Somewhere Out There: 'American Tail' Comes to Life Again for Johns Creek Audience

A packed house at Regal Cinemas Medlock in Johns Creek saw the adventures of Fievel Mousekewitz once again come to life as part of the 11th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.

The 25th-anniversary screening related the story of Fievel and his family, 19th century Jewish immigrants to New York. On the way Fievel is lost at sea and must roam the streets of New York City to find his parents.

Producers and animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman were on hand to answer questions.

The pair talked about how they broke with Disney due to budget cuts, and how "American Tail" forced Disney at the time to reevaluate what the company was doing and "get better." "American Tail" became the highest-grossing animated film up to that time, earning more than $47 million.

Bluth told the audience that animated films frequently use animals rather than people because they are less threatening. He said that the theme of a child fearing abandonment and wanting to reunite with parents is universal.

When an audience member asked how animated films were created without today's digital animation, Bluth said that often the filmmakers would project storyboards onto a wall while listening to the soundtrack to see if they carried weight.

When asked by a child in the audience how to become an animator, he advised practicing and not giving up. "I knew when I was 4 that I was going to draw," Bluth said.

Before the screening, Bluth admitted that at first he was hesitant to attend the festival since he doesn't like to travel, but realizing that the movie has moved people, "maybe it was worth doing."

"When people come up to us and say 'this movie changed my life,' it's the ultimate compliment," Goldman added.

He said that the movie still carries resonance today because kids fear abandonment. "It's universal; not just a Jewish story," Goldman said.

While the film festival has wrapped up at Regal Cinemas in Johns Creek, it continues in the metro area through Feb. 27. For a schedule of remaining films, visit www.ajff.org.