IMDb > The Secret of NIMH (1982)
The Secret of NIMH
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Secret of NIMH (1982) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 61 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   14,429 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Don Bluth
Writers:
Robert C. O'Brien (novel)
Don Bluth (story) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Secret of NIMH on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 July 1982 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Animation | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi See more »
Tagline:
Right before your eyes and beyond your wildest dreams. See more »
Plot:
To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of super-intelligent rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she ever suspected. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(47 articles)
Film Junk Podcast Episode #369: The Dictator
 (From FilmJunk. 22 May 2012, 9:45 PM, PDT)
Thanks to the Alamo Drafthouse, the Summer of 1982 Just Got Bigger
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 17 April 2012, 9:00 AM, PDT)
Very Cool E.T. Poster Art from Mondo Tees and Summer of '82 Movie Line-up
 (From GeekTyrant. 16 April 2012, 4:00 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Dark, mystical story is for adults, but endured by children. See more (127 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Derek Jacobi ... Nicodemus (voice)

Elizabeth Hartman ... Mrs. Brisby (voice)
Arthur Malet ... Mr. Ages (voice)

Dom DeLuise ... Jeremy (voice)

Hermione Baddeley ... Auntie Shrew (voice)

Shannen Doherty ... Teresa (voice)

Wil Wheaton ... Martin (voice)
Jodi Hicks ... Cynthia (voice)
Ian Fried ... Timothy (voice)

John Carradine ... Great Owl (voice)

Peter Strauss ... Justin (voice)
Paul Shenar ... Jenner (voice)
Tom Hatten ... Farmer Fitzgibbons (voice)
Lucille Bliss ... Mrs. Fitzgibbons (voice)
Aldo Ray ... Sullivan (voice)
Norbert Auerbach ... Councilman 1 (voice)
Dick Kleiner ... Councilman 2 (voice)
Charles Champlin ... Councilman 3 (voice)

Edie McClurg ... Miss Right (voice)
Joshua Lawrence ... Billy Fitzgibbons (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Sally Stevens ... Singer (segment "Flying Dreams Lullaby") (voice) (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Don Bluth 
 
Writing credits
Robert C. O'Brien (novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH")

Don Bluth (story adaptation) &
John Pomeroy (story adaptation) &
Gary Goldman (story adaptation) &
Will Finn (story adaptation)

Produced by
Don Bluth .... producer
Gary Goldman .... producer
Rich Irvine .... executive producer
John Pomeroy .... producer
James L. Stewart .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith 
 
Cinematography by
Bill Butler 
 
Film Editing by
Jeffrey C. Patch  (as Jeffrey Patch)
 
Production Management
Fred Craig .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Molina .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
James Cavarretta .... sound effects recordist (as James Cavarretta Jr.)
Walter A. Gest .... sound re-recordist (as Walter Gest)
David M. Horton .... sound effects editor
Rick Kline .... sound re-recording mixer
Stan Levine .... synthesizer sound effects
William Mead .... stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Donald O. Mitchell .... sound re-recording mixer
Kevin O'Connell .... sound re-recording mixer
Gary Ritchie .... sound re-recordist
John Roesch .... foley artist
Garry Ulmer .... dialogue recordist
 
Visual Effects by
Fred Craig .... director of special processes
Vincent DeFrances .... effects assistant (as Vincent De Francis)
Jeff Etter .... effects assistant
Bruce Heller .... additional special effects animator
Tom Hush .... additional special effects animator
Diann Landau .... additional special effects animator
Dorse A. Lanpher .... special effects supervisor (as Dorse A. Lanpher)
Hope London .... effects assistant
Scott Santoro .... effects assistant
Barry Whitebook .... effects assistant (as Barry A. Whitebook)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Joe Jiuliano .... animation camera
Jeffery Mellquist .... animation camera (as Jeff Mellquist)
Chuck Warren .... animation camera (as Charles Warren)
Rob Maine .... animation camera (uncredited)
 
Animation Department
Diane Albracht .... cel painter
Kelly Anderson .... assistant animator
Tamara Anderson .... assistant animator
David R. Ankney .... xerographer (as David Ankney)
Robert Avery .... xerographer
Philo Barnhart .... character key assistant
Phyllis Barnhart .... cel painter
Arland Barron .... assistant animator
Kathy Barrows-Fullmer .... animation checker (as Kathy Barrows)
Alethea Bernard .... ink artist
Don Bluth .... directing animator
Don Bluth .... layout artist
David Braden .... xerographer
Kristine Brown .... ink artist
Karen Burrell .... cel painter
Daryl Carstensen .... xerography checker
Tammy Cecil .... cel painter
Judy Champin .... cel painter
Merllyn Ching .... ink artist
Joann Cohn .... cel painter
Lorna Cook .... animator (as Lorna Pomeroy)
Ken Cope .... assistant animator
Annamarie Costa .... animation checker
Patricia Cowling .... cel painter (as Patti Cowling)
Sharon Dabek .... cel painter
Eric Daniels .... xerographer
Ron Dias .... background artist
Lynn Diederich .... cel painter
Colleen Draper .... cel painter
Robin Draper .... cel painter
Diane Dunning .... ink artist
John Eddings .... xerographer
Robert Erhart .... xerographer
Gina Evans .... cel painter
Beverly Felix .... cel painter (as Cookie Palacio)
Shirley Ferrante .... cel painter
Cindy Finn .... animation color stylist (as Cindy Chilko Finn)
Will Finn .... animator
Ayalen Garcia .... assistant animator (as Ayalén Garcia)
Peter Gentle .... cel painter
Marta Glodkowska .... cel painter (as Marta Skwara)
David Goetz .... background artist
Gary Goldman .... directing animator
Valerie Green .... xerography checker
Heidi Guedel .... animator
Auguste Haboush .... assistant animator
Evelyn Hairapetian .... cel painter (as Evie Hairapetian)
Odin Hor .... cel painter
Michael Horowitz .... assistant animator
Emily Jiuliano .... animator
Emily Jiuliano .... character key assistant
Leonard Johnson .... assistant animator (as Leonard E. Johnson)
Skip Jones .... animator
Debra Jorgensborg .... animation color stylist (as Debbie Casillas)
Gayle Kanagy .... cel painter
Michael Kane .... xerographer
Paulette Knell .... cel painter
Nancy Kniep .... assistant animator
Dan Kuenster .... animator
Boowon Lee .... assistant animator
Karan Lee-Storr .... ink artist (as Karan J. Storr)
Larry Leker .... layout artist
William Lorencz .... color story sketcher
Mildred Luukkonen .... cel painter
Annette Mackie .... cel painter (as Annette Vandenberg)
Shirley Mapes .... cel painter
Linda Miller .... animator
Missy .... cel painter
David Molina .... animator
Sandra Moline .... cel painter
Deborah Mooneyham .... cel painter
Don Moore .... background artist
Jeanette Nouribekian .... cel painter
Carmen Oliver .... animation color stylist
Vera Pacheco .... character key assistant (as Vera Lanpher)
Elyse Pastel .... assistant animator
Gary Perkovac .... assistant animator
Catherine Peterson .... cel painter (as Cathy Mirkovich)
Chris Peterson .... assistant animator (as Christopher Peterson)
Cheryl Polakow .... assistant animator
Robin Police .... cel painter
John Pomeroy .... directing animator: "Mr. Ages", "Jeremy", "Dragon", "The Great Owl", "Nicodemus", "Justin" and "Jenner"
Linda Praamsma .... cel painter
Bonnie Ramsey .... cel painter
Valerie Reed .... cel painter
Art Roman .... assistant animator
Alison Sassoon .... cel painter
Terry Shakespeare .... assistant animator
Debra Y. Siegel .... paint technician
Dave Smith .... final checker
Dave Spafford .... animator
Lynn Spees .... cel painter
Catherine Stein .... cel painter
Kim Stevens .... cel painter
Christina Stocks .... ink artist (as Cris Stocks)
Jim Stocks .... final checker
Cynthia Surage .... mark-up
Terri-Lynn Swears .... cel painter
Olga Tarin-Craig .... ink and paint supervisor (as Olga Tarin Craig)
Sharon Thomas .... cel painter
Shirley Thomas .... cel painter
Bruce W. Timm .... assistant animator
Marshall Lee Toomey .... assistant animator (as Marshall Toomey)
Jody Trout .... cel painter
Sally Voorheis .... assistant animator (as Sally J. Voorheis)
Manon Washburn .... cel painter
Phyllis White .... cel painter
Kevin Wurzer .... animator (as Kevin M. Wurzer)
Nikki Zelenka .... animation checker
Janet M. Zoll .... xerographer (as Janet Zoll)
Stephan Zupkas .... assistant animator
 
Editorial Department
Donah Bassett .... negative cutter
Richard Ritchie .... color timer
 
Music Department
Michael Clifford .... music editor: London (as Mike Clifford)
Leonard A. Engel .... music editor (as Len Engel)
Arthur Morton .... orchestrator
John Richards .... music recordist
 
Other crew
Diana Adams .... accountant (as Diana Johnson)
G. Thomas Baker .... accountant
Stephan Barnes .... creative consultant
Bob Chevalier .... production assistant
Kimberley Coy .... unit publicist
Terri Eddings .... production assistant
Richard A. Gabrio .... creative consultant
Jan Goldman .... accountant
Mel Griffin .... production executive
Edna Hartling .... production assistant
Tom Irvine .... accountant
Martin S. Jacobson .... creative consultant
Sarah-Jane King .... production assistant (as Sarah King)
Charles Kurts .... production assistant
Elaine Miller .... accountant
Carolyn Morris .... production assistant
Victor Solis .... production assistant
Julie Spafford .... production assistant
Shirley Spafford .... production assistant
David J. Steinberg .... production assistant (as David Steinberg)
Mike Vest .... production assistant
Caralyn Warren .... production assistant
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
82 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-10 (1982) | USA:G (Approved No. 26707) | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-8 (1988) | South Africa:A | South Korea:All | Australia:G | Portugal:M/6 | Peru:PT | Singapore:G | France:U | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:U | West Germany:6
Company:
AuroraSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Gary Goldman stated that they originally hoped the film would receive a "PG" rating, due to several intense scenes and the maturity of the subject matter. They were actually surprised when the ratings board gave it "G", and feel that the rating might have hurt the film's commercial appeal to older audiences.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: The string Mrs. Brisby uses to lower herself down from the birdcage changes position in relation to the cage bars.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Nicodemus:Johnathan Brisby was killed today while helping with the plan. It is four years since our departure from NIMH, and our world is changing. We cannot stay here much longer. Johnathan was a dear friend. I am lost in knowing how to help his widow. She knows nothing about us or the plan. Perhaps best that I do nothing at present. I shall miss him. Johnathan - wherever you are - your thoughts must comfort her tonight. She will be waiting and you will not return. Farewell... my friend.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Hewy's Animated Movie Reviews: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (#3.7)" (2010)See more »
Soundtrack:
Flying DreamsSee more »

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in the movie?
Is this film based on a book?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
40 out of 51 people found the following review useful.
Dark, mystical story is for adults, but endured by children., 18 April 2005
Author: BansheeCreature from The World Of Movies

When I first saw this film, years ago, I was very afraid of many aspects it contained, yet I was also in love with it. As a cartoon, it captures the very familiar values that we have seen in such praised Disney films such as The Sword in the Stone". This one is much darker though, and because so, it also brings forth, a much scarier element that Disney will never have! Being based completely on archetypical formation, the "Secret Of NIMH" is based on the famed children's book "Mrs. Brisby and the rats of NIMH". As the book is very darling, and for children of all ages, the film is put together in a more mature, adult style, with intense moments. Later on in life, I realize that children watching this film is an amazing happening, if I knew then, what I know now about the film, I would have been completely overtaken by the film. Some things are better left unknown in childhood. Most kids today will not appreciate this film, for all the glory in which it was made. There were two direct-to-video sequels. Two. This is unacceptable for a movie of this type. The two latter films were made with light, fluffy, musical touches that did NOT capture anything this film did. The two latter films had NO business being made! The generation I grew up in was able to take this wondrous intensity we were given, today, things are much different, and movies like this one are hardly seen. The "toy story" genre has taken over, and most films that would, otherwise be like this one are laughably awful, without any real heart. Don Bluth was expressing his strong imagination for this one, most "pixar" company films are just money, and offer nothing for anyone except babies in cribs! This movie is a cartoon, a pure adventure, and a treasure full of heart! Don Bluth is a wonderful filmmaker!

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (127 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Where does it take place? codyhoskins
Do not underestimate this film mayamiyazono123
Things that did not work bruno-mailly
Relevant bfosque
Nostalgia Critic liked it, so... avalenkov
What was Mrs. Brisby's first name? Geek_of_Geeks
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Golden Compass The Wizard of Oz The Lord of the Rings The Sorcerer's Apprentice The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Animation section IMDb USA section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.