Fan Lobby for the Re-release of The Secret of NIMH

About twenty years ago, a small group of animators broke off from the Disney animation studio and started their own company. The result of these events was one of the great animated classics of our time: The Secret of NIMH. The animators were of course Don Bluth and company.

I can remember my first experience with the film as a child. It was a magical experience, maybe even a defining one. But why has this classic so nearly been forgotten? In many ways, The Secret of NIMH captures much of the spirit and charm that most modern American animations have lost. Its a film with a soul, with a heart. It has historical significance in the world of animation as well. It is time that people were reminded of what animation can be.

The time is ripe for a re-release of The Secret of NIMH theatrically. We sincerely believe that there is enough of an audience for such a strategy to be profitable. There are other adults who fondly remember the film from their childhood; not only would we desire to see the film theatrically ourselves, but those that have children would certainly wish to introduce them to so fine a film. The nostalgic aside, there are other audiences for this film. Parents are often troubled by trying to find films suitable to show their children. Unlike many modern films, even animated ones, NIMH is an innocent entertainment - dark, but not too frightening; a film with messages about courage and mother love, and yet at the same time exciting enough to be appealing; tender, yet never cloyingly sweet.

Furthermore, after such a theatrical release, the sales of the DVD would surely rise. This would offer another opportunity. Many fans of the film were deeply disappointed with the bare-bones, pan-and-scan DVD presented by MGM. With new fans accumulating from a theatrical release, and old fans returning with renewed affection, there could be no better time to re-author the disc. The flaws with the original disc could be fixed - a widescreen version, a restored print, and extras added to the disc. Perhaps even a directors commentary. Considering the historical importance of the film, no amount of extras would be too much.

This, then, is our desire: we petition MGM/UA Home Entertainment to re-release the film theatrically. We further request that after such a release, the film be re-authored to DVD with a restored widescreen print and extras.