An American Tail follows the adventures of an adorable mouse named Fievel in a heart-warming “tail” of following your heart. Fievel and his family have grand hopes for their new homeland, America, “where the streets are lined with cheese,” when he is accidentally lost at sea. Determined to reunite with his loved ones, the brave little mouse embarks on a huge adventure through the streets of New York City, meeting unexpected friends every step of the way. Featuring the voice talents of Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn and Christopher Plummer, along with memorable songs including the Grammy-winning “Somewhere Out There”†, and a lively score by James Horner.

Working with animation director-producer and Disney veteran Don Bluth and his producing partners Gary Goldman and Don Pomeroy, the Amblin team of Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall ventured into animation for the first time, a delightful debut that would lead to creating some of the most beloved animated features and TV series over the following decades, including The Land Before Time, Balto, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, and more.

The film’s characters would also star in a second feature animation, An American Tail Fievel Goes West (1991), the first animated feature under the Amblimation label.

† The song, co-written by Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann and James Horner, was also nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe.