, but the knife throwing and .. yeah.. it was a bit like how Disney, at the time, was just tracing there old animation library. Minor note, Peter Strauss (who voiced Justin), enjoyed it so much, he named his first born son, Justin after the character.
This was my favorite movie as a kid, right next to The Dark Crystal and All Dogs Go To Heaven. It's a damn shame that this sort of animation isn't used anymore. I see so many talented animators here on RUclips that would do so amazing in that sort of industry.
The secret of the nimh is my childhood favourite animated movie and every goddamn time I watch this movie, bc its so emotional, I cry several times 😂 I absolutely love this film and recommend people to watch it, it is pretty darn dark but it has amazingly beautiful scenery every now and then I love it.
I read this book (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NiMH) during my Literature class in High School. I get the feeling that Steve is not aware that this film is based on a book seeing how he mentions Jeremy being phoned in as a comic relief character.
I love Don Bluth's stuff. More than anything, I liked how dark and depressing his stuff could get. Little Foot's mother's death will always haunt me. But his animation is amazing. the T-Rex looked dope af.
Big time freaked me out as a kid with the rats killing each other. And the lab flashback. Holy shit. As an adult I read the novel to my young daughter. Surprisingly, the novel wasn’t near as dark and scary.
@LaumiRez I highly recommend it. My homeroom teacher in third grade read it to us as a reward when we got done early. One of the few highlights of my elementary school years.
By the way guys; I know a lot of people aren't a big fan of sponsors as they feel intrusive, and I completely get that, really I do. But RUclips is such an unreliable source of income with its constant copyright strikes and demonetisations, that we really do need them for a reliable and predictable way of earning a living. So I thank you for your patience and understanding.
With that said, feel free to check out the links below. I do turn down a lot of Sponsors I think would be rubbish, so play tested RAID before agreeing to work with them, and to be honest.. for something completely free, it is actually a pretty decent game.
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Oh hi
Steve Reviews please do some anime reviews
I swear every video I watch is sponsored by Raid wtf?
I just disliked every comment
best self aware ad version ever, "oh for the love of crumb cake" :D
I love how the background looks more realistic than the characters so the characters stand out more
at least the character animation holds up
Better than Frozen, or any other CGI animated films
@@tairabanzu there's still a place for 3D animation
@LaumiRez I think people do it to make the animation look nice and to make the characters stand out, but that's just what I think
@@RetroFan2.0 Always my dude, I got nothing against CGI, but it's never too late for Disney to return to the good ol days of Disney
It kills me inside that this type of animation isnt coming back and we are stuck with the 3d animation that is pumped out now. It's alright but damn id love to see some variations and maybe some darker stories
I would love it if they did, movies like this and the Black Cauldron really interested me as a kid (esp the magic elements), but movies like that 'don't sell' anymore I suppose - it's straight to dvd if anything. If it isn't that it's yet another Princess movie (I loved the classics, but damn, a little variety wouldn't hurt) or a remake, with likely a bunch of memes/fart jokes shoehorned in as well. A lot of recent stuff is just a carbon copy...imo.
Haven't you seen klaus or Green eggs and ham?
I mean... we do have Breath Of The Wild... at least. Because that game HEAVILY riffed on this style and almost nobody seemed to notice lol. Very odd to me.
Lo K this type of animation is also more expensive and takes more time
While 3D takes less time and is cheaper at least compared to 2d animation
So that's kinda of why you don't see it allot anymore
Lo K Okay boomer
Timmy: *recovers from deadly illness*
Terrible sequel: "Allow me to introduce myself"
Wait what sequel oh no
@@voidnerdvs7660 We don’t speak of that abomination.
Oh man, that God awful sequel....
I wish they woulda just followed the books like the author’s daughter did carrying on his legacy via Rosco & the Rats of NIMH & R-T, Margaret & the Rats of NIMH
i didnt hate the sequel, it wasn't as good sure, but it had parts i really liked
This movie is actually based on a book called “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh.” It’s pretty good and it doesn’t combine magic with sci-fi.
Read it all the time as a kid. Never actually knew there was a movie before now
I read the book first, but I honestly didn't mind the inclusion of magic. I liked the idea that the Rats have advanced past humanity, and are starting to delve into things humans haven't discovered yet.
@@gremlininblue2601 I remember reading the book too! I didn't remember anything about it, but I do remember that I read it
I feel like the book is better than the movie, but that the movie is quite good
@@Mikazuchireborn I certainly don't mind it. Like you mentioned, it adds a new depth to the story. I enjoyed the book more for its consistency, but the charm of this movie is undeniable.
Having a widow as the protagonist was always,to me, a great choice of character : as a mother she has a strong will to protect her children, but also a drive to know more about her husband and why he died.
I know Right the idea Was Brilliant Mr Bluth is a genius
I also liked seeing a female protagonist that was both a widow and a mother! Already this added so many layers to her. Mrs Brisby was nurturing and feminine at times, but was also capable of getting in on the action and doing difficult things herself. She was able to ask for help, but was not helpless. The other characters may have recognised her only as Mr Brisby’s wife, but as the central character of the story, to the audience she is more than just the wife of a husband we never see on screen (except in a brief flashback)
Mrs. Brisby is in my opinion one of the top five animated protagonists of all time.
Kind of awkward considering *her husband literally just dieeeddd*
That and to me at least: the shrew is sort of supposed to be an example of an early era social worker, who were originally upper class rich women with little to do stopping by on the less fortunate to check on them. That's why she has the very pompous personality. One of the early jobs of social workers that still transcends today was dropping in on families with a lost member to help out around the home and help them readjust to life again. Hence we see her doing chores around a house that isn't hers. Both Mrs. Brisby and the children seem accustomed to her dropping by at this point, implying she had already been doing it for some time.
asian dude aunty Shrew
Scotty Fang *imagine losing your husband, kinda cringe bro :/*
but in mouse years......
And very, very fortunately, Jonathan Brisby died a true hero!!!!!
The rats had evolved so much that some of them were able to tap into something mystical
Their intellegence was a bit more explained more in the book, but the mystical part wasn't in there as well as the stone being Don bluths team idea.
Like them just being magically able to read. He looked at the words and understood them. No. The scientists taught them how to read.
Also the divide between the rats and our main character is less distinct. She lived in a very normal mouse den inside a giant brick. She didn't have all those candles and furniture.
magical stuff, like stands,
@@luckystar9279 I like the idea that they glossed over it because to a rat do you think they would care about how they learned?
@@GameNinja13 the entire point is that they aren't normal rats anymore and reading isn't hard wired into their DNA. The rats are going to have to teach their children to read just like humans do, especially if they want to keep advancing.
I think it's pretty obvious that they would care.
I’ve grown up thinking that this is a Disney Movie
Me now: you must unlearn what you have learned
Exactly! I relate to this deeply. I felt like everything I knew when I was younger was wrong. Partly we are not entirely wrong. Don Bluth was part of Disney and his art style matches what some of their movies looked like back then. But yeah, I was today years old (22) when I learned they weren't the same. No wonder I love Secret of Nimh and the Land Before Time more then some of the really old Disney movies. I really enjoyed Beauty and the Beast and kinda liked Cinderella, Snow White on the other hand. I remember my Mom telling me and my siblings that we didn't quite enjoy that movie, I'm not sure if it was because it was scary or just boring to us. Not sure which one.
I thought, too, but it's really an ex-Disney movie. 🙂
Same lol
the so called magic is just how mrs. brisby sees it. you have to remember that she's a normal field mouse with no way to understand what the rats really are, rats with human level smarts, or what they are truly capable of. she can't comprehend certain things so thru her eyes it's simply magic. that's why the owl so horrifying. the owl represents death itself to a mouse. the amulet was a device to remind us, the viewer, that technology can't anwser all our questions and we must still have faith. intresting side note, her children are more advanced then she is. more intellagent. she mentions that they can already read and do it better then she ever could.
Capable of declaring war
Interesting point, thanks for this interpretation
To explain about Justin makin’ eyes at Mrs. Brisby in the lights scene: In the book, Justin is depicted as being very handsome and and charismatic/charming. But it’s never implied he ever has a “moment” with Mrs. Brisby in the book like you see in the movie. Obviously she dismisses the moment they had.
The amulet does not exist in the book. It’s a really weird inclusion that changes the entire finale of the story. I’m not really sure why, and it feels very forced as a plot device, especially knowing the plot of the book, the finale is just as intense if not moreso.
Jeremy is essential to the plot since he is the only reason Mrs. Brisby finds out about the owl, and saving him earned her a favor owed from Jeremy. So he flew her to the owl’s tree. There was no way for Mrs. Brisby to get there otherwise. He is not nearly as much of a stumbling goofus in the original story, just obsessed with shiny things rather than string. He was originally after a shiny piece of Christmas tinsel that he got entangled in, rather than some red yarn.
Sounds like the book is superior to the movie in terms of plot and characterization.
@Sara B Even Jonathan dead, Mrs Brisby still love Jonathan, right?
@@patricio8569 I think at least that part is very well put into the movie.
I do think the Justin moment is a bit weird, but I see it more as a charismatic guy meeting a woman for the first time and, due to her status, wanting to have it confimred that he's charismatic. ...Does that make sense? I'm not sure I'm explaining this well XD
@@Ergeniz considering how much the film actually kept, and made the ending more movie friendly(the books ending is rather anti climatic) the movie does the book justice.
When transferring mediums such as from book to film a lot of compromises often have to be made. Obviously they can't keep everything from the book or the movie would be much longer and more expensive. It's also necessary sometimes to add somewhat implausible but still within the realm of possible elements such as the magic. It helps fill in holes and also is just nice to look at.
Jinner was a interesting villain.He felt in his heart that he was doing the right thing although yes he did have a lust for power.
Nah. He was a power hungry sociopath who used the colony's safety to justify the shite acts he committed.
@@alexlemonds2838 A good swordsman. I saw elements of Darth Vader.
@@grapeshot Terrible person, yes. Still, he did put up a good fight before the flung knife ended it. Gotta give him props for going down swinging.
@@alexlemonds2838 True that.
More like a status quo warrior, which even class traitor Doug Walker noticed
Interesting fact: the voice actress who did Mrs. Brisby died shortly after doing this film. She sadly had sever depression and took her own life. ): I honestly felt I can hear it in Mrs. Brisby's voice. I loved this movie, though the spider scene always freaked me out.
damn that's heartbreaking. I never knew about this till now. :(
There is 'stuff' about this, mainly drawings
Oh, I didn't know she died. Oh no.
Hm, amateur.
Oh no 😖
Jeremy had a much more important role in the book. After Mrs. Brisby/Frisby saved him from the cat he said he owed her a favor. She told him about her dilemma, and he didn't know how to help, but he told her about how all the birds would go to the Great Owl for advice when they were in trouble. He took her to the owl, and the owl would have refused to see her except Jeremy told how they met. The owl agreed to do what he could for her because she saved a bird's life.
In the movie Auntie Shrew told her to go to the owl, and the owl spoke to her without Jeremy vouching for her, so Jeremy's presence was not so necessary.
The fact that Don Bluth still lives among us at the age of almost 83 is interesting with the workload they have to go through.
Especially when so much of the actors from his movies died already
Among us
He's retired now but he teaches animation classes
@@kookycoconut Don is 85 and just made another movie studio. This dude refuses to go quitely into that good night.
Mrs. Brisby really is quite a marvelous main character; she's scared for a majority of the times when she's doing Important Plotpoint Work (like speaking with the owl, going to see the rats, etc.). As in literally trembling in fear. You get the feeling that she really is just a regular person. But she still goes through with it because of her bedridden son.
She's a really good role model, especially for children (or more particularly girls) who might not see themself as the next Xena, exemplifying that you don't have to be fearless or unusually smart or brawny or anything like that to be a hero. You just need the will to do something.
...I agree that the crow is annoying XD
Believe it or not, My mother grew up loving this film, AND YES, she has alot of the same traits as Ms brisby. Its kinda nuts. O_O regardless, whether she has had this film influence her or not, I would never trade my mom with anyone else in the world. She is what I believe a mother should be, not flawless by any means, but definitely wise, capable, kind, and puts her children above her needs. She is currently working alongside my sister at the age of 52 and I tell her I love her any chance I get.
I love what the Nostalgia Critic said about the film. It seems to be a film about Nature vs Science vs the Unknown. The unknown is symbolized by the amulet. It's a fascinating video.
THE SECRET OF STEVE REVIEWS
K.C. Elliott yeah, I think Steve completely misses the main point of the movie, unlike nostalgia critic
Literally the only time NC ever put thought into figuring out what a movie was trying to convey without calling it "Pretentious".
i always thought the "magic" was ultra advance technology made by johnatan; thus why the rats needed the electricity of the farm
@@kohtahirano4546
He has reviewed alot of shit movies.
her husband wouldnt have died if he had installed *RAID SHADOW LEGENDS*
Chewtag hahahahahahaha!!!!
Gayyyyyy
GOD DAMNIT THIS GOT ME GOOD
@@plaguedoctormasque8089 ah yes, terrible insult moment
@@donkeykongisbetterthanmari7495 [insert random dumb insult as a reply]
I never thought ms brisbee and justin were supposed to be romantic, he always just seemed like a cool dude helping out a single mother
Honestly I thought even Jeremy have more chemistry.
Bro, as an artist , I’m straight SALIVATING at the backgrounds , they are so frickin beautiful and detailed
Jeremy actually does serve a purpose in the plot, and I think it's quite sophisticated. His appearances are fairly evenly spaced, and serve as interlude scenes that 'clear the palate', so to speak; but in addition to that, he serves to illustrate the advancement of Mrs Brisby's character arc. Watch the film again, and note how Brisby's interaction with Jeremy is subtly different in each scene. You watch her progress, step by step, from passive and hapless, to confident and dominant.
The Secret of NIMH is one of my favorite movies. I watched it a lot as a kid, along with The Last Unicorn. They're definitely some of my favorites, even to this day.
Mine too. They're such beautiful films.
The Last Unicorn and Hey Good Lookin’ are interesting 1982 animations, but The Secret of NIMH and Pink Floyd’s The Wall are masterpieces (suck on that, Channel Awesome!!!!!).
Me too!
Same! Easily Bluths best film.
What I don't get though, is how this movie got away with a G rating.
Amirha Ayers omg the last unicorn!!! That boob tree was crazy!
Steve: Why is there magic and whimsical things in this film?
Me: This is a Don Bluth film. 99.9% of his films has this stuff in it.
And that ain't such a bad thing 😁
Yeah when he was like "what's the point?" I was just sitting here thinking "Cause it looks cool, and that's all the reason I need."
Thats not the point tho. I grew up watching this movie. I love it, but I've always thought....where did this magic come from and why? It is just....there. It'd be like watching any other movie and one of the characters just has the ability to shoot magic missles and save the day for no reason what so ever
That's always been the biggest weakness of Don Bluth films!! He forcefully inserts magic to evoke wonder in every move but all it does is detract from a coherent plot! Films should not be about forcing something pretty, it should be about having a solid story first! That's why it's actually good for artists to delegate plot to more grounded writers, because they can better focus what should and shouldn't be in a film! I love Anastasia but WTF Rasputin is some zombie necromancer who no one ever interacts with except one time at the end. And the stupid cat sidekick from American tale is just a rehash of that crow. Every single story is so muddled.
@@goldcherries Actually in case of Anastasia, Rastutin's magic is more integrated to the worldbuilding, at least by the fact that the historical figure had a lot of rumors about him posessing mystical knowledge and herecy. As well as the "undead" theme as his assasins claimed that he survived a poisonoing and even after multiple gunshots still managed to escape before being caught and thrown into the hole in the ice in the river. Sure, all this happened before the revolution, but you can see where the inspiration comes from.
Did anyone notice in the beginning how the book Nicodemus was writing in said “Jenner has become cold-hearted....”?
I wonder why he didn't warn anybody.
Pundertale Fan because it was obvious.
@@Air_Serpent Then why didn't anybody stop him?
“He’s a Cold Hearted Snake! Look Into His Eyes...”
I've literally been obsessed with this movie since I was a kid admiring it as a dark masterpiece, and when I found out that don bluth had pretty much challenged disney with his films it blew my mind even more. John Carradine voicing the great owl and Paul Shenar as Jenner were pefectly casted with that all knowing but wise voice of a diety and for the most evil voice to ever speak into a mic right behind Vincent Price. So glad you've reviewed this film, more people need to know about it!💜
As someone who read the book, while I still love the movie, I feel like it lacked anything the original material had to offer. In the book Jeremy wasnt just a last-minute comedy relief character, Mr Ages wasn't a jerk, they got more into NIMH, Timmy was given a little more depth than "The sick kid" overall, while the movie did an amazing job at telling *A* story as well as on animation, I feel that it had no correlation to the book as it vastly underachieved the amazingness of the book
Why didn't you mention that JENNER IS DEAD
I hate the book compared to the movie. I hate how the book is completely disinterested in Mrs. Frisby's own story. I hate how it forgets about her for a full third of the book, as it goes back to tell the not terribly interesting story of how the rats got their intelligence. I hate how the resolution of Frisby's story is treated as a complete afterthought, as the rats' story takes the focus. I hate that she's the same person at the end that she is at the beginning. The movie keeps Mrs. Brisby front and center, and gives her a genuine character arc.
Same opinion. I watched the movie for the commentary on NIMH and animal experiments only to see that the entire explanation was shortened to seconds. Some things don’t convert well into movies, I guess. Loved Brisby here though.
it's hard to implement everything from the books, there is always going to be a compromise to make the movie the best it can be without drawing things out too long.
There is one simple rule: If you read a book, don't watch the according movie. You will always (!) be disappointed because the vision in your head isn't matching the vision of the filmmaker or even the author. And: A movie HAS to cut some things. Because a book is usually read in a few days to weeks, a movie has a runtime of 1.5 to 2 hours maybe.
I want to mention that I hate all those "the book was better" sayers (you didn't do that here, but still said that the movie is lacking things... obviously).
Just read the book and don't watch the movie. Or do it the other way around - in this case you will enjoy the movie and think that some books are pretty boring and too long in comparison.
Don Bluth: I’ll create my own animation studio, with drugs and alchol
in fact, forget the animation studio!
Blackjack and hookers for everyone!
I think you're thinking of Ralph Bakshi on this one
Wow. I really didn't expect this comment on such a video.
But I'm glad that the Daycare fandom is everywhere.
@@magicaleevee843 The fuck are you talking about? This is a Futurama reference.
Here's my take on the presence of the 'magic' and it making sense within the plot of the movie.
I think it's subtly implied that the Rats of NIMN are actually more intelligent then even humans are and that their technology only appears magical but is in fact just super fucking advanced.
They're so smart in fact that I think Nicodemus has actually achieved some form of psychic ability and telepathy. I think in the book he's in reality burning the words into the pages with his mind rather then writing them.. and only holds the pen (which obviously isn't even touching the page) to mimic the action of writing. He also seems to know the future as he knew Mrs. Brisby would come to him without anyone telling him, and the way he talks almost seems like he knows whatever Ms. Brisby was going to do or say around him but simply was humoring her and acting like he didn't to maybe be polite(?) He may have even known Jenner was going to murder him but perhaps let it happen anyway.. maybe he knew the sequence of events would be the only outcome that would lead to both Jenner and his plan being exposed, and also Mrs. Brisby's home being saved.. or something. Maybe Nicodemus felt that strong of a debt to Johnathan and his widow that he was willing to sacrifice himself if it meant the house being moved.
It's a very sensible take.
Yess that’s the way I saw it! Cuz magic is often defined as any sort of science that is not yet understood soo all their intelligence is so advanced & incomprehensible to us that as outsiders our minds can only perceive it as magic
I really like this idea! I always figured magic was just a thing in their universe, but your idea is much more interesting and would also explain why we only see the rats using it (unless I’m wrong, I haven’t watched the movie in years).
@@howlinghellgar2214 Thanks, glad you like it. One of my favorite scenes of this is right after the "we know too much" boat scene with Nicodemus. When Ms. Brisby gets out of the boat and leaves then decides to come back and volunteer to drug Dragon. Nicodemus just sits in the boat staring at the shore the whole time. Like he was just waiting for when he knew she'd come back and tell him that.
So big brain I don’t even understand what it all means
this should be your new catchfrase
but wait
it's not
"Obwait, it's not!"
*Catchphrase
Like the front of a t-shirt being "All is good and happy"
Then on the back "But wait, it's not"
I always thought that Nicodemus' magical abilities came from him being the smartest rat and well read enough to teach himself actual magic. He's the rat version of Merlin.
And you forgot to mention that the movie is an adaptation of "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brian.
I wish animators would make stuff like this again. Beautiful animation and good story.
To this day, I still like to think that this movie and "the pinky and the brain" take place in the same universe.
Makes sense
Little Stewart and ratittoy
RATS RATS
we're the rats
we prey at night
we stalk at night
we're the rats
Blake Ambergaze I’m da big rat and I make all da rulez
I like rats.
The Senate I used to have pet rats when I was little lol. They were really cute
You did it wrong, the first line is "rats, we're rats"
Ya know everytime I think of the Secret Of NIMH I think of FernGully: The Last Rainforest since I watched both as a child repeatedly
"Secret of Nymph"......don't give the furries ideas.....
Capn WBAtismo Nymphs aren’t even animals....
@@poopityscoop839 ya know what a nympho is don't ya?
Capn WBAtismo I know what a Nymphomaniac is but OP’s comment was a typo and you mentioned furries and Nymphs (The creatures) aren’t animals. So I guess everyone in the comment thread is confused.
@@poopityscoop839 op Is also confused
16 hours a day, that means 8 hours of sleep a day.
I once “worked” on a short film two days in a row for 11 and 15 hours.
The last day I basically went insane and started hitting my head against every vertical object that crossed my path on my way home.
Not very good for your mental health. I can’t imagine how tired and disillusioned they must have felt in the process.
I want to automatically say that it was all worth it for what I feel is one of the greatest animated films of all time, but who knows what each worker went through. I only hope that no one got into a serious accident, or was too greatly troubled from all their hard work for this film, and that they were somehow extra rewarded. I hope that they at least knew at one point of their lives, how fantastic and brilliant millions of people of all ages and gender, thought this film was. And if they’re still around, I hope they realize how beloved this film is still, to this day..
Nah, she wouldn’t be able to protect it if others wanted the crystals power. She didn’t want to have to worry about guarding it and having people come for her and her family. She just wanted to be with her children. Justin protecting it for her makes perfect sense. If she would ever need it again, she’d be able to get it from Justin. Also, I always believed even as a kid that the magic was just Mrs. Brisby’s way of seeing their intelligence. And maybe the crystal is a symbol of faith or hope.
That's how I felt the magic was. Such a heightened level of capability gain through experimentation could be seen as magic through someone else's eyes. People have seen new forms of inventions and science as 'magic'.
I personally feel that Jermony does have some relevance to the plot as he is the one Mrs. Brisby asks to take her to the great owl since judging by the flight scene they have together shows that the great owl lives in an area quite a distance from the farm.
Fan: man I think that disney is pretty good at making people sad.
Don Bluth: hOLd mA pEN
Bambi
Alma Chroma bambi is overrated as fuck
@@lmaChroma An American Tail.
HA! This actually did make me lol ♥️
But wait.
It’s not.
The Secret of Nimth is worth watching on this day. I now remember how dark the story was.
Thomas Howard I think it excellently prepared us as kids for dark and scary without giving most of us nightmares **nod**
I watch it when was kid. Gave me the chills
This was one of my all time favorites as a child, it definitely makes a difference when creators care about their projects instead of money grabs
This was literally one of my favorite childhood films. 😁😅 I still watch it every now and then
as a kid i remember the tractor scene was so terrifying
Dude and that one scene with like some spider or something
@@ChronicAndIronic agreed damn spider
The spider ALWAYS creeped me out. I swear it gave me nightmares (also when the owl turns his head 😨)
I never liked the part with ole Brutus
@@stroud9208 I never knew the guard had a name until I rewatched the movie as an adult XD Oh, the things you miss when you watch as a child
6:27 it’s implied yes. Out of curiosity, I looked it up, only under unusual circumstances or experiments in labs, that mice and rats can mate, but can’t produce offspring because they are a two different species.
Also, in nature, rats are predatory toward mice and they are known to kill and eat them, as they are above them in the food chain.
But these aren’t ordinary rodents, after all. lol They’re more like tiny, smart little people inside rodent bodies, thanks to NIMH.
(NIMH is a _real_ organization, btw)
I used to watch this and An American Tail all the time when I was little. I still watch it every once in awhile and I still love it.
What i dont get is why are most of the mice Jewish not like there's anything wrong with it it's just weird that mice have religion
@@williampulfer-melville8536 I think it was supposed to be an allegory of how Jewish immigrants fled to escape religious persecution. The mice were constantly getting attacked by cats in Russia, that's why they sing about how there won't be cats in America because it's better and they'll have more opportunities.
@@redlily2893 right but we of cause know there are Cats In America being led by That Midget Cat pretending to be a Rat Warren T. Rat
Fun fact this was actually based on a book called the rats of Nimh. However it didnt have the magic elements in it and focused more on how the rats came to be and the story of Jonathan as well though it didnt explain how he died it did mention his death and How he helped the rats and other mice in the experiments That was the main bulk of the book rather than what The film was focusing on.
This movie was my childhood. I remember when I was little watching this movie and loving it despite it having darker themes.
*nostalgia intensifies*
Bluth wanted to take on Disney, he went all in on the dark content in this film.
7:05 2 of the mice tried to take over the world a couple times. There was a series based on them.
Pinky and the brain?
Have you seen "The Great Mouse Detective"?
@@Larienzia yes lol. Except whilst Brain IS intelligent, he is actually the insane one. While PINKY is the real genius.
@@Kitsuvet More truer truth is hard to find.
@@Larienzia Agreed
Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole
What i like about this movie is its Australian setting with some of Australian animals like the Ecindna and Half the cast being Australian i like it mainly because I'm Australian
Raid Shadow Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole
That movie was my childhood
I love that movie, it high quality compared to Illumination and Sony
That shit was good. But the book series was even better and added more story and lore into the whole history of the owls and GaHoole itself.
The way I viewed the magic aspect is they still possessed enough wonder in the world around them, and were smart enough to figure out how to harness it. Almost as if Magic is in the wonder and mystery of the world around them.
That movie was my childhood as a little kid. I think Don Bluth did a fantastic job on his first movie. The colors, characters, and the animation itself were just something else. :)
"Deuce Ex Machina" is my new favorite phrase. Thanks Steve!
I posted him the link to a site with a recording of the correct pronunciation. :)
Are you 12? It's kind of an old phrase
@@chasedbyvvolves9256 I know the phrase "Deus ex Machina." The different spelling should've tipped you off I was talking about Steve's pronunciation ;)
h. ann Loads if people don’t know things. You can either laugh at them or help them learn something new. I’m sure there are things that you don’t know either
Thoughtful Devil what the deuce?
hey steve, here are a few animated films from my childhood that aren’t super well known:
-we’re back! a dinosaur’s story
-thumbelina: a magical story
-the adventures of lolo/scamper the penguin
-ferngully: the last rainforest
-astro boy
I loved and still do, Scamper the penguin...
20 years old and have fond memories of it.
Thumbelina was so strange, I loved it
adriann k I know all of those and they aren’t really that good tbh especially ferngully. The 1st was pretty good though bc of the bat
Ronny D. B. Lopez haha me too
Alma Chroma it really was
I think the film actually really holds up from the time period it was made.
When I was little, I watched and rewatched TSON on my tube tv and portable DVD player built into the car. This, All Dogs Go To Heaven, The Land Before Time, Scooby Doo, etc. were the makings of my childhood. Honestly? I forgot that this movie was this dark. I didn’t think it was dark at all with how it was handled. It didn’t scare me, it didn’t give me nightmares. I was 4-5 when I watched it, and it really isn’t as spooky scary as parents make it out to be for children. We need this kind of content to understand that the world isn’t a bunch of ‘if you shake your bum in front of your friends and family, you’re a cool person!!!’
People die. People have bad things happen to them and their families. Telling your child they can’t watch this ‘because it’s too scary,’ is literally just going to make the child be more scared of the movie. Sure, some children are sensitive, but they need to learn this sooner rather than later, lest they become an ungrateful, bratty child who thinks the world revolves around them, and nine year olds need to have a boyfriend purely for a social standpoint.
That happened yesterday. She also complained about her friends hating her bc she doesn’t have a thigh gap. Wtf are people doing to children.
The reason a lot of characters outside of Nimh don't have or use full names is because they were normal animals until Jonathan Brisby teaches them concepts he picked up from his time in the lab. So Mrs Brisby actually doesn't have a name, she just took the surname that Jonathan chose.
I was raised on Don Bluth movies. Including watching this one as a kid many times. I believe The secret of nihm is a great movie. I'd much rather watch the secret of nihm than a lot of the animated content now a days.
What's your thoughts of An American Tail? That's another really great film , and that's also made by Don Bluth.
I always saw the magic element as the Rats are going through their own rapid evolution. Like you see a female rat wearing clothing from the middle ages.
This movie was both whimsical and terrifying to me when I was younger.
Only now do I see I understood nothing of this cartoon as a kid yet I was obsessed with it although it scared me. I loved Jeremy, I loved the amulet, Nicodemus, the darkness of it, loved loved loved. It made all the sense in the world to me 😂
This was my absolute favvv when I was growing up! The songs give you such feels and I love the creepiness and dark animation of the Great Owl, Nicodemus, and the story about escaping Nimh. I also agree the scene where Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy are fleeing from Dragon is so intense and wonderful, you can't help but hold your breath for her as she narrowly escapes all those close calls! Another one of my favorite characters was Martin, her older son, he was such a little turd but I just couldn't help but laugh at him and all his lines! I'm still a Don Bluth Fan to this day and I think he really captured the heart in his animations!❤️🐭😍
A movie I'm proud to say was part of my childhood.
This movie is one of my favorites of my childhood, and is still one of my favorite animated movies to date. I always loved the settings and the character animation.The animals always moved more like animals than people, with the exception of the rats of NIHM, which makes a lot of sense. I always adored the attention to detail in this film.
This movie is also the reason why none of the "scary" scenes from Disney movies spooked me as a child.
The wonderful thing about don bluth's studio is how beautifully they captured movement. When I watched NIMH I was mystified by the fluidty of each little tiny movement in each character. All the subtlety to it too. I like that 3D animation is getting more stylized but I have yet to see stuff like this movie intigrated into animation yet, or at least, mainstream. There's a big reliance in quick, direct movement with tiny pauses. I'm excited to see 3D keep going though, and who knows, maybe we'll start seeing the circle come round and give us dark and powerful stuff like this again.
(Although if I just have'nt found 3D animated stuff like this but it exists, I'd love any suggestions >o>)
Keep up the awesome work, steve!
Tangled does a fantastic job with subtle movements. But other than that? ...yeah, I'm having a hard time coming up with another 3D film too.
When you learn he worked on things like Robin Hood at Disney before he left you can 100% see the resemblance.
@@carlotta4th I just hope there is no live action version.
@@meikahidenori I was little disappointed in that movie. Too much animation that was copied from other films.
One of my all time favorites. And Jeremy was in it because he's in the book. Though as a kid he was always one of my favorites. He's just so nice and likeable and eagerly helps out Mrs. Brisby.
Also one of my childhood films. I loved the mystical/magical part and was terrified about the science/human part. The flashback scene where the mice get sucked into the dark towards their death is a picture that got stuck in my head.
0:44
"Have you heard about them?"
Me: *yes, its everywhere*
The book of this is different, not better both are fantastic, but worth a read
I always loved the movie. But never read the book I need to.
My mom used to read that to me, I learned of the movie through the book. I remember liking it.
The book was one of my absolute favorites when I was a child
Yup, both are great!
I love that scene when the Dragon the cat was trying to kill Mrs. Brisby and the Crow. I like the musical score that was going with it also.
I never thought the National Institute for Mental Health can be included in a very dark story that can be easily mistaken as a kid-friendly movie.
I still think it's one of the most gorgeous pieces of animation to this day! I instantly fell in love with Don Bluth style the moment I saw NIMH as a kid :)
I was so terrified of this movie when I was a kid :’) Still creeps me out as a 24yo tbh
ngl
id say mrs brisby is the best female protag in any piece of media.
Better than Ellen Ripley? Just saying.
@@RileyRivalle2 Maybe best Mother Protagonist.
Love Mrs. Brisby but I think Ellen Ripley has her beat in “best female protag ever” if you’re going to include all of cinema.
Definitely top 5 though and possibly best animated female protagonist
Agreed Mrs Brisby is definitely up there, and wow such motherly love. She's terrified of everything but her love for her children drives her forward. The only animated mother I can think of that could beat her is Hana from the anime Wolf Children who is in so far over her head it is tragic but like Mrs Brisby love drives her forward.
Frisby.... they had ti change it to brisby due to the toy trademark.
This movie is a dark Bluth classic
This film was literally my childhood, I remember watching it over and over again and enjoying every minute of it, so it’s nice to finally see someone review it.
(Note: I know there’s probably other reviews out there but I haven’t looked myself, this just kind of popped in in my recommended)
My nana would read me this book when I was a child . I remember thinking how big this was at the time . The animation Still holds up today. It helped pave the way for darker animation later on . Rip Nana she died at age 98. I love this story
I love this movie, I used to watch it all the time when I was a kid. And the sequel is a huge guilty pleasure of mine. Hehe
Courtney Amber the sequel? I heard that was utter garbage
@@znightowlz6585 Oh it doesn't even hold a candle to the original. But to me it hilarious in its terribleness, especially the "twist" as to who the villain is. I don't know, guess I just enjoy its campy terribleness, ya know?
Courtney Amber aah yes, like problem solvers and Xavier renegade Angel. Granted Xavier renegade angel is deliberately made that like with genius writing and comedy.
But problem solvers is just bad but hilariously bad
Same. It's been my favorite animated movie since 1985.
I friggin loved Secret of Nimh as a kid. Sadly my first experience was with Nimh was in the sequel. As a kid it was fine, but I thought it was a Disney movie at first.
The first one was so well made.
The second was _what?_
It’s like puberty
Sarah Mossman as a pubescent person, I can confirm this entirely.
When I was younger, this movie used to scare me cause of the music and dark colors for certain scenes
This was my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE movie when I was younger. Honestly, I think I would still enjoy this movie. And as far as the 'magical' stuff goes, I always believed it was supposed to be technology created by the enhanced rodents. You see plenty of scientific stuff, but the only thing that eluded me was the amulet itself.
the book didn't have magic in it and was really more about the rats then miss bisby
I remember reading it in 6th grade for literature class and I found it a bit dark but I honestly enjoyed the book a lot
OK, I think I definitively know now where my arachnophobia came from: I remember watching this when I was very, very young...
I read the book version for a summer reading project. I didn’t exactly remember it entirely like this.
The movie is very different from the book, considering there's no magic whatsoever and Jenner doesn't even appear, he's only mentioned a couple times. Also, Brutus can talk and isn't a violent savage.
The book is better on background, as is usually typical of movies based on literature. I think the magical element is added in the movie as an easier way to provide info and explanations.
@@undeadladybug7723 well he was kinda a big bodyguard BRUTE hehehe....
I'll see myself out
My favorite part of the book was when the rats got salty that humans called our modern corporate existence the rat race
Disturbing caft: Mrs. Brisby's voice actress, Elizabeth Hartman, suffered from depression and commuted suicide
Wtf is a caft
@@cdogthehedgehog6923 He meant tafc.
That is really sad but I cannot stop laughing that she "commuted" suicide... Welp... I'm going to hell.
Have you read the book? There was plenty of room for the film to interpret Jeremy the Crow in less annoying ways, but he's a character from the book, he's an obstacle, and Mrs. Brisby taking pity on him simultaneously shows how generous she is while endangering the odds of her own mission. He later helps her out, winning back some of what he took from her before, ultimately being redeemed but not at any point becoming valuable overall.
I really enjoyed the book, and it was amazing to me to have the film be so faithful to the original material. This is probably the only time I've ever seen a film manage to capture what really made the book so great. Everything is so ominous, the dangers Mrs. Brisby faces feel so real and threatening, seeing her make it through all of this really makes you feel just how strong she is. This film isn't simply good, it's a rare gem among films, one of the most impactful things I've ever seen.
I was REALLY wondering when this movie was gonna appear around here, it's been years since the last time I saw it (a kid back then) so let's see if it's as scary as I remember...
Anyway, don't worry about sponsorships, YT by itself is no job for, what, 99,99% of people?
Shinkiro “a kid back then” it was last year
@@marcosfrancisco1696 what was last year?
@Jesus Pabon you mean "An American Tale"?
Shinkiro no it had a second that was awful apparently
I see, never even heard it existed but I guess it was because of its reputation then
I had to watch this in school after reading the book. The book is a better story than the movie
I kind of agree, I wish the movie was more book accurate but this is fine.
The book's story is better over all yes but the film is great in it's own unique way. I recommend both for the full experiance
@Winging Eye eww someone who randomly assumes things about random people online and judges them for that assumption even though they know nothing about that person
As a big fan of the film, I'll add a couple of things.. There are two kinda notable issues with the film really, one is rightly the pendant... it wasn't in the original book at all, which is why it seams a bit forced, and also it kinda goes against the spirit of the book. In the book, it's them all working together that saves the day.. in the film, it's magic.. There are quite a few changes, most of the back story it didn't have time for (half the book tells of the Rats going from living on the streets, to NIHM, to learning to live with their new world, learning about building and then coming up with up with the big plan). Jenner is well done, even though in the book he was killed (believed) long before they got to the farm.. anyway, the change for magic is... well, it's a bit of a downer on the film cause it's all Desu Ex. the other issue is one slight problem with the Rotoscoping.. It was great and made a great feel, but due to bits you hinted at, it did have a major price. the ending fight scene is pretty much a shot for shot copy of an older Zorro film. Not just the fighting itself, but the knife throwing and .. yeah.. it was a bit like how Disney, at the time, was just tracing there old animation library. Minor note, Peter Strauss (who voiced Justin), enjoyed it so much, he named his first born son, Justin after the character.
This was my favorite movie as a kid, right next to The Dark Crystal and All Dogs Go To Heaven. It's a damn shame that this sort of animation isn't used anymore. I see so many talented animators here on RUclips that would do so amazing in that sort of industry.
The secret of the nimh is my childhood favourite animated movie and every goddamn time I watch this movie, bc its so emotional, I cry several times 😂 I absolutely love this film and recommend people to watch it, it is pretty darn dark but it has amazingly beautiful scenery every now and then I love it.
What's your thoughts on An American Tail?
I read this book (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NiMH) during my Literature class in High School. I get the feeling that Steve is not aware that this film is based on a book seeing how he mentions Jeremy being phoned in as a comic relief character.
for me, the film can be an alegory for Nature, Science, and the Unknown.
I love Don Bluth's stuff. More than anything, I liked how dark and depressing his stuff could get. Little Foot's mother's death will always haunt me. But his animation is amazing. the T-Rex looked dope af.
Big time freaked me out as a kid with the rats killing each other. And the lab flashback. Holy shit. As an adult I read the novel to my young daughter. Surprisingly, the novel wasn’t near as dark and scary.
This is like the one movie I watch when I'm at my grandma's house
Courage of the heart is very rare, the stone has a power when it's there.
And all that magic stuff isn't in the original book.
The movie is better.
@LaumiRez I highly recommend it. My homeroom teacher in third grade read it to us as a reward when we got done early. One of the few highlights of my elementary school years.
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Give it time. RAID: Shadow Legends will sponsor videos about Audible and Skillshare...
For all the trouble Don Bluth and his team went through, the fact that they ever completed it is a miracle.