Review of The Secret of NIMH (1982) by Matthew D — 12 Nov 2018

Don Bluth's masterpiece of hand drawn animation.

The Secret of Nimh (1982) is a wondrous little animated adventure about a mother mouse trying to save her sick child. Don Bluth's direction is stunning as it creates an eerie atmosphere through his use of slow panning shots and dark lighting. The spooky vibe comes from the pastel colors and grim aesthetic. The creatures are all either soft and cute looking or fearsome and scary. The mesmerizing effects are nothing to scoff at either.

Visionary Don Bluth understands visuals must capture your attention to entertain, but the story and fluidity of the animation must capture your imagination. This sweet and mysterious movie envelops you with its charming little world of magic and mayhem. The Secret of Nimh is simply one of the finest animated films ever crafted!

The story of The Secret of Nimh continues to astound me as it is so grounded and realistic, yet magical in its exaggerated premise. The reveal towards the end still shocks me at how depressing the realization is for adults and teenagers watching. The Secret of Nimh takes on the cruelty of animal testing. While simultaneously teaching a parable about the kindness of strangers and goodwill towards others.

The Secret of Nimh is based off of Robert C. O'Brien's novel. His writing clearly takes the material seriously, which in turn gives The Secret of Nimh a mature and haunting tone.

Jerry Goldsmith's score is so lovely and the love theme is quite pretty. While not a musical, The Secret of Nimh has soaring musical cues that will marvel children and parents alike. Goldsmith did a nice job of composing a main melody that repeats throughout The Secret of Nimh with enchanting effects. The love theme, "Flying Dreams" is still echoing around in my head long after watching The Secret of Nimh.

Lastly, the voice acting in The Secret of Nimh is excellent. Dramatic and comedic voice actors give it their all with quaint results. Elizabeth Hartman is just adorable as Mrs. Brisby the mouse. Her tender tone makes her mouse character instantly sympathetic. She plays Mrs. Brisby as a courageous hero, whose bravery inspires those around her. Dom DeLuise is the hilarious and incessantly talkative crow Jeremy. It's neat to hear young future stars Will Wheaton and Shannon Doherty as Martin Brisby and Teresa Brisby, respectively. Derek Jacobi is the ever mysterious and strong presence of Nicodemus the rat king. Finally, John Carradine delivers a haunting bellowing that makes you tremble while listening to Great Owl's voice.

In all, I must give The Secret of Nimh my highest recommendation as it shines above other animated films. It is so creative in its visual style and intricate in its design. The story is clever and contains fascinating twists. You will have a joyful experience regardless of the excellent craftsmanship of The Secret of Nimh.