The Secret of NIMH

Also known as The Secret of N.I.M.H., Secret of NIMH

1982 American animated film directed by Don Bluth

Key facts

Directed by: Don Bluth
Story by: Don Bluth John Pomeroy Gary Goldman Will Finn
Based on: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH , by Robert C. O'Brien
Produced by: Don Bluth Gary Goldman John Pomeroy
Starring: Hermione Baddeley John Carradine Dom DeLuise Elizabeth Hartman Derek Jacobi Arthur Malet Paul Shenar Peter Strauss
Edited by: Jeffrey Patch
Music by: Jerry Goldsmith
Production companies: United Artists Aurora Productions Don Bluth Productions
Distributed by: MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Release date: July 2, 1982 ( 1982-07-02 )
Running time: 83 minutes
Country

~26 min read

Article

The Secret of NIMH is a 1982 American independent animated fantasy adventure film directed by Don Bluth in his directorial debut and based on Robert C. O'Brien's children's novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Featuring an ensemble cast consisting of Elizabeth Hartman in her final film role as its protagonist, Mrs. Brisby, with Peter Strauss, Arthur Malet, Dom DeLuise, John Carradine, Derek Jacobi, Paul Shenar and Hermione Baddeley in supporting roles, the film was produced by Bluth's production company, Don Bluth Productions, in association with Aurora Productions.

The Secret of NIMH was released in the United States on July 2, 1982, by MGM/UA Entertainment Co. under the United Artists label. It was met with critical acclaim and won a Saturn Award for Best Animated Film of 1982. Though the film only made $14.7 million against a $7 million budget at the box office, it turned a solid profit through home video and overseas releases. It was followed in 1998 by a direct-to-video sequel, The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue, which was made without Bluth's involvement.