The Secret of NIMH is among the most frequently cited works in Don Bluth's career — an animated feature film that he directed and produced, drawing on his combined roles as filmmaker and character animator.

Bluth was born on September 13, 1937, in El Paso, and later attended Springville High School before pursuing his education at Brigham Young University. He went on to work across the interconnected roles of film director, screenwriter, film producer, and character animator, building a body of work in animated film that would extend across several decades. The Secret of NIMH emerged as a defining project in that career, reflecting the range of creative responsibilities he assumed on a single production.

The years that followed brought a succession of animated features. An American Tail, The Land Before Time, and All Dogs Go to Heaven each appeared in the latter part of the 1980s, while Thumbelina, The Pebble and the Penguin, and Anastasia came later. His work also extended to Dragon's Lair and Space Ace, and to the science fiction feature Titan A.E. Across these projects, Bluth served variously as director, producer, screenwriter, and animator, sustaining a career that moved through multiple formats and genres within animation.

For his contributions to the field, Bluth received both the Inkpot Award and the Time Machine Award. His name is catalogued by the Library of Congress under the authorized label "Bluth, Don," a designation that reflects the scope of his documented output. A citizen of the United States, Bluth continues to be associated with a substantial body of animated work that includes titles such as Anastasia and Titan A.E.