An American Tail is an animated film produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, and directed by Don Bluth. It was originally released in movie theatres on November 21, 1986 by Universal Pictures.

The film follows the story of a family of Jewish-Russian mice who emigrate to New York City, believing that there are no cats in America. Once there, they immediately discover that there are indeed cats in America, and take up in typical late 19th/early 20th century immigrant style: working in a sweatshop, living in horrible conditions, and paying the cats tribute as an alternative to being eaten. The film follows Fievel Mousekewitz, who is separated from his family as the boat approaches America; the movie chronicles Fievel's search for his family.

The film is an allegory for the terrible conditions immigrants to America faced at the turn of the century (the mice represent the Jewish immigrants, and the cats their Anti-Semitic tormentors), and is similar in this respect to Art Spiegelman's Maus.

Fievel was voiced by Phillip Glasser , who later did the voice of one in Bebe's Kids. Mama and Papa are voiced by Erica Yohn and Nehemiah Persoff , respectively, had no other roles in animation. Other voice actors include Dom DeLuise, who also heard in Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH and All Dogs Go to Heaven), as the voice of Tiger.

The film was followed by its theatrical sequel An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, and the television series Fievel's American Tails.

Fievel later served as the mascot for Steven Spielberg's Amblimation animation studio, appearing in its logo.

External links

• The Official American Tail Site