The Secret of NIMH facts for kids

The Secret of NIMH is an exciting animated movie directed by Don Bluth. It was released in 1982 by United Artists. This film is based on a children's book by Robert C. O'Brien called Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The main character's name was changed to "Brisby" in the movie. This was done so people wouldn't confuse her name with the "Frisbee" toy.

Don Bluth started making this movie after he had some disagreements with Disney. He had worked on other animated movies about mice before, like The Rescuers. Later, he also made another popular animated movie about mice called An American Tail in 1986.

The Story of Mrs. Brisby

The movie tells the story of Mrs. Brisby, a brave mouse mom. She lives with her four children: Martin, Teresa, Cynthia, and Timothy. They live in a cinder block in a farmer's field.

Mrs. Brisby faces a big problem. The farmer is about to plow his field, which means her home will be destroyed. Her son, Timothy, is very sick and cannot be moved easily. Mrs. Brisby must find a way to save her family and their home.

On her journey, she meets many interesting characters. She meets a funny, love-seeking crow named Jeremy. She also meets a wise old mouse named Mr. Ages. He tells her to seek help from a group of very smart rats. These rats live under a rose bush and have a secret past with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The rats of NIMH are special. They gained their intelligence from experiments at the institute. Their leader, Nicodemus, and a wise old owl help Mrs. Brisby. She learns about their past and a magical amulet that plays a role in their lives. The story is about courage, friendship, and finding a new home.

Main Characters and Voice Actors

Here are some of the talented actors who lent their voices to the characters in the movie:

• Elizabeth Hartman as Mrs. Brisby
• John Carradine as Great Owl
• Dom DeLuise as Jeremy
• Derek Jacobi as Nicodemus
• Arthur Malet as Mr. Ages
• Hermione Baddeley as Auntie Shrew
• Peter Strauss as Justin
• Paul Shenar as Jenner
• Aldo Ray as Sullivan
• Shannen Doherty as Teresa Brisby
• Jodi Hicks as Cynthia Brisby
• Wil Wheaton as Martin Brisby
• Ian Fried as Timothy "Timmy" Brisby
• Tom Hatten as Farmer Paul Fitzgibbons
• Lucille Bliss as Mrs. Beth Fitzgibbons
• Joshua Lawrence as Billy Fitzgibbon
• Edie McClurg as Miss Right
• Norbert Auerbach as Councilman 1
• Dick Kleiner as Councilman 2
• Charles Champlin as Councilman 3

The Sequel: Timmy to the Rescue

In 1998, MGM released a second movie. This direct-to-video sequel was called The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue. In this movie, Timothy, Mrs. Brisby's son, goes to a place called Thorn Valley. He wants to become a hero just like his father.

However, Timothy's brother, Martin, has turned to the dark side. Timothy must bravely fight him to save the Rats of NIMH. At Thorn Valley, Timothy learns that some mice, who were thought to have died during the escape from NIMH, are still alive. So, he and the rats work together to rescue them.

Many fans of the first movie and movie critics did not like the sequel. They felt its story was too simple and similar to other movies. They also thought that the special feeling and darker tone of Don Bluth's original NIHM movie was lost. MGM made the story less dark in the sequel.

Images for kids

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  Mrs. Brisby meets Nicodemus. The way the light shines behind Nicodemus makes his eyes glow brightly. On the 2007 DVD, it's mentioned that Don Bluth wanted Nicodemus and the Great Owl to seem like parts of the same character. This is why they have some similar design features.

See also

A robot icon

In Spanish: The Secret of NIMH para niños