The Secret of NIMH (1982)
The Secret of NIMH (1982)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: The Secret of NIMH is a dark, well-told tale that respects its young audience enough to not tone down its subject matter.
The Secret of NIMH Photos
Movie Info
Watch it now
Cast
as Nicodemus
as Mrs. Brisby
as Mr. Ages
as Jeremy
as Jennar
as Teresa
as Auntie Shrew
as Martin
as Great Owl
as Justin
as Cynthia
as Timmy
as Farmer Fitzgibben
as Miss Right
News & Interviews for The Secret of NIMH
Critic Reviews for The Secret of NIMH
All Critics (23) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (1) | DVD (7)
Bluth and his animators, bless them, chose to revive an endangered art form -- classically detailed animation. They drew their characters exquisitely and gave them individual personalities.
Not enthralling, but worth seeing for anyone interested in the mechanics of this arcane art.
Every character moves fluidly and imaginatively against an extravaganza of detailed background and dazzling effects, all emboldened by fascinating colored textures.
It is something gorgeous to look at.
The animation was, as Bluth and company had promised, a spectacular return to old-school craftsmanship.
It's a spectacular return to the shimmering, mesmerising deep-focus animation associated with Disney's classic period...
Audience Reviews for The Secret of NIMH
The Secret of NIMH features gorgeous, detailed animation and a delightfully dark nature. It is well constructed, occasionally thrilling, visually dazzling---and also mysterious and haunting (rare for an animated film). What really makes the film a triumph is its ability to perfectly convey O'Brien's masterful work--especially via the expressive characters--and fully capture our attention and wonder as we willingly follow Ms. Brisby along her exciting adventure. Where it falls short is in its slow beginning, abrupt ending, and some moments that drag. However, these flaws--while keeping it from being a perfect masterpiece--are then undone by the beauty that makes up most of the film.
Super Reviewer
though many consider this Don Bluths best film, I still don't think he is the best animation director. The animation is okay, but its not that impressive, not as much "Anastasia." The acting is okay but not fantastic, but the music is very good, and some of it is very good when it comes to its drama, but it doesn't leave you completely satisfied like some other serious animated films do like "Persepolis" but overall it is a decent film, but its not the best film or the best animated film I've seen.
Super Reviewer
Don Bluths directorial debut and his best film. The animation is amazing, especially when considering it was done by twelve animators. The story is just as amazing as the audience follows Mrs. Brisbys journey to save her son. Their are many scary and intense scenes in this movie, but Mrs. Brisbys courage and optimism keeps the tone of the film in balance. Probably the only time Don Bluth succeeded in maintaining that balance. An emotionally powerful film that kids and adults can enjoy.
Super Reviewer
The Secret of NIMH Quotes
| Jennar: | We were just talking about you... |
| Justin: | That's refreshing, Jenner. Usually you're screaming about us... |
| Mrs. Brisby: | If you're going to feather a nest, you've got a lot to learn about how to treat a lady. |
| Jeremy: | Right. When you're right, you're right, and you're right. None of the girls I meet wanna get serious. |
| Mrs. Brisby: | I doubt they'd survive. |
| Nicodemus: | Johnathan could not tell you about us because the injections slowed the aging process. You see, you would have grown old, while he remained young. |
| Nicodemus: | We can no longer live as rats. We know too much. |
Discussion Forum
Discuss The Secret of NIMH on our Movie forum!