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An American Tail

  • 1986
  • G
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
61K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,739
920
An American Tail (1986)
Animal AdventureHand-Drawn AnimationPeriod DramaQuestUrban AdventureAdventureAnimationComedyDramaFamily

While emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must locate them while trying to survive in a new country.While emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must locate them while trying to survive in a new country.While emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must locate them while trying to survive in a new country.

  • Director
    • Don Bluth
  • Writers
    • Judy Freudberg
    • Tony Geiss
    • David Kirschner
  • Stars
    • Dom DeLuise
    • Christopher Plummer
    • Erica Yohn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    61K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,739
    920
    • Director
      • Don Bluth
    • Writers
      • Judy Freudberg
      • Tony Geiss
      • David Kirschner
    • Stars
      • Dom DeLuise
      • Christopher Plummer
      • Erica Yohn
    • 117User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 7 nominations total

    Photos188

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    Top Cast21

    Edit
    Dom DeLuise
    Dom DeLuise
    • Tiger
    • (voice)
    Christopher Plummer
    Christopher Plummer
    • Henri
    • (voice)
    Erica Yohn
    • Mama Mousekewitz
    • (voice)
    Nehemiah Persoff
    Nehemiah Persoff
    • Papa Mousekewitz
    • (voice)
    Amy Green
    • Tanya Mousekewitz
    • (voice)
    Phillip Glasser
    Phillip Glasser
    • Fievel Mousekewitz
    • (voice)
    John Finnegan
    John Finnegan
    • Warren T. Rat
    • (voice)
    Will Ryan
    Will Ryan
    • Digit
    • (voice)
    Hal Smith
    Hal Smith
    • Moe
    • (voice)
    Pat Musick
    • Tony Toponi
    • (voice)
    Cathianne Blore
    • Bridget
    • (voice)
    Neil Ross
    Neil Ross
    • Honest John
    • (voice)
    Madeline Kahn
    Madeline Kahn
    • Gussie Mausheimer
    • (voice)
    Alitzah
    Alitzah
    • Tanya
    • (singing voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Betsy Cathcart
    • Tanya Mousekewitz
    • (singing voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Guarnieri
    • Italian Singer Mouse
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Warren Hays
    • Irish Singer Mouse
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    T. Daniel Hofstedt
    • No Cats in America Chorus
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Don Bluth
    • Writers
      • Judy Freudberg
      • Tony Geiss
      • David Kirschner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews117

    6.960.9K
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    Featured reviews

    rapt0r_claw-1

    One of the first of many that kicked Disney's ass

    Don't take me wrong: although An American Tail is a wonderful film, the old Disney classics are not the ones I'm talking about in the summary. I'm talking about the over-commercialized crap we get these days. Don Bluth's second animated feature is again about mice, like Secret of NIMH. I think NIMH was better, though not by much. The songs are pretty good, although not like some Disney songs. The animation, however, is simply gorgeous. I can't believe people dismiss it as poorly animated just because the colors aren't bright! The colors are dark and moody, as they should be, An American Tail--nor any of Bluth's films--were ever supposed to look like Rayman. If you want to see Bluth with bright colors, glance at some cheery scenes from A Troll in Central Park. I find the way Fievel and his family miss each other by inches frustrating, though. In fact, I was surprised Fievel and Tanya couldn't hear each other as they sang "Somewhere Out There". A simply beautiful film, a must for anyone who looks for variation in the field of animation, but infuriating for anyone who thinks the scope of animation should be restricted to Disney.
    moviebuff-2

    Don Bluth's best in my opinion, despite one major flaw.

    "An American Tail" was Don Bluth's second animated feature since leaving Disney, and, in my opinion, it is his best. It's got the most heart out of all of his movies. It's got the Oscar-nominated song "Somewhere Out There" and the main character of Fievel. This character just warms my heart and I can easily feel for him. Don Bluth has made only three very good animated features: this movie, "The Secret of NIMH", and "The Land Before Time". But "An American Tail" tops them both. No matter how predictable or sentimental the story is, I always get caught up in it. The sequel was good, but it was more like a fast-paced western comedy with some one-liners and such sight gags. The original is the better film in my opinion. Only complaint: one too many chase scenes with Fievel and other mice running from cats.
    Rodimus-2

    This film is an animation classic

    Not only is An American Tail easily one of the best animated features ever made, but it proves to be leaps beyond the efforts of recent Disney movies by refusing to be constricted to an all-too-familiar formula. This movie does not stay within the cozy, comfortable guidelines that Disney adheres to in order to make money. Instead, it tells a truly unique tale, one not borrowed from any other source, and one overflowing with artistic wonder and originality.

    The characters you will see here are not stock, not pulled from the typical Disney hat. The story is not a chuckle-a-minute, lowbrow attempt to take the easy way out in pandering to children. The main character, Fievel, suffers real hardships and tragedy, and stares into the despair of his own soul before the movie is finished. This, of course, makes the ending that much more satisfying, an infinitely more significant and authentic moment than any cardboard cut-out Disney plot.

    If you want to see what animation was meant to be as an art form, if you want to feel the power and emotion that can truly be reaped from this under-appreciated and over-commercialized medium, look no further than An American Tail.
    9Catherine_Grace_Zeh

    Excellent movie for all ages that will warm your heart!

    In my opinion, this is an excellent movie for all ages that will warm your heart! When Fievel (voice of Phillip Glasser) got lost, I wanted to cry. Although some of the characters were diabolical, I liked everybody. Well, it's hard to say which character was my favorite. The music was good, especially "Somewhere Out There, "A Duo," and "No Cats In America." In addition to the music being good everyone was cast perfectly, and the direction was flawless. In conclusion, I highly recommend this very touching movie for all ages that will warm your heart to anyone who hasn't seen it. You're in for a real treat and a good time, so go to the video store, rent it or buy it, kick back with someone close to you, and watch it.
    8nicktusk-95591

    Why the low rating !

    We watched this in kindergarten. This is like the best film of all time of the century. There's no way in hell it deserves a 6.8. I don't know what's up with the kids these days they don't seem to understand Jack diddly squat 50 Moskowitz was my hero lol. How dare you write this a 6.8 lol I'm gonna write it at 10 just so it offsets and gets a better review lol coming to America. This is a true story one of the very few Walt Disney movies that I do enjoy and I like and not understood why it got such a bad review from other people. Anyways, not much more I can say about this just go ahead and watch it and you will love it because I do.

    More like this

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    6.5
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    7.4
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    6.8
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    7.5
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    The Rescuers
    6.9
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    An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island
    5.6
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    6.6
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    7.1
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    6.2
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    An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster
    5.7
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    The Fox and the Hound
    7.2
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    Related interests

    Ben Whishaw in Paddington (2014)
    Animal Adventure
    Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)
    Hand-Drawn Animation
    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
    Quest
    Shameik Moore in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
    Urban Adventure
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
    Animation
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fievel was the name of Steven Spielberg's grandfather.
    • Goofs
      In the cat's lair Tiger mentions to Fievel that he is a fan of broccoli. The film is set in the 1885-1886 time frame. Both broccoli and cauliflower were unknown in the United States then. In fact, both vegetables were not commercially grown in the United States until Italian immigrants started commercially growing both vegetables in California in the 1920s.
    • Quotes

      Honest John: [At the wake of Mickey O'Hare] Poor lad. So young. He never had a chance to vote. Well, he'll vote from now on. I'll make sure of that.

      [Writes Mickey's name on a notebook under "Ghost Votes"]

    • Crazy credits
      The first half of the end credits feature period engravings of what New York City looked like in the 1880s.
    • Alternate versions
      The 2006 DVD release includes a remastered 5.1 soundtrack, both in Dolby Digital and DTS. It also has some dialogue changes compared to the original, most noticeably: Extra dialogue that was recorded but never used, and different voices for the orphans towards the end of the film (adults instead of kids - these are actually the original voices, which were replaced by children after the scene was animated).
    • Connections
      Edited from The Secret of NIMH (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      There Are No Cats in America
      Music by James Horner and Barry Mann

      Lyrics by Cynthia Weil

      Performed by Nehemiah Persoff, Johnny Guarnieri, and Warren Hays

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    FAQ22

    • How long is An American Tail?Powered by Alexa
    • How come Papa Mousekewitz was sure that there was another "Fievel Mousekewitz" after he hears Tony Toponi and Bridget calling out for his son?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Un cuento americano
    • Filming locations
      • Sullivan Bluth Studios - 16134 Hart Street, Van Nuys, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Amblin Entertainment
      • Sullivan Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $47,483,002
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,234,446
      • Nov 23, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $84,542,002
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 20m(80 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo

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