The Secret of NIMH
To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she suspected.
Despite its limited budget of $7.0M, The Secret of NIMH became a solid performer, earning $14.7M worldwide—a 110% return.
2 wins & 2 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Secret of NIMH (1982) demonstrates precise plot construction, characteristic of Don Bluth's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 23 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mrs. Brisby struggles to survive in the field as a timid widow mouse, gathering food for her family while avoiding Mr. Ages' warnings about Moving Day and Dragon the cat.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when Mr. Ages declares Timothy cannot be moved for three weeks or he'll die, but Moving Day is tomorrow. Mrs. Brisby's routine survival is now impossible—she needs a miracle.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Mrs. Brisby makes the terrifying choice to enter the rats' underground world beneath the rosebush, facing her fears to save her son despite not knowing what awaits., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Jenner sabotages the house-moving operation, causing the cinderblock to fall and mortally wound Nicodemus. The plan appears to have failed and Mrs. Brisby's mentor is killed—false defeat., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 61 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mrs. Brisby watches helplessly from her cage as the exterminators pump poison gas into the rosebush. Her son is dying, her friends are being killed, and she is powerless—complete despair and "death" of hope., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 65 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Mrs. Brisby uses the amulet's magical power (activated by her inner courage) to lift her home from the mud, saving Timothy. The rats defeat Jenner, escape NIMH, and begin their journey to Thorn Valley. Courage and community triumph., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Secret of NIMH's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Secret of NIMH against these established plot points, we can identify how Don Bluth utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Secret of NIMH within the animation genre.
Don Bluth's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Don Bluth films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Secret of NIMH represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Don Bluth filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Don Bluth analyses, see Thumbelina, Titan A.E. and The Land Before Time.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mrs. Brisby struggles to survive in the field as a timid widow mouse, gathering food for her family while avoiding Mr. Ages' warnings about Moving Day and Dragon the cat.
Theme
Mr. Ages scolds Mrs. Brisby: "You can't be so timid! You must have courage!" This frames the story's central question about finding inner strength.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Mrs. Brisby's vulnerable world: her sick son Timothy has pneumonia, Moving Day approaches when the farmer will plow the field, and she must navigate dangers like Dragon the cat and the harsh winter.
Disruption
Mr. Ages declares Timothy cannot be moved for three weeks or he'll die, but Moving Day is tomorrow. Mrs. Brisby's routine survival is now impossible—she needs a miracle.
Resistance
Mrs. Brisby seeks help: consulting the Great Owl (who tells her to visit the mysterious rats of NIMH), meeting Jeremy the crow, and learning about her late husband Jonathan's connection to the rats.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mrs. Brisby makes the terrifying choice to enter the rats' underground world beneath the rosebush, facing her fears to save her son despite not knowing what awaits.
Premise
Exploration of the rats' advanced society, revelation of the NIMH experiments that gave them intelligence, the plan to move Mrs. Brisby's house, and the internal conflict between Nicodemus's vision and Jenner's treachery.
Midpoint
Jenner sabotages the house-moving operation, causing the cinderblock to fall and mortally wound Nicodemus. The plan appears to have failed and Mrs. Brisby's mentor is killed—false defeat.
Opposition
Chaos ensues: Jenner seizes power, the rats scatter in confusion, Mrs. Brisby is captured by the farmers and taken to the laboratory cage, and NIMH exterminators arrive to destroy the rat colony.
Collapse
Mrs. Brisby watches helplessly from her cage as the exterminators pump poison gas into the rosebush. Her son is dying, her friends are being killed, and she is powerless—complete despair and "death" of hope.
Crisis
Mrs. Brisby's dark night: trapped in the cage, she grieves for her lost mentor, fears for her children, and must face her own perceived inadequacy. Jeremy helps her escape but the house begins sinking into the mud with Timothy inside.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Mrs. Brisby uses the amulet's magical power (activated by her inner courage) to lift her home from the mud, saving Timothy. The rats defeat Jenner, escape NIMH, and begin their journey to Thorn Valley. Courage and community triumph.