Don Bluth's Manxmouse

Don Bluth's Manxmouse is based on the book by Paul Gallico. This 2-d Animation Adaption would be directed by Don Bluth alongside fellow animators Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy

Plot
It is Spring, 1985, in the fictional town of Buntingdowndale, England, A ceramicist who specializes in making realistic mouse figurines, with His friends, the mice, who live in His home and give the Ceramicist inspiration, just completed His 9,998th and 9,999th creations, to be given to the bride and groom at a wedding. At the wedding celebration, the Ceramicist is given a few pounds of magic clay by an elderly man to make something very special. After returning home, drunk from drinking too much cider, The Ceramicist returns home to make His 10,000th creation, as the mice watch in bewilderment. The next morning, the ceramicist, who barely remembers the night, realizes He created another mouse figurine, and checks the kiln, and to His surprise and disappointment, He created an unusual mouse figurine. A Blue ManxMouse with orange ear innards, a body of an opossum, front paws of a monkey, ears of a rabbit, feet of a kangaroo, no tail, and with no expression of timidity. The Ceramicist, who couldn't bring Himself to destroy His failed project, in case anyone saw it, which would make the creator the laughingstock of the town, decides to keep it, as a reminder not to drink too much at night.

Then, one night, on a full moon, the light of the moon, shines on the figurine as the clock struck thirteen. the figurine started to move, and then became flesh-and-blood. The ceramicist who woke up and saw it, shed tears of joy, knowing that one of His works came to life. but, the ceramicist, knowing that He can't keep the Manxmouse a secret from the town, takes him to a forest where He can live in peace, as the rest of the mice give a send-off. The Manxmouse thanked the Ceramicist for giving Him life as the latter returned to His home village. As night fell, the Manxmouse encounters a shapeshifting ghost-like monster called a Boggart, said to turn into whatever its victims fear the most. but to the Boggart's shock, the Manxmouse walks through the forest without being scared. even though He turned into a weasel, wolf, fox, and cat. however, the Boggart is determined to scare the Manxmouse, even if it took the rest of His afterlife, but before leaving, the Boggart gave a grueling message, "Beware the Manx Cat", as the Manxmouse wondered what a Manxcat is.

Miles later, The Manxmouse enters the village of Nasty, known for its four cottages surrounded by nature. The Manxmouse enters one of the cottages, and goes to find food until He is spotted and chased by a kitten, but managed to escape, as the mother cat scolded Her kitten for chasing a potentially poisonous mouse, due to its blue fur. Safe from harm, the Manxmouse goes to another cottage, but is attacked by a street cat, called One-Eye. who intends to eat Him, but stops when He realizes that He caught a tailless mouse, and apologized, saying only manxcats eat manxmice. As night began to fall, The Manxmouse goes to a pond to get himself clean, however, as He was done with his pond bath, Manxmouse is caught by a hawk, but, the Manxmouse enjoys the bird's-eye view of the environment, to the hawk's bewilderment. Soon, the hawk spots a rare cloud called a Cumulonimbus, but Manxmouse, feeling queasy from the high height, falls off but the hawk catches Him before falling to the ground. before saying goodbye, the hawk envies the mouse's ignorance of true fear, and it can be a great help in the future if He encountered the Manx Cat.

At a country club, Manxmouse rests in a tree, until He hears the horn of Fox Hunters, and a large group of bloodhounds targeting a fox, who hides inside the tree. Manxmouse, who saw this, tossed acorns at the attacking bloodhounds, as He tells the fox to make a run for the forest, which He does. With the fox hunt ruined, the hunters scolded the bloodhounds for their failure, until they spotted the manxmouse, and they order the dogs to capture it. but, thanks to the mouse's quick thinking, He uses a leaf to get down safely, without being seen by the dogs and hunters. At night, the fox knowing His wife nor His kits would understand having a mouse for a friend, as foxes eat mice and not wanting to be forced to eat His new friend, the fox said goodbye to Manxmouse, who goes west.

A few days later, Manxmouse went to a private school at night, where He finds shelter in a library. Manxmouse read some books regarding cats and mice. the next morning, Manxmouse found some food in a cafeteria, but had to escape to avoid being detected by the disdaining Miss Martinet, the English Teacher, determined to punish who made the kitchen very messy. While hiding, Manxmouse met a kindly girl named Wendy H. Troy, who helps Him exit the school undetected. at Her home, Wendy introduces Herself, and after learning that Manxmouse has no first or middle name, She decides to let the Manxmouse stay for the weekend, and gave Him a name, Harrison B. Manxmouse, named after Her favorite Uncle. during the weekend, Wendy sews a coat, bowtie, undershirt, and bowler hat and gives them to Harrison as a gift, after She taught Him the game of Chess. The weekend passed, and Wendy went to school, promising to talk with Harrison at Recess. Hours later, recess began, and Wendy plays a game of chess with Harrison, which brought some unwanted attention from the students. Miss Martinet spots Manxmouse and goes to kill it, when Harrison hides in a tree, Wendy defends the mouse as Martinet orders Wendy to stand aside. when Wendy refused, Martinet was about to strike Wendy, but, the School's kindly Poetry teacher, Mr. Marrow, told Her to stop, as Corporal Punishment isn't allowed on school grounds, but goes to talk with Wendy in private about what to do about the Manxmouse. Outside the school, Mr. Marrow with a heavy heart, told Wendy that She can't have Harrison as a pet, because bad people like Miss Martinet will exploit or destroy Him as He is destined to be eaten by the Manx-Cat. With that, Wendy said goodbye to Manxmouse, as Mr. Marrow shed tears, saying that Wendy's right about good friends that are hard to find.

Manxmouse travels by truck to London, eating crackers during the trip. Seconds after arriving in London, He is caught by Mr. Smeater, owner of a pet shop, and displays Him to potential buyers at His shop. Harrison escapes the shop and frees all of Smeater's animals, and after a chase through London's streets, hides out in Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, closed for the night. Having lost Smeater and the buyers, Harrison goes in the basement of the museum, and sleeps well, unaware that the place had exhibits that would normally scare people. minutes before dawn, Harrison wakes and encounters a wax replica of Himself. In a heart-to-heart talk, the wax replica says the Manx Mouse exists for a reason. minutes after the museum opens, Smeater and the buyers go after Harrison, as the mouse runs for His life and hides in a newspaper kiosk, where He hears two people talk that Manx Cats live in the Isle of Man. Harrison then collects some coins and asks the kiosk owner, where the Manx Cat lives. the owner says that to reach Manx Cat's house, He must go to the Isle of Man. by taking a train to Liverpool, and board the S.S. Manxbelle. And that's just what Harrison did.

Arriving at the Isle of Man, Harrison goes to search for the Manx-Cat, and finds Him at the Point of Ayre Lighthouse, the Manx-Cat spots Harrison, but calmly and politely welcomes the Tailless mouse to the Isle of Man. The Manx-Cat introduces Himself as Thomas N. Manx-Cat, and introduces His wife Margery, who will have kittens at the first day of Summer, which is Tomorrow. Thomas lets Harrison in the house and He makes seafood and some fresh water, as He sadly said it will be His last meal, because on tomorrow, on account of a book called the Book of Premonitions, predicted and written by a prophet. Manxmouse, after hearing about the book, instead of running away, asks Manx-Cat more about the Book, which Manx-Cat read on, reading the history of the warring tribes of the Manx Mice and Manx Cats from 5,000 years ago.

Tomorrow came, as Thomas and Harrison sadly walk to the site of the Manxmouse's death, Castle Rushen. where the Island's Cats and Mice watch. along with human cameramen to tape the event, and the policeman from London offers to be referee, to the event. as the proceedings started, Thomas started to hesitate and shed tears, saying, that He can't bring Himself to eat Harrison without resistance, even though the Book of Premonitions says to. Thomas asks Harrison to fight for survival, Harrison does that. Then, a representative from the Wax Museum, arrives at the castle. saying that in the book, "If the Aforesaid tailless mouse takes a firm stand, ready to fight for survival, all future events in the book of Premonitions will be null and void. as the Manxmouse and Manxcat will live in peace." with that, Harrison and Thomas celebrated as every witness cheered. Then, Thomas realizing there was some time left, ran home to witness the birth of three kittens, much to the delight and relief of Margery. A few days later, as the Manxcats and Harrison watched the full moon, The Ceramicist after hearing from the Wax Museum, that Harrison is living in the Isle of Man, visits and informs Harrison that since He left, The Ceramicist used the remainer of the magic clay to create a female Manxmouse. After completing it, He went straight to the Isle of Man and introduces Her to Harrison. Harrison then declares His love for the female Manxmouse. the moment Harrison kissed the female Manxmouse, She comes to life as Harrison's unusual features (Ears, Feet, and stomach) into that of a normal mouse. The next day, Cats, Mice, and the people Harrison encountered, attend His Wedding. Weeks after the wedding, Harrison became a father to a good number of kids. (Thoses with long or short ears, long or short legs, and those with a little or no tail) Margery and Thomas looked forward to the future, where Tailless Mice and Cats can live in peace.

Transcript
Don Bluth's Manxmouse (Transcript)