There is an argument to be had about the animation renaissance and when it truly began. Most would say it came with 1989’s Disney animation The Little Mermaid, but some may go back further to Don Bluth and The Secret of NIMH. Released in 1982 the film was released to modest fanfare making double its budget at the overall box office, but the real success was on home video, the old reliable (back then) VHS market. Based on the book, Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien, our heroine’s name changed to Brisby for the film due to trademark issues. The idea to adapt the book had originally been a possible project for Disney but they lost interest. American filmmaker, and former Disney Animation Studios employee Don Bluth felt there was a story needing to be told and he knew exactly how.
Recently widowed, Mrs Brisby is in desperate need of help. Moving day has arrived early and Farmer Fitzgibbons is about to plough the field where she lives. But Timmy, one of her four children, is sick with pneumonia and cannot be moved. Advised by the Great Owl, the wisest creature around, she seeks out help from the mysterious and secretive rats that live in the rosebush. These aren’t just any rats, as they have a secret, just like Mrs Brisby’s husband Jonathan before he died, and these rats want something in return.
The ominous title and intricate, detailed original posters made The Secret of NIMH seem like a huge adventure story, full of mystery and magic when in actual fact, it’s about a grieving mouse trying to take care of her family, becoming entangled in the complicated affairs of rats. It’s a slightly over simplified summary of what is a fantastically animated story, with colourful characters, heartfelt scenes and moments of pure terror. There are a few wider shots that take in the entire farm and these put into perspective just how a seemingly small field can be everything to the animals. A small event, such as the tractor ploughing the field, sends everyone into chaos with the feelings magnified by the point of view of a mouse. Especially one as desperate as Mrs B. The Secret of NIMH is unlike any other animated film of its time, drawing you in to the sadness, chaos and the darkness that plagues everyone at some point.
As the animals debate about their fate, one rat says ‘let the lower creatures fend for themselves’. But by showing the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) using animals to experiment on, the question of intelligence and how to wield it comes up. They have everything in the rosebush but are at risk of being discovered by NIMH, and so must decide whether to travel to Thorn Valley to be free. The horrific flashback sequences show that the real horror isn’t Dragon the old farm cat, or The Great Owl but, as always, the humans who torture these animals.
Aside from the gloomyness of the story, there is some lighter relief in the form of Jeremy the crow, voiced by the impeccable Dom DeLuise. DeLuise is a definite highlight in what is an impressive voice cast, who bring the right amount of emotion to the screen. At its heart, The Secret of NIMH is aimed at children, but it still hits all the same nostalgic notes for those who watched it as a child and again as an adult. There was a straight to video sequel, The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue, but Don Bluth had no involvement and it was poorly received so the less said about that the better. Let us remember and appreciate the original.
Special Features:
- Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring original poster artwork [2000 copies]
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a studio supplied master
- Optional English Subtitles
- A new audio commentary with animation scholar Sam Summers, author of DreamWorks Animation: Intertextuality and Aesthetics in Shrek and Beyond
- An archival audio commentary with director Don Bluth and producer Gary Goldman
- A Way to go Home – A new on-camera interview with director and animator Don Bluth
- Beyond Your Wildest Dreams – A new on-camera appreciation of The Secret of NIMH with animation expert and fan Stacey Abbott
- Courage of the Heart – A new video essay by children’s media expert Catherine Lester on motherhood in The Secret of NIMH
- Secrets Behind the Secret – archival featurette
- Theatrical trailer
- Stills Gallery
- A Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on Don Bluth and The Secret of NIMH by Peter C. Kunze, author of Staging a Comeback: Broadway, Hollywood, and the Disney Renaissance
The Secret of NIMH is out now on Blu-ray in the UK
