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The Secret of NIMH poster
Age Guide7+
MPAA RatingG
Year1982
Runtime1h 22m
StudioMGM/UA Entertainment Company
DirectorDon Bluth

Cast

Elizabeth HartmanDom DeLuiseDerek JacobiHermione BaddeleyPeter Strauss
AnimationAdventureDramaFamilyFantasy

The Secret of NIMH

1982

A widowed field mouse must find a way to save her family from a farmer's plow, with help from a mysterious colony of intelligent rats.

Content Guide

⚔️
Violence & ScarinessMild
Violence & Scariness
💬
LanguageNone
Language
👀
Sex & NudityNone
Sex & Nudity
🍷
SubstancesNone
Substances
😱
Frightening ScenesModerate
Frightening Scenes
💚
Positive MessagesStrong
Positive Messages
Role ModelsStrong
Role Models

What's in this movie

  • An owl lives among the bones of previous victims
  • Animal experimentation is the backstory of the rat colony
  • Characters are chased and attacked
  • A major character is killed by the villain

🌍 Cultural & Representation Concerns

✓ None identified

Educational Value

A darker, more complex animated film than typical family fare. Explores intelligence, ethics of experimentation, and sacrifice.

💬 Pause & Talk — Discussion Topics

  • 1.What is Mrs. Brisby willing to risk for her children, and what does that say about parental love?
  • 2.How did the rats gain their intelligence, and does that change how we feel about them?
  • 3.What is the amulet and why does it respond to Mrs. Brisby?