With all the modern "girl power" movies that range from okay to very shoehorned, Mrs. Brisby topples them all. She does everything she can to help both Timmy and eventually the rats of Nihm, by overcoming her fears and pushing herself forward with what she knows she needs to do. That's courage. This movie deserves more attention for every reason in the book.
Mrs Brisby (Mrs Frisby in the book) 🫡 The bravest person is the one who is very afraid, knows that they're afraid, knows that they're in over their head, but pushes on. Because it's the right thing to do.
Mrs. Brisby is no doubt one of the sweetest animated protagonists out there. Elizabeth Hartman really give it her all with her very gentle and sweet voice to the character. Really heartbreaking to hear that she took her own life after the film’s release. May she along with Shannen Doherty rest in peace.
Let's not forget that Mrs. Brisby what is the definition of what a great widow wife to her husband especially the best mother of all media including better than a few Disney mothers too.
Kind of like Bluth she peaked early. She got an Oscar nomination for her very first role in A Patch of Blue. She had a hard time finding work later and Hollywood isn't kind to aging actresses. You can hear that she was very sensitive just from the way she voiced Mrs. Brisby. RIP
I met Don Bluth at Galaxy Con back in 2023. Such a nice guy. He told me his favorite animated scene that he worked on was the sword fight between Justin and Jenner.
He was supposed to attend Fan Expo Canada this year, but he didn't make it. Plus I did eventually saw a DVD copy of the movie at one of the vendors at the Fan Expo, but I didn't pick it up since I was very sick during my birthday weekend few weeks ago.
I heard he copied the movements of the sword fight from different live action movies. Surprising and talented. It's like what Walt Disney did with some of his movies. Using the same kind of movements from different movies and using them in another.
This is really a one of a kind movie. A story of a widowed mother simply trying to find a way save her family especially her sick son but gets caught up in something bigger. It’s kinda like finding Nemo but much darker and serious. Also, If you think about it Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy’s friendship is quite similar to Marlin and Dory’s relationship. Even in terms of their individual personalities it’s similar.
A really influential film, too. It's what convinced Steven Speilberg to get into animation, starting out with Don and An American Tail. Without this movie there may be no Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Freakazoid, Balto, and they may not have pushed Disney hard enough to spark their Renaissance. I know some fans of this movie have decided that Mrs. Brisby's first name should be Elizabeth because it was Elizabeth Hartman's last role before she jumped off a building
Way before collaborating with Steven Spielberg, launching Disney’s renaissance period, having his creations milked and tampered with by Universal and MGM, and helping 20th Century Fox enter the game, Don Bluth was another independent animation pioneer, alongside Ralph Bakshi, with this work of art! As well as wishing the legend an early happy 87th birthday, I hope AniMat reviews another one of Bluth’s good films with “Anastasia”.
@@hectormanuel8360 Since the 1940's the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH has been known to do all kinds of testing and experiments on animals, specifically Rats and Mice. In the Book that this movie is based on called "Mrs.Frisby And The Rats Of NIHM" its stated that the original Rats and Johnathan Frisby were experimented on extensively, which is the reason why the have human level intelligence, which in turn also exposed them, most notably Nicodemus to the use of magic. I'm not too sure how they got the use of magic, it's explained in the book but I haven't read it in years. But when the Rats and Johnathan Frisby arrive to the Farm and surrounding areas their intelligence and magic rubs off onto the animals and landscape surrounding them. In the Secret Of NIHM 2, which is alright but not anywhere as good as The Secret Of NIHM, the second movie dives into what exactly happened at NIHM with the characters travelling to the Institute and seeing all of the current experiments including more Rats and Mice.
I always loved how Mrs. Brisby stays so focused on saving her children and their livelihood; even as she confronts savage predators, the harsh truths of her people's experimentation by humans, and Jenner's coup, she never once loses sight of her goal to simply protect her family. It's a nice humanizing touch to a "Humans are Cthulhu-esque beings" story, and proof that she (and her fellow mice/rats) are in some ways equal to or even superior to the humans who conducted those intelligence-increasing experiments (which Mrs. Brisby wasn't even a part of).
I recently watched the film for a Don Bluth presentation I was working on for an art appreciation class. The film is definitely worth its merits. Don Bluth is the underdog of animation cinema.
Don Bluth was Disney's biggest rival for a while, but he embodied the spirit of Walt in so many ways; including the effort and perfectionism in his very first animated feature.
@@Carlos-bz5oo No; WWII Germany screwed Felix over. The Bambi movie came out in 1942. Felix was too busy fleeing persecution in Europe for being Jewish.
@@Carlos-bz5oo Reverse UNO card; the "Yahtzee" Party screwed Felix over. They had his books banned in the 30's, and forced him to flee after they annexed Austria. The Bambi movie came out in 1942. Felix was too busy trying not to get captured for being Jewish.
@@simonemancuso3576 It's one of his best films and shows he can do a princess musical without solely copying Disney as funny to think Anastasia, it's spinoff film and Titan A.E are owned by Disney now techinally makes her a Disney princess.
@@simonemancuso3576 Once compilation now is part of the same group. Like to see more of her and Don bluth's other characters that Disney techinally owns now.
This is one of the first films to influence Disney's Renaissance (with American Tail the one that actually did). This was better than anything Disney did during this era. This is Don Bluths best film and since he had the most creative control, it shows as it was a passion project for him. Mrs. Brisby is the perfect model of how to write strong female characters.
Although I grew-up with Don Bluth's animated musical "Anastasia" as my all-time favorite childhood movie and my first introduction to the legendary animator. Until I saw one of Don Bluth's magnum opus of all animated film as my second favorite which is "The Secret Of NIMH", I'm thankful that I saw Secret of NIMH as my second introduction to Don Bluth. I love Secret Of NIMH cause of it's wonderful story about an mother would do anything to save her children's, beautiful groundbreaking animation to honor the golden age like Disney, and amazing characters like Mrs. Brisby. I am so happy and thankful that you finally get to review this childhood favorite movie and I will treasure The Secret Of NIMH as my all-time favorite animated films!
Applaud Don Bluth for taking that one big step to building his own studio and creating this wonderful animated feature film. The Secret of NIMH has always been a film that has fascinated me with its interesting story, dark and realistic elements, the great musical score, and captivating characters. A fine staple in my childhood. Great review as well!
This is the film that is consensus recognized as Don Bluth’s magnum opus and I would have to agree. It’s one of the more darker movies I’ve seen from any kind of film studio but that’s what makes it so memorable and makes it stand out above the crowd
Congratulations, Don Bluth and company for coming out of the gates punching with "The Secret of NIMH". While my personal favorite Don Bluth film is "The Land Before Time", I still give "The Secret of NIMH" a lot of respect for starting Don Bluth's animation company, and for leaving a legacy of its own. Kudos to you, Don, for all your hard work. And it looks like we'll be seeing Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles coming together for something unusual for the next review. Turtle Power!
Ah yes. Don Bluth’s first ever feature film and one that truly defined the work of animation. While I do personally prefer The Land Before Time as my favorite film from him, it doesn’t change the fact that this movie is an absolute masterpiece and one that I am so happy more and more people are discovering. Also, how funny that this movie came out in the same summer as ET, because the live action film ended up being more family friendly than the animated film!
Oh, what a true blue classic! Memorable characters, stunning animation, and a great story. However, there's one element from the book I like to incorporate into the movie to make Jenner more evil: he and Nicodemus were friends until the escape from NIMH. That alone makes Jenner even more despicable.
23:55 The First 10/10 Since Shrek 2. Also, I Miss The “Bam Bam” Effect Whenever A 10/10 Appears On Screen. But Nevertheless Awesome Review On One Of My Favorite Don Bluth Movies
Really hoping we get a 4K release soon. It’s kind of crazy how the last physical media release was a 2009 era blu ray with some ROUGH cover artwork. This is arguably the best animated film of the 1980’s and a huge landmark moment in animation.
It's a great movie, but I don't think its effects rippled through the industry much. Bluth's later movies like American Tail and Land Before Time had more of an impact
@@christophermoore5007 Guess what? 4 weeks after I made this comment….There’s a sweet 4K new release from Eureka releasing! Unfortunately it’s UK only as of now..but if you are able to grab it definitely do so and support physical media.
Ah yes! The Secret of NIMH, aka, Don Bluth’s magnum opus. For being the directorial debut of Don Bluth, (at least for a feature length film) they definitely knocked it out of the park. Everything, from the beautiful animation, the phenomenal score by Jerry Goldsmith (I would honestly say Secret of NIMH is one of his best film scores) and the memorable characters, Mrs Brisby is definitely one of the best animated female protagonists ever, she’s not flawless or a skilled warrior, but instead she’s a scared mother, but is willing to go through any obstacles or dangers for the love of her family and her late husband. Of course I would recommend The Secret of NIMH, it’s definitely one of the best films of the 1980s, alongside films like The Dark Crystal and The Last Unicorn, and again, is Don Bluth’s magnum opus, I would even say it’s one of the greatest animated films of all time.
This movie was a huge deal to me as a teenager all due to reading the book in middle school and watching this afterwards in awe and surprise. I would wholeheartedly agree this is Don Bluth's best work.
The first time I watched The Secret Of NIMH, I was either 6 or 7 at the time and it was on Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Theatre. All I remembered was being so terrified that I turned the TV off half-way through. But after I saw it again when I was older, it gave me new-found respect & appreciation for it! (Though there are some scenes that still scare me…🙀) Of course, it’s beautifully animated, the mystery & world-building surrounding the rats of NIMH gets you invested, but the true heart of the film is Mrs. Brisby & the performance by Elizabeth Hartman (May she rest in peace…💙) While I may not be the biggest Don Bluth fan, I also consider this to be his magnum opus and it definitely earns the title as one of the darkest animated films ever made, I’ll give it a 9/10!🐁 Please, let the film for the next Classic Review be just as great!🙏 Wait, Batman VS TMNT? Never seen it, and I don't think I ever will...😒
Oh yeah. After quitting Disney to make his own animation studio, his first animated film was this grand masterpiece. This is one of Doug Walker’s all time favorite films and this is MY #3 Favorite Non-Disney Animated Film
I don't know about everyone else, Animat, but I've been waiting for this review ever since you mentioned this movie in your review of The Secret of Kells back in 2013. In that review, you said, and I quote, “This is a must-watch for any fan of both animation and fantasy alike, especially to those who love Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH.”
I love that this movie not only is a great animated movie but an amazing film as well with a universal story, top notch animation and complex characters.
This is why I really love Don Bluth's works. AniMat's Classic Reviews Requests: Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue Space Jam Thomas and the Magic Railroad Monsters, Inc. The Plague Dogs Animalympics The Seventh Brother Samson and Sally Peter No-Tail in America The Pagemaster The Sonic OVA Movie Alpha and Omega 2
❤️💖 Personally I thought or expect you to review the Secret of Nimh back around 2022 just to celebrate 🥳 🎉 🎊 🍾 it's 40th Anniversary. But overall, I am glad that you finally review it. 😃😀😄😁😊😉 👍🏻 💖❤️
I’ve already stated this before on AniMat’s first upload of this review on Patreon, but I’ll reiterate for those who don’t have accounts to watch his videos 2 days early, but this is one of those animated films I wish I had watched in my childhood as I would’ve loved this as a kid and would’ve grown to appreciate it more as an adult for its technical achievement, artistic merit and its more serious tone compared to other animated films featuring anthropomorphic animals or released in the 80s and I do appreciate it for all those qualities and definitely see why Don Bluth is proud of this film and it is definitely something he should be. The best way to prove to his former employers at Disney he could be independent and make animated films with the same quality of the studio’s films during Walt’s lifetime. And I’m still PISSED that CW’s miniseries Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982 left this film completely out in their discussion of films released that year, especially in the episode where they talk about films in the fantasy genre. That would’ve been a good episode to discuss and analyze the film, but they didn’t do it. 🤦♂️ Oh, well, at least WE animation fans recognize The Secret of NIMH’s legacy and impact in animation, especially non-Disney animated films.
Yeah..I feel like he was just making films to try to get $ at that point. It's a shame he turned down Spielberg's offer to work in Amblim animation (Spielberg had pretty much offered to let him run that studio pointing out to Bluth that Bluth knew animation but Spielberg didn't) Bluth later admitted he regretting not knowing that.
@@littlesongbird1 To be fair all it did was for one of their movies to not do well (Balto) and Amblimation's cards all fell down, so maybe he dodged a bullet
I was in high school when this movie came out. One of my classmates' brothers worked with Bluth. You can even see each of the Molina brothers' names in the credits. About 6 months or so before the movie launched, the two brothers came to my school to talk to the drama classes, as they also knew it teacher. They both went to the same school. I was able to talk my teacher into allowing my younger brother to come to the final class to see all the stuff on the movie. My brother was a bit of an artist, and I wanted him to mean the Molinas. I got an okay from my teacher to pass on my last class, and my brother was able to get out as well. Wet both sat through the presentation, and my brother got to ask questions. It was the best class ever, and at both when to see the movie when it was released. This has always been a favorite of mine. So much do that I learned "Flying Dreams" and was able to sing to my nephew before bedtime.
It’s finally that time we get to understand why Secret of NIHM is Don bluth’s best film! Ever since I seen your content, I remember that moment when Don Bluth gave your dvd case an autograph. This is a must watch movie for me to check out! We need more animated films about a mother protagonist going on her big adventure. What streaming service is the film on?
For certain, this is a masterful classic. While I'm not a huge fan as much as you, I do understand why this is very beloved. From time to time I would watch this to give myself something suspenseful or to feel inspired, considering that while this ain't from Disney, It shows that you don't need to be from making films as much as the masters.
@@laduwade9977 I wish he had a voice over role in Anastasia. It would’ve been better sendoff for Dom’s collaboration with Don instead of A Troll in Central Park. I wonder what character he would’ve voiced in that film had Don brought him back? 🤔
I was waiting for the day when Mat would pull a 10/10 movie out of the Animation Hat again after so long, and it has happened. I got a little worried when he slightly criticized Jeremy and Jenner, but I thought the criticisms wouldn't be enough to take two points. I thought he would showcase his signed DVD cover of the film from Bluth and Goldman themselves, but that animation cel is still nice as well. Anyway, it seems like Batman vs TMNT is next. I'm not too familiar with it so I don't know what that film is like, but I think it's likely it won't be as good as The Secret of Nimh.
This is by far one of my favorite movies. The animation is beautiful, the story is a perfect blend of terror and wonder, the characters are enduring, yeah this is by far Don Bluth’s magnum opus.
Mrs. Brisby is still one of my favorite heroines and among the bravest of characters because she clearly has fears. She is not a skilled martial artist, she's not young and athletic, she's not even particularly educated as she's not an experiment survivor. She's just someone determined to save her family and overcomes obstacles, including her own fears, to do that. At the time a single mother heroine in animation was pretty much unheard of and now...well I think it's still mostly unheard of. And a Mom of four kids who is neither seeking a man nor seeking personal power I think might be sadly alien to writers on both sides of our era of entertainment. Or maybe not. Other things that made this rather unlike classic Disney, or animated films I watched as a boy, is there isn't much of a romance angle and no big musical numbers. The closest to a musical number is Mrs. Brisby singing to her son, but this is "naturalistic" in that it's something a real person might do rather than "a number." It's not like in "musicals" even Bluth would do in "American Tail" or "Anastasia." On romance Jeremy gets a girlfriend and there's some flirtation between Justin and Mrs. Brisby, but Jeremy's girlfriend is in essentially the epilogue while nothing on-screen really happens between Justin and Mrs. Brisby. And even if it did it's not the point of the story. Although what made it a bit "shocking" for me as a boy is that there is blood and that Justin says "damn" at one point. In American animation characters bleeding heavily and then dying wasn't that common even back then. ("Watership Down" was British and a bit earlier. "The Plague Dogs" looks to be the same era and US/UK, but I don't know if it was as mainstream as NIMH.) All that said I have a relative who didn't like it because she felt it added too many fantasy elements not in the book. I gather the book is closer to straight science fiction than the fantasy/Sci-fi hybrid this is.
5:08 - 7:12 ❤️💖 I am happy 😊 😃 that we got an animated film which focuses the mother 👩🏻 as the main protagonist instead of being the cliché of the dead mother trope that has gone formalic and overdone in the movie industry. 😃😀😄😁😊😉 👍🏻 💖❤️
I read the book this movie was based on when I was in middle school and I preferred the movie version since they up the stakes along with adding elements that seemed like they should have been in the movie. Don't ask me which elements because I haven't read the book in over a decade. I feel so sorry for Elizabeth Hartman since this was her final role before she left us and it's a shame because it's a great performance, she deserved better then what Hollywood gave her.
What a classic film, and so beloved by all, I'm so glad it wasn't tainted by an unnecessary direct-to-video sequel that doesn't exist, because if it did, you would probably hear about it from people who review either animated films or nostalgic films of the past (even if the name feels more like an artifact as said critic has been reviewing more modern films that are based on preexisting IP as well), can you imagine someone making a sequel to this masterpiece and fucking it up by having terrible animation, a stupid plot, and musical numbers? Update: and we have confirmation of the next Classic Review in the form of Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I finally watched the full film after several years of learning about Secret of Nimh from reviews, and I appreciate the experience. The atmosphere is so immersive, the animation is stellar, and the lore is intriguing, even if I feel the cast is not very interesting.
The Secret of NIMH is one of those movies that I've had on my mind to watch for a while, yet I haven't done so. But I'll be sure see it having watched this review. Also, I have a feeling the next review could be the Batman and TMNT animated film crossover.
Kid Danger: *wearing his mighty pup movie outfit* not to rain on your parade, but, BUT, i LOVE "All Dogs Go To Heaven" right behind "The Secret Of NIMH". Both movies are my favorite movies from him
I read the book and it's one of my absolute favorites of all the time. But the animation... oh my god the animation. While the story is slightly different than the book and more magical than just rats that learned how to do basic math and use tools, it's beautiful, has a sense of scale and has insane special effects.
It remains an astounding picture. Jerry Beck talks about seeing a clip of it as a student at the School of Visual Arts when Don Bluth brought it in to show the students. He said it Jazzed up the entire class.
This is my second favorite Don Bluth film. From the gorgeous animation to the awesome musical score this is indeed a 10/10 in my book. Anyone who has not seen it or has go see it or rewatch it as Animate said. Don gave Disney a run for their money.
I put this movie on my email of requests to AniMat when I wrote to him back in November 2019 and he used the hat to pick this as his next review from his previous classic reviews so... yay!
One of my favorites of all time! I was a kid back in the 80s. The best decade to be one I think. I didn’t know Shannen was the voice of one of Mrs. Brisby’s kids..the one with the big bow. Sigh….good ole days.
That story of Don Bluth leaving Disney to create his own movies never gets old to me. The fact that his first Post-Disney film managed to be so beautiful and engaging is quite an accomplishment.
Secret of NIHM was a wild bit of my childhood. Apparently no one watched it. Which was sad, because it was great. One of the few movies we liked, but never had a copy of until i came across a dvd. Had to catch it on tv before then. Bluth made some great films for his time.
Hands down the best movie of Don Bluth. And I follow him on social media! He's a great guy and he does care about 2-D animation unlike a certain company that he used to be a part of before making his own movies.
Don Bluth should really be brought up more, I really think the majority of his movies like All dogs go to heaven and Land before time were amazingly epic and awesome
My gosh, when I was 6 this movie scared me and yet I continued watching it. I guess it just goes to show, this was and is truly a masterpiece.❤ The sequel on the other hand, well.😒
I have seen some of the more expensive animation cells from Japan on several occasions back at Anime Expo from 2015 until 2016. I believe at this point it was a long time ago. One of the animation cells was from a scene from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and the owner was trying to sell it for about $3,000 due to its rarity. Although this wasn't the only animation cell being sold at this price, I did see much cheaper ones going for a lot less. However, this particular scene from the movie had a higher price tag. I have tried to buy a few animation cells, and I have only bought one in the past 10 years. I am planning to get another one whenever I see one that catches my eye.
Don Bluth is truly a legendary 2D animator. I'd rather have his 2D animation still around today, instead of all the 3D and live action remakes we get now.
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With all the modern "girl power" movies that range from okay to very shoehorned, Mrs. Brisby topples them all. She does everything she can to help both Timmy and eventually the rats of Nihm, by overcoming her fears and pushing herself forward with what she knows she needs to do. That's courage. This movie deserves more attention for every reason in the book.
Mrs Brisby (Mrs Frisby in the book) 🫡
The bravest person is the one who is very afraid, knows that they're afraid, knows that they're in over their head, but pushes on. Because it's the right thing to do.
I heard that Don Bluth had the most creative control over his first feature film, and I think that’s why he says it’s his favorite
That and it being a experience as a director and artist that makes it his favorite among his films. One of my favorite films peroid too.
It's his best one, nothing he's made comes close
@@simonemancuso3576 Well An American tale and The land before time are all time classics too but without NIMH they would've not happened.
Don made the best mouse movies.
When Don Bluth was independent, he also created Dragon’s Lair.
Mrs. Brisby is no doubt one of the sweetest animated protagonists out there. Elizabeth Hartman really give it her all with her very gentle and sweet voice to the character. Really heartbreaking to hear that she took her own life after the film’s release. May she along with Shannen Doherty rest in peace.
Shannen brought so much to the character, can't imagine anyone but her!!!
@@danielgudinojuarez6729 I think The Fox & The Hound is more of Bluth's style.
Let's not forget that Mrs. Brisby what is the definition of what a great widow wife to her husband especially the best mother of all media including better than a few Disney mothers too.
At least she left behind a legacy with voicing Miss Brisby, so there’s a positive takeaway from her untimely death.
Kind of like Bluth she peaked early. She got an Oscar nomination for her very first role in A Patch of Blue. She had a hard time finding work later and Hollywood isn't kind to aging actresses. You can hear that she was very sensitive just from the way she voiced Mrs. Brisby. RIP
I met Don Bluth at Galaxy Con back in 2023. Such a nice guy. He told me his favorite animated scene that he worked on was the sword fight between Justin and Jenner.
He was supposed to attend Fan Expo Canada this year, but he didn't make it. Plus I did eventually saw a DVD copy of the movie at one of the vendors at the Fan Expo, but I didn't pick it up since I was very sick during my birthday weekend few weeks ago.
I heard he copied the movements of the sword fight from different live action movies. Surprising and talented. It's like what Walt Disney did with some of his movies. Using the same kind of movements from different movies and using them in another.
This is really a one of a kind movie. A story of a widowed mother simply trying to find a way save her family especially her sick son but gets caught up in something bigger. It’s kinda like finding Nemo but much darker and serious. Also, If you think about it Mrs. Brisby and Jeremy’s friendship is quite similar to Marlin and Dory’s relationship. Even in terms of their individual personalities it’s similar.
A really influential film, too. It's what convinced Steven Speilberg to get into animation, starting out with Don and An American Tail. Without this movie there may be no Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Freakazoid, Balto, and they may not have pushed Disney hard enough to spark their Renaissance. I know some fans of this movie have decided that Mrs. Brisby's first name should be Elizabeth because it was Elizabeth Hartman's last role before she jumped off a building
Let's not forget the animation masterpiece that is The Prince of Egypt.
Way before collaborating with Steven Spielberg, launching Disney’s renaissance period, having his creations milked and tampered with by Universal and MGM, and helping 20th Century Fox enter the game, Don Bluth was another independent animation pioneer, alongside Ralph Bakshi, with this work of art!
As well as wishing the legend an early happy 87th birthday, I hope AniMat reviews another one of Bluth’s good films with “Anastasia”.
I hope he'll do Ani-Mat Review on ANASTASIA too, cause I grew-up with that film from my inner childhood.
I’d like to see him also review Thumbelina and A Troll in Central Park just to complete the Don Bluth filmography.
@@hunterolaughlin Me too. Just thought he'd finish off with Don Bluth's good stuff first.
@@BigLightning4360 How Steven Spielberg founded out about Nimh is because Jerry Goldsmith was composing both Nimh and Spielberg's Poltergeist.
So technically, Don bluth walked so Blue sky studios could run and Annapurna animation could sprint.
I always loved that the Nimh in this movie is based on the real life National Institute of Mental Health.
Context?
@@hectormanuel8360 Since the 1940's the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH has been known to do all kinds of testing and experiments on animals, specifically Rats and Mice. In the Book that this movie is based on called "Mrs.Frisby And The Rats Of NIHM" its stated that the original Rats and Johnathan Frisby were experimented on extensively, which is the reason why the have human level intelligence, which in turn also exposed them, most notably Nicodemus to the use of magic. I'm not too sure how they got the use of magic, it's explained in the book but I haven't read it in years. But when the Rats and Johnathan Frisby arrive to the Farm and surrounding areas their intelligence and magic rubs off onto the animals and landscape surrounding them.
In the Secret Of NIHM 2, which is alright but not anywhere as good as The Secret Of NIHM, the second movie dives into what exactly happened at NIHM with the characters travelling to the Institute and seeing all of the current experiments including more Rats and Mice.
@@hectormanuel8360 The book this was based from criticised their animal experimentation
@@Carlos-bz5oo thanks
I always loved how Mrs. Brisby stays so focused on saving her children and their livelihood; even as she confronts savage predators, the harsh truths of her people's experimentation by humans, and Jenner's coup, she never once loses sight of her goal to simply protect her family. It's a nice humanizing touch to a "Humans are Cthulhu-esque beings" story, and proof that she (and her fellow mice/rats) are in some ways equal to or even superior to the humans who conducted those intelligence-increasing experiments (which Mrs. Brisby wasn't even a part of).
Finally, the BEST film by my former animation teacher!
Wait, WHAT?!
@@LoganHaley-c4y Yep, you heard me correctly. Don Bluth is my former animation teacher. I just graduated from his classes this summer.
While The Land Before Time is my favorite of Don Bluth's work, The Secret of NIMH is DEFINITELY his best film!
I recently watched the film for a Don Bluth presentation I was working on for an art appreciation class. The film is definitely worth its merits.
Don Bluth is the underdog of animation cinema.
Don Bluth was Disney's biggest rival for a while, but he embodied the spirit of Walt in so many ways; including the effort and perfectionism in his very first animated feature.
He's a much better person than Walt "I screwed over Felix Salten" Disney
@@Carlos-bz5oo By your logic, Don Bluth screwed over Robert C O'Brien for not adapting his book to the letter either. 🙄
@@365ral Bother to do research. Walt screwed over Felix Salten to the point no other studio could adapt his work and bankrupted him
@@Carlos-bz5oo No; WWII Germany screwed Felix over. The Bambi movie came out in 1942. Felix was too busy fleeing persecution in Europe for being Jewish.
@@Carlos-bz5oo Reverse UNO card; the "Yahtzee" Party screwed Felix over. They had his books banned in the 30's, and forced him to flee after they annexed Austria. The Bambi movie came out in 1942. Felix was too busy trying not to get captured for being Jewish.
Wow, who knew that a directorial debut would leave a lasting impact on everyone. Don really hit his peak between 1982 until 89!!!
Also briefly 1997 with Anastasia.
@@chrisbrasel8060Anastasia single handedly beats any 90s Disney movie
@@simonemancuso3576 It's one of his best films and shows he can do a princess musical without solely copying Disney as funny to think Anastasia, it's spinoff film and Titan A.E are owned by Disney now techinally makes her a Disney princess.
@@chrisbrasel8060 You're right, Anastasia is now part of the canon. Oh, the irony
@@simonemancuso3576 Once compilation now is part of the same group. Like to see more of her and Don bluth's other characters that Disney techinally owns now.
Phew! I had to Google Don Bluth to make sure this wasn't an in-memoriam video (He's still alive)
This is one of the first films to influence Disney's Renaissance (with American Tail the one that actually did). This was better than anything Disney did during this era. This is Don Bluths best film and since he had the most creative control, it shows as it was a passion project for him. Mrs. Brisby is the perfect model of how to write strong female characters.
Although I grew-up with Don Bluth's animated musical "Anastasia" as my all-time favorite childhood movie and my first introduction to the legendary animator. Until I saw one of Don Bluth's magnum opus of all animated film as my second favorite which is "The Secret Of NIMH", I'm thankful that I saw Secret of NIMH as my second introduction to Don Bluth. I love Secret Of NIMH cause of it's wonderful story about an mother would do anything to save her children's, beautiful groundbreaking animation to honor the golden age like Disney, and amazing characters like Mrs. Brisby. I am so happy and thankful that you finally get to review this childhood favorite movie and I will treasure The Secret Of NIMH as my all-time favorite animated films!
Applaud Don Bluth for taking that one big step to building his own studio and creating this wonderful animated feature film. The Secret of NIMH has always been a film that has fascinated me with its interesting story, dark and realistic elements, the great musical score, and captivating characters. A fine staple in my childhood. Great review as well!
Next will be Batman vs TMNT
And somewhat of a good timing considering that Joker 2 will be coming out in October.
@@Starwarsfanboy0928 cool
The review will come out in October.
This is the film that is consensus recognized as Don Bluth’s magnum opus and I would have to agree. It’s one of the more darker movies I’ve seen from any kind of film studio but that’s what makes it so memorable and makes it stand out above the crowd
Kill me for saying this but I actually like the Nimh sequel from 1998
The secret of NIMH is definitely a classic and a masterpiece.
Congratulations, Don Bluth and company for coming out of the gates punching with "The Secret of NIMH". While my personal favorite Don Bluth film is "The Land Before Time", I still give "The Secret of NIMH" a lot of respect for starting Don Bluth's animation company, and for leaving a legacy of its own. Kudos to you, Don, for all your hard work.
And it looks like we'll be seeing Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles coming together for something unusual for the next review. Turtle Power!
Ah yes. Don Bluth’s first ever feature film and one that truly defined the work of animation. While I do personally prefer The Land Before Time as my favorite film from him, it doesn’t change the fact that this movie is an absolute masterpiece and one that I am so happy more and more people are discovering.
Also, how funny that this movie came out in the same summer as ET, because the live action film ended up being more family friendly than the animated film!
Oh, what a true blue classic! Memorable characters, stunning animation, and a great story. However, there's one element from the book I like to incorporate into the movie to make Jenner more evil: he and Nicodemus were friends until the escape from NIMH. That alone makes Jenner even more despicable.
23:55 The First 10/10 Since Shrek 2. Also, I Miss The “Bam Bam” Effect Whenever A 10/10 Appears On Screen. But Nevertheless Awesome Review On One Of My Favorite Don Bluth Movies
Are you sure? I remember Wario and Waluigi shouting "PERFECT" (not sure of the source) whenever it reaches that achivement.
I always thought the brief audio clip at the end of his 10/10 reviews was saying “Batman!” 😂
The 10/10 sound effect is basically a "10 outta 10" voice over
Where did the Ba Da Ba! came from? I want to know where did that come from.
As far as I’m concerned, the sequel to this movie doesn’t exist
I headcanon that the entire sequel was just a fever dream that Timmy had while fighting pneumonia.
Agreed.
@@MissBarker93Mine too.
@@johnnymanize and it shouldn’t
There is no Easter bunny,there is no queen of England and there is no secret of NIMH sequel
Really hoping we get a 4K release soon. It’s kind of crazy how the last physical media release was a 2009 era blu ray with some ROUGH cover artwork. This is arguably the best animated film of the 1980’s and a huge landmark moment in animation.
I hope either Kino Lorber or Shout Factory could release it!
It's a great movie, but I don't think its effects rippled through the industry much. Bluth's later movies like American Tail and Land Before Time had more of an impact
The secret of nimh would be great for criterion.
@@christophermoore5007 Guess what? 4 weeks after I made this comment….There’s a sweet 4K new release from Eureka releasing! Unfortunately it’s UK only as of now..but if you are able to grab it definitely do so and support physical media.
@@austin_the_brimstone orbit may have it. They do sell UK blu-rays and 4ks.
Ah yes! The Secret of NIMH, aka, Don Bluth’s magnum opus. For being the directorial debut of Don Bluth, (at least for a feature length film) they definitely knocked it out of the park. Everything, from the beautiful animation, the phenomenal score by Jerry Goldsmith (I would honestly say Secret of NIMH is one of his best film scores) and the memorable characters, Mrs Brisby is definitely one of the best animated female protagonists ever, she’s not flawless or a skilled warrior, but instead she’s a scared mother, but is willing to go through any obstacles or dangers for the love of her family and her late husband. Of course I would recommend The Secret of NIMH, it’s definitely one of the best films of the 1980s, alongside films like The Dark Crystal and The Last Unicorn, and again, is Don Bluth’s magnum opus, I would even say it’s one of the greatest animated films of all time.
This movie was a huge deal to me as a teenager all due to reading the book in middle school and watching this afterwards in awe and surprise. I would wholeheartedly agree this is Don Bluth's best work.
The first time I watched The Secret Of NIMH, I was either 6 or 7 at the time and it was on Cartoon Network’s Cartoon Theatre. All I remembered was being so terrified that I turned the TV off half-way through. But after I saw it again when I was older, it gave me new-found respect & appreciation for it! (Though there are some scenes that still scare me…🙀)
Of course, it’s beautifully animated, the mystery & world-building surrounding the rats of NIMH gets you invested, but the true heart of the film is Mrs. Brisby & the performance by Elizabeth Hartman (May she rest in peace…💙)
While I may not be the biggest Don Bluth fan, I also consider this to be his magnum opus and it definitely earns the title as one of the darkest animated films ever made, I’ll give it a 9/10!🐁
Please, let the film for the next Classic Review be just as great!🙏
Wait, Batman VS TMNT? Never seen it, and I don't think I ever will...😒
I feel really sorry for the people who worked in the sequel of this movie😥........
Oh yeah. After quitting Disney to make his own animation studio, his first animated film was this grand masterpiece. This is one of Doug Walker’s all time favorite films and this is MY #3 Favorite Non-Disney Animated Film
What’s your number 1?
@@sirjordayne1345 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
@@sirjordayne1345 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
@@sirjordayne1345 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Shame you had to soil it with Doug Walker's mention
I don't know about everyone else, Animat, but I've been waiting for this review ever since you mentioned this movie in your review of The Secret of Kells back in 2013. In that review, you said, and I quote, “This is a must-watch for any fan of both animation and fantasy alike, especially to those who love Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH.”
I love that this movie not only is a great animated movie but an amazing film as well with a universal story, top notch animation and complex characters.
This is why I really love Don Bluth's works.
AniMat's Classic Reviews Requests:
Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
Space Jam
Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Monsters, Inc.
The Plague Dogs
Animalympics
The Seventh Brother
Samson and Sally
Peter No-Tail in America
The Pagemaster
The Sonic OVA Movie
Alpha and Omega 2
This is a comfort film for sure. Like a warm bath...just sit & soak.
❤️💖 Personally I thought or expect you to review the Secret of Nimh back around 2022 just to celebrate 🥳 🎉 🎊 🍾 it's 40th Anniversary. But overall, I am glad that you finally review it. 😃😀😄😁😊😉 👍🏻 💖❤️
Fun fact: Mr. Ages is voiced by Arthur Malet, who also played the role of Mr. Dawes, Jr. in Disney’s classic, “Mary Poppins“
The sequel doesn't exist!!! Also, I might be interested into supporting the Baobab tree
I’ve already stated this before on AniMat’s first upload of this review on Patreon, but I’ll reiterate for those who don’t have accounts to watch his videos 2 days early, but this is one of those animated films I wish I had watched in my childhood as I would’ve loved this as a kid and would’ve grown to appreciate it more as an adult for its technical achievement, artistic merit and its more serious tone compared to other animated films featuring anthropomorphic animals or released in the 80s and I do appreciate it for all those qualities and definitely see why Don Bluth is proud of this film and it is definitely something he should be. The best way to prove to his former employers at Disney he could be independent and make animated films with the same quality of the studio’s films during Walt’s lifetime. And I’m still PISSED that CW’s miniseries Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982 left this film completely out in their discussion of films released that year, especially in the episode where they talk about films in the fantasy genre. That would’ve been a good episode to discuss and analyze the film, but they didn’t do it. 🤦♂️
Oh, well, at least WE animation fans recognize The Secret of NIMH’s legacy and impact in animation, especially non-Disney animated films.
His very first film. The 80s were his golden age. Until the 90s when he took a sharp sudden nosedive.
Yeah..I feel like he was just making films to try to get $ at that point. It's a shame he turned down Spielberg's offer to work in Amblim animation (Spielberg had pretty much offered to let him run that studio pointing out to Bluth that Bluth knew animation but Spielberg didn't) Bluth later admitted he regretting not knowing that.
@@littlesongbird1 To be fair all it did was for one of their movies to not do well (Balto) and Amblimation's cards all fell down, so maybe he dodged a bullet
This story of how the movie didn’t have a great start upon its release, but later got a big following is very similar to that of The Iron Giant.
I was in high school when this movie came out. One of my classmates' brothers worked with Bluth. You can even see each of the Molina brothers' names in the credits.
About 6 months or so before the movie launched, the two brothers came to my school to talk to the drama classes, as they also knew it teacher. They both went to the same school. I was able to talk my teacher into allowing my younger brother to come to the final class to see all the stuff on the movie. My brother was a bit of an artist, and I wanted him to mean the Molinas. I got an okay from my teacher to pass on my last class, and my brother was able to get out as well.
Wet both sat through the presentation, and my brother got to ask questions. It was the best class ever, and at both when to see the movie when it was released. This has always been a favorite of mine. So much do that I learned "Flying Dreams" and was able to sing to my nephew before bedtime.
It’s finally that time we get to understand why Secret of NIHM is Don bluth’s best film! Ever since I seen your content, I remember that moment when Don Bluth gave your dvd case an autograph. This is a must watch movie for me to check out! We need more animated films about a mother protagonist going on her big adventure. What streaming service is the film on?
It's on MGM+
For certain, this is a masterful classic. While I'm not a huge fan as much as you, I do understand why this is very beloved. From time to time I would watch this to give myself something suspenseful or to feel inspired, considering that while this ain't from Disney, It shows that you don't need to be from making films as much as the masters.
23:50 10/10 on Story, 10/10 on Animation, & 9/10 on Characters, Conclusion: 10/10 PREFECT!
First one since Shrek 2
RIP Dom DeLisle, who did the voices of Jeremy, Tiger, Ichy and Stanley in Don Bluth's films🙏
Except for The Land Before Time, Rock-a-Doodle, Thumbelina, The Pebble and the Penguin, Anastasia and Titan A.E.
@@hunterolaughlin 👌
@@laduwade9977 I wish he had a voice over role in Anastasia. It would’ve been better sendoff for Dom’s collaboration with Don instead of A Troll in Central Park. I wonder what character he would’ve voiced in that film had Don brought him back? 🤔
Rest in peace Jerry Goldsmith🙏
I was waiting for the day when Mat would pull a 10/10 movie out of the Animation Hat again after so long, and it has happened. I got a little worried when he slightly criticized Jeremy and Jenner, but I thought the criticisms wouldn't be enough to take two points. I thought he would showcase his signed DVD cover of the film from Bluth and Goldman themselves, but that animation cel is still nice as well. Anyway, it seems like Batman vs TMNT is next. I'm not too familiar with it so I don't know what that film is like, but I think it's likely it won't be as good as The Secret of Nimh.
13:14; with all those lights, one might've easily mistaken this for a Christmas movie.
This is by far one of my favorite movies. The animation is beautiful, the story is a perfect blend of terror and wonder, the characters are enduring, yeah this is by far Don Bluth’s magnum opus.
21:05 to be fair, jenner literally is only mentioned in passing in the book and dies offscreen or whatever the book equivalent of offscreen is.
Mrs. Brisby is still one of my favorite heroines and among the bravest of characters because she clearly has fears. She is not a skilled martial artist, she's not young and athletic, she's not even particularly educated as she's not an experiment survivor. She's just someone determined to save her family and overcomes obstacles, including her own fears, to do that. At the time a single mother heroine in animation was pretty much unheard of and now...well I think it's still mostly unheard of. And a Mom of four kids who is neither seeking a man nor seeking personal power I think might be sadly alien to writers on both sides of our era of entertainment. Or maybe not.
Other things that made this rather unlike classic Disney, or animated films I watched as a boy, is there isn't much of a romance angle and no big musical numbers. The closest to a musical number is Mrs. Brisby singing to her son, but this is "naturalistic" in that it's something a real person might do rather than "a number." It's not like in "musicals" even Bluth would do in "American Tail" or "Anastasia." On romance Jeremy gets a girlfriend and there's some flirtation between Justin and Mrs. Brisby, but Jeremy's girlfriend is in essentially the epilogue while nothing on-screen really happens between Justin and Mrs. Brisby. And even if it did it's not the point of the story.
Although what made it a bit "shocking" for me as a boy is that there is blood and that Justin says "damn" at one point. In American animation characters bleeding heavily and then dying wasn't that common even back then. ("Watership Down" was British and a bit earlier. "The Plague Dogs" looks to be the same era and US/UK, but I don't know if it was as mainstream as NIMH.)
All that said I have a relative who didn't like it because she felt it added too many fantasy elements not in the book. I gather the book is closer to straight science fiction than the fantasy/Sci-fi hybrid this is.
Doug Walker's Favorite Movie is still at the Number one spot on the Nostalgia Critic's 11 Underrated Classics!
This was my favorite movie when I was a kid, I always asked my mom to rent it when we went to Blockbuster
1:44, don't forget that NIMH also went up against "Poltergeist" (1982) at the box office...
OOOOOH!! That production cell is gorgeous! That's incredible dude! 🤩
Why did Animat stop saying “Fan fan” every time he gave a 10/10?
I think that was only for films that got a 10/10 on every critique? (story, animation and characters)
When did the Ba Da Ba! came from? I want to know about the origin of the quote.
With Don's greatest film reviewed.
Only 4 Bluth films are left.
I know the 3 are Thumbelina, A Troll in Central Park and Anastasia, but what could the fourth one be?
@@hunterolaughlin Bartok The Magnificent
5:08 - 7:12 ❤️💖 I am happy 😊 😃 that we got an animated film which focuses the mother 👩🏻 as the main protagonist instead of being the cliché of the dead mother trope that has gone formalic and overdone in the movie industry. 😃😀😄😁😊😉 👍🏻 💖❤️
I read the book this movie was based on when I was in middle school and I preferred the movie version since they up the stakes along with adding elements that seemed like they should have been in the movie. Don't ask me which elements because I haven't read the book in over a decade. I feel so sorry for Elizabeth Hartman since this was her final role before she left us and it's a shame because it's a great performance, she deserved better then what Hollywood gave her.
Next AniMat's Classic Review is: Batman Vs TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
I honestly thought he was gonna review rugrats go wild
@@georgerobertson7010he said comics in an animated feature with the bat and the turtles
The Secret of NIMH is definitely one of my favorite Don Bluth movies alongside An American Tail, Land before Time and All dogs go to Heaven.
This is easily Don Bluth's best film no doubt about it.
Rest in peace, Elizabeth Hartman, who voices Mrs. Brisby in this film🙏😔🙏
What a classic film, and so beloved by all, I'm so glad it wasn't tainted by an unnecessary direct-to-video sequel that doesn't exist, because if it did, you would probably hear about it from people who review either animated films or nostalgic films of the past (even if the name feels more like an artifact as said critic has been reviewing more modern films that are based on preexisting IP as well), can you imagine someone making a sequel to this masterpiece and fucking it up by having terrible animation, a stupid plot, and musical numbers?
Update: and we have confirmation of the next Classic Review in the form of Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I finally watched the full film after several years of learning about Secret of Nimh from reviews, and I appreciate the experience. The atmosphere is so immersive, the animation is stellar, and the lore is intriguing, even if I feel the cast is not very interesting.
This is a movie that has to be seen to be believed. It truly is Bluth's magnum opus
The Secret of NIMH is one of those movies that I've had on my mind to watch for a while, yet I haven't done so. But I'll be sure see it having watched this review.
Also, I have a feeling the next review could be the Batman and TMNT animated film crossover.
What happened to the 10 out of 10 sound effect?
Mrs. Brisby, I once named a mouse after her.
Mrs Jonathan Brisby!
Kid Danger: *wearing his mighty pup movie outfit* not to rain on your parade, but, BUT, i LOVE "All Dogs Go To Heaven" right behind "The Secret Of NIMH". Both movies are my favorite movies from him
Animat just gave this movie a 10 because it’s a masterpiece. 😤
Yep
First things first, rest in peace Shannen Doherty (the voice of Teresa)
I read the book and it's one of my absolute favorites of all the time. But the animation... oh my god the animation. While the story is slightly different than the book and more magical than just rats that learned how to do basic math and use tools, it's beautiful, has a sense of scale and has insane special effects.
It remains an astounding picture. Jerry Beck talks about seeing a clip of it as a student at the School of Visual Arts when Don Bluth brought it in to show the students. He said it Jazzed up the entire class.
This is my second favorite Don Bluth film. From the gorgeous animation to the awesome musical score this is indeed a 10/10 in my book. Anyone who has not seen it or has go see it or rewatch it as Animate said. Don gave Disney a run for their money.
I put this movie on my email of requests to AniMat when I wrote to him back in November 2019 and he used the hat to pick this as his next review from his previous classic reviews so... yay!
One of my favorites of all time! I was a kid back in the 80s. The best decade to be one I think. I didn’t know Shannen was the voice of one of Mrs. Brisby’s kids..the one with the big bow. Sigh….good ole days.
Don Bluth had some pretty bad luck when it came to his animated film career. I read it in his memoir.
One of my favorite films ever
That story of Don Bluth leaving Disney to create his own movies never gets old to me. The fact that his first Post-Disney film managed to be so beautiful and engaging is quite an accomplishment.
This movie was truly one of a kind and one of his best films all these years alter with no issues.
Secret of NIHM was a wild bit of my childhood. Apparently no one watched it. Which was sad, because it was great. One of the few movies we liked, but never had a copy of until i came across a dvd. Had to catch it on tv before then. Bluth made some great films for his time.
Batman vs. TMNT is next
Hands down the best movie of Don Bluth. And I follow him on social media! He's a great guy and he does care about 2-D animation unlike a certain company that he used to be a part of before making his own movies.
12:50 This Cliche has been seen in Flushed Away as well.
Don Bluth should really be brought up more, I really think the majority of his movies like All dogs go to heaven and Land before time were amazingly epic and awesome
I just saw this movie recently and it was amazing! It’s just a shame that it didn’t do as well financially.
I remember we read the book in our 4th grade class.
My gosh, when I was 6 this movie scared me and yet I continued watching it. I guess it just goes to show, this was and is truly a masterpiece.❤ The sequel on the other hand, well.😒
I wonder if we're gonna vote for AniMat's 15th anniversary review.
I thought that Teen Titans vs. Teen Titans Go was next until AniMat mentioned "bat and turtles"
I have seen some of the more expensive animation cells from Japan on several occasions back at Anime Expo from 2015 until 2016. I believe at this point it was a long time ago. One of the animation cells was from a scene from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and the owner was trying to sell it for about $3,000 due to its rarity. Although this wasn't the only animation cell being sold at this price, I did see much cheaper ones going for a lot less. However, this particular scene from the movie had a higher price tag. I have tried to buy a few animation cells, and I have only bought one in the past 10 years. I am planning to get another one whenever I see one that catches my eye.
Don Bluth is truly a legendary 2D animator. I'd rather have his 2D animation still around today, instead of all the 3D and live action remakes we get now.
As I kid, I had never of The Secret of NIMH. I heard of An American Tail, The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven but not this.
This film reminds me of the old picture books my parents would read to me on cold nights.
I love The Secret of NIMH, wish Don Bluth did a lot more movies like that one.
That was a cat? I thought it was a werewolf!