The Secret of NIMH

Gorgeously animated, smartly written and surprisingly mature for a film that's geared to such a young audience. Don Bluth and company really peered over new horizons with their painstaking efforts on this picture, and ultimately gave their old bosses and coworkers at Disney the kind of direct competition they needed to wake up from their late '70s slump. Bluth's unmistakable style positively seeps out of every panel in NIMH, with an expressive, gestural quality that’s both creatively streamlined and rich with detail.

The story, so dark that Disney actually opted out of making the film themselves, remains a breath of fresh air even today, thirty years after its premiere. Its broad landscapes and diverse characters tackle some very challenging themes with succinct honesty, respecting their viewers without scaring them off. Too many kids' movies resign themselves to the opinion that children need their hands held on a stroll through happy town from start to finish, with a reassuring character always nearby whenever something remotely spooky happens. NIMH rejects that theory, cautiously, and ends up a better picture for all audiences as a result. It's a revelation - even better than I'd remembered.

[5.75/10] I thought this was okay. I appreciated the darker vibe, but the story felt too adult in many ways. Most of the concepts and characters weren't ones that kids would really relate to, and even as an adult, I found them a bit boring. The characters were easy to root for at least, which is why kids might still enjoy it, and the animation was well done! It makes sense now that this film never became one of my favorites from childhood (supposing I ever even watched it). In the end, I'm just glad it's off my watchlist and that I can officially say I've seen it.

Level "Entertaining" • 6 ❤ • You may or may not enjoy this.