Released in the summer of 1982, at a time when Disney’s Animation Studio was struggling, The Secret of NIMH saw a group of traditional animators attempt to unseat Disney—or at the very least to rattle the company out of its complacency. Frustrated by Disney's bureaucracy and assembly-line attitude, animators Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, and Gary Goldman, along with a few others, left the company to form their own studio, Don Bluth Productions. Their gamble paid off in the results of a lovely story with exquisite animation.

Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), a widowed mouse, must move her children out of their home in a field before the local farmer starts plowing. Unable to leave because her son is ill, Mrs. Brisby seeks the help of nearby rats, who have heightened intelligence after being the subjects of scientific experiments. She receives an unexpected gift from the elder rat, Nicodemus (Derek Jacobi). Soon Mrs. Brisby is caught in a conflict among the rats, jeopardizing her mission to save her family.

Reviews
"A sumptuous celebration of the animator's art... If it were not for E.T., this would easily be the best children's film released this year." –Philadelphia Inquirer