The Secret of NIMH

***The Secret of NIMH*** is a 1982 American animated dark fantasy science fiction adventure film directed by Don Bluth in his directorial debut and based on the 1971 children's book *Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH* by Robert C. O'Brien. The film was produced by Aurora Productions and released by MGM/UA for United Artists on July 2, 1982.

## Plot

Mrs. Brisby, a widowed field mouse, lives in a cinder block with her children in a field on the Fitzgibbons' farm. She needs to move her family out of the field as plowing time approaches, but her son Timothy has fallen ill. She visits Mr. Ages, a friend of her late husband, Jonathan. Ages diagnoses the illness as pneumonia, provides Brisby with medicine, and warns her that Timothy must stay inside for at least three weeks or he will die. On her way home, Brisby befriends Jeremy, a clumsy but friendly crow. They both narrowly escape from the Fitzgibbons' cat, Dragon.

The next morning, Brisby discovers that Farmer Fitzgibbons has started plowing early. Although her neighbor Auntie Shrew helps her disable his tractor, Brisby knows she must devise another plan. Jeremy takes her to meet the Great Owl, who tells her to visit a colony of rats that live beneath a rose bush on the farm and ask for the services of Nicodemus, their wise and mystical leader.

Brisby enters the rose bush and encounters an aggressive guard rat named Brutus, who chases her away. She is led back in by Ages, and is amazed to see the rats' use of electricity and other technology. She meets Justin, the friendly captain of the guard; Jenner, a ruthless and power-hungry rat opposed to Nicodemus; and finally Nicodemus himself. From Nicodemus, she learns that many years ago the rats, along with her husband and Ages, were part of a series of experiments at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH for short). The experiments boosted their intelligence, enabling them to escape, as well as extending their lifespans and slowing their aging processes. However, they are unable to live as typical rats would, and need human technology to survive, which they have accomplished only by stealing. The rats have eventually settled on the decision to leave the farm and live independently in an area they refer to as Thorn Valley. Nicodemus then gives Brisby a magical amulet that will activate when the wearer is courageous. Meanwhile, Jenner, who wishes for the rats to remain in the rose bush, secretly plots with his reluctant accomplice, Sullivan, to eliminate Nicodemus.

Because of the rats' relationship with Jonathan, they agree to help Brisby move her home. First, they need to drug Dragon so that it can be done safely. Only Brisby can do this, as the rats cannot fit through the hole leading into the house; Jonathan was killed by Dragon in a previous attempt, while Ages broke his leg in another. That night, she puts the drug into Dragon's dish, but the Fitzgibbons' son, Billy, catches her. While trapped in a birdcage, she overhears a telephone conversation between Farmer Fitzgibbons and the staff of NIMH and learns that the institute intends to exterminate the rats in the morning. Brisby then escapes from the cage and runs off to warn them.

As a rainstorm approaches, the rats begin moving the Brisby home, with the children and Auntie Shrew inside, using a rope and pulley system. Ignoring Sullivan's protests, Jenner sabotages the assembly, causing it to fall apart and crush Nicodemus to death. Brisby arrives and tries to warn the rats about NIMH's arrival, but Jenner attacks her and attempts to steal the amulet. Sullivan alerts Justin, who comes to Brisby's aid. Jenner mortally wounds Sullivan and engages Justin in a sword fight, which ends with the dying Sullivan killing Jenner and saving Justin's life.

The Brisby home begins to sink into a mud puddle and Brisby and the rats are unable to raise it. Brisby's will to save her family gives power to the amulet, which she uses to lift the house and move it to safety. The next morning, the rats, with Justin as their new leader, have departed for Thorn Valley as Timothy begins to recover. Jeremy soon meets Miss Right, another crow who is just as clumsy as he is, and they fall in love.

## Why It's Great

* The tone. *NIMH* has a dark and eerie atmospheric tone for a children's movie, hankering back to some of Disney's earlier work such as *Snow White*. However it is not needlessly explicit and is accessible for children, nor is it overly cloying and saccharine, striking a perfect balance.
* The designs are excellent and iconic. The artists put in a lot of effort into every aspect of the movie; from plants and nature to dark fantasy settings.
* The animation. The movie is utterly beautiful, with sumptuous colours which range from dark shadows to jewel bright. All the movement is fluid.
* The main character, Mrs Brisby, is not your typical hero. She is a widowed mother who doesn't strive to be the best, but is instead driven to save her sick son.