An American Tail (franchise)

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Created by
Original workAn American Tail (1986)
Years1986–1999
An American Tail
Official franchise logo
Created by
Original workAn American Tail (1986)
Owners
Years1986–1999
Games
Video game(s)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)
Miscellaneous
Theme park attraction(s)An American Tail Theatre

An American Tail is a children's film franchise based on the 1986 animated feature film of the same name directed by Don Bluth and produced by Sullivan Bluth Studios/Amblin Entertainment.

The franchise follows the adventures of Fievel Mousekewitz, a Russian-Jewish mouse immigrant to the United States in 1885. The franchise opened up several attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida including "Fievel's Playland" and "An American Tail Show".[1]

Following the two films produced with Spielberg's involvement, Universal Pictures continued the franchise with two direct-to-video sequels, An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island and An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster. All four American Tail films were released on a combination pack DVD released on June 13, 2017.[2]

An American Tail (1986)

Film U.S.
release date
Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
An American Tail November 21, 1986 Don Bluth Judy Freudberg & Tony Geiss David Kirschner and
Judy Freudberg & Tony Geiss
Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West November 22, 1991 Phil Nibbelink & Simon Wells Flint Dille Charles Swenson Steven Spielberg and Robert Watts
An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island February 15, 2000 Larry Latham Len Uhley Larry Latham
An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster July 25, 2000

An American Tail is the original 1986 film which follows Fievel and his family as they immigrate from Russia to the United States and how he subsequently gets lost and aims to reunite with them.

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is a 1991 western sequel to An American Tail. This film has been exhibited four times at the Jimmy Stewart Museum since 2015,[3] a dedication to the late James Stewart in his final role.

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998)

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island is a 1998 direct-to-video sequel not involved with Amblin Entertainment and is noted for exploring darker themes unlike the past films. Released in the United States in February 2000.[4]

An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster (1999)

An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster is a 1999 direct-to-video sequel not involved by Amblin Entertainment, released in the United States in July 2000.[5] The film series was subsequently discontinued to focus work on direct-to-video sequels based on Balto.[6]

Television

Series Season(s) Episodes Originally released Showrunner Executive producer Status
First released Last released Network
Fievel's American Tails 1 13 September 12, 1992 December 5, 1992 Columbia Broadcasting System David Kirschner Steven Spielberg Ended

Fievel's American Tails is a 1992 spin-off TV series and continuation of An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. This series remained abandoned after the release of the direct-to-video sequels until NBCUniversal regained rights to the series in 2020 and was available on Peacock[7] until its removal in 2025.[citation needed]

Cast and characters

List indicator

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.

  • An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  S indicates an appearance as a character's singing voice.
Characters Films Television
An American Tail An American Tail:
Fievel Goes West
An American Tail:
The Treasure of Manhattan Island
An American Tail:
The Mystery of the Night Monster
Fievel's
American Tails
1986 1991 1998 1999 1992
Fievel Mousekewitz Phillip Glasser Thomas Dekker Phillip Glasser
Tanya Mousekewitz Amy Green
Betsy CathcartS
Cathy Cavadini Lacey Chabert Cathy Cavadini
Papa Mousekewitz Nehemiah Persoff Lloyd Battista
Mama Mouskewitz Erica Yohn Jane Singer Susan Silo
Tiger Dom DeLuise
Tony Toponi Pat Musick Silent cameo Pat Musick
Bridget Cathianne Blore
Honest John Neil Ross
Henri Christopher Plummer Silent cameo
Warren T. Cat John Finnegan
Digit Will Ryan
Gussie Mausheimer Madeline Kahn
Wylie Burp James Stewart
Cat R. Waul John Cleese Gerrit Graham
T.R. Chula Jon Lovitz Dan Castellaneta
Miss Kitty Amy Irving Cynthia Ferrer
Cholena Elaine Bilstad
Leeza MillerS
Chief Wulisso David Carradine
Dr. Dithering René Auberjonois
Mr. Grasping Ron Perlman
Scuttlebutt John Kassir
Police Chief McBrusque Sherman Howard
Nellie Brie Susan Boyd
Madame Mousey Candi Milo
Reed Daley Robert Hays
Twitch John Mariano
Slug Jeff Bennett
Lone Woof John Garry
Sweet William Silent cameo Kenneth Mars

Production

Film Crew
Composer(s) Editor(s) Production companies Distributing company
An American Tail James Horner Dan Molina Universal Pictures,
Amblin Entertainment,
Sullivan Bluth Studios
Universal Pictures 1 hr 21 mins
An American Tail:
Fievel Goes West
Nick Fletcher Universal Pictures,
Amblin Entertainment,
Amblimation
1 hr 15 mins
Fievel's
American Tails
Hank Saroyan & Robert Irving
and Milan Kymlicka
Rob Kirkpatrick Universal Cartoon Studios,
Amblin Television,
Nelvana Studios
Columbia Broadcasting System 6 hrs 30 mins
(30 mins/episodes)
An American Tail:
The Treasure of Manhattan Island
Michael Tavera
and James Horner
Jay Bixsen & Danik Thomas Universal Family & Home Entertainment Productions,
Universal Cartoon Studios,
TMS-Kyokuichi Corporation
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 1 hr 19 mins
An American Tail:
The Mystery of the Night Monster
Jay Bixsen Universal Family & Home Entertainment Productions,
Universal Cartoon Studios,
Tama Productions
1 hr 18 mins

The character of Fievel Mousekewitz was named after the Yiddish name of Steven Spielberg's grandfather, Philip Posner.[8] Fievel also served as the mascot for Amblimation, Spielberg's short-lived animation studio, and was featured in its production logo.[9]

Reception

In other media

References

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