An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island

An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island

Year: 1998

Runtime: 78 mins

Language: English

Director: Larry Latham

AnimationAdventureFamily

Fievel, still searching for his lost family, arrives in America and teams up with his street‑wise friend Tony Toponi. The duo uncovers a mysterious map they think leads to a hidden treasure beneath old New York City. Their adventure leads them to an underground community of Native American mice who were driven there by hostile European settlers.

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Timeline & Setting – An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Between the first and second An American Tail films

The events take place in a late-19th century urban American setting, characterized by factories, labor strife, and a city brimming with immigrant communities. The period mood combines harsh industrial life with the discovery of an underground Lenape world. Social tensions and workplace conflict drive much of the plot.

Location

New York City, Manhattan Island, Lenape underground village beneath Manhattan

The film unfolds across the surface streets of New York City and a hidden Lenape village reached via abandoned subway tunnels under Manhattan. It juxtaposes the bustling urban environment with a secret, timeworn community living beneath the city. The Lenape settlement highlights a history of displacement and resilience amid the urban sprawl.

🗽 New York City 🗺️ Lenape Underground Village 🧭 Immigrant History

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:06

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

Meet the key characters of An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Fievel Mousekewitz (Thomas Dekker)

A curious and brave young mouse who drives the expedition to find the Lenape treasure. He navigates traps and danger with quick thinking while remaining compassionate toward Cholena and the Lenape. His optimism helps unite friends from different worlds and fuels a hopeful ending.

🧭 Curious 🗺️ Brave 🤝 Loyal

Tony Toponi (Pat Musick)

Fievel's loyal best friend, practical and resourceful. He supports the expedition and helps protect Cholena, while also navigating the tension of the surface's politics and factory life. His courage under pressure reinforces the theme of friendship across cultures.

🤝 Loyal 🧠 Clever 💪 Steadfast

Cholena (Elaine Bilstad)

Daughter of Lenape sachem Chief Wulisso; sent to the surface to test if humans have changed. She represents Lenape culture and acts as a bridge between Lenape and surface mice. Her presence drives the choice to reach out rather than retreat.

🗺️ Lenape Heritage 🌿 Indigenous Culture 💪 Courage

Chief Wulisso (David Carradine)

Lenape sachem and guardian of his people; he evaluates the surface world’s changes and guides Cholena's mission. He embodies measured leadership and a willingness to engage with outsiders when necessary.

🪶 Lenape Leader 🧭 Wise 🛡️ Protector

Tiger (Dom DeLuise)

Fievel’s ally and protector; tough, loyal, and sometimes gruff. He helps guard the Lenape and later becomes the new police chief, symbolizing a bridge between communities and law.

🛡️ Protector 💪 Loyal 🗺️ Bridge-builder

Scuttlebutt (John Kassir)

A scheming mouse on Grasping’s payroll; he betrays the group by feeding information to the factory owners. His actions escalate the danger but his fate underscores the cost of treachery.

💼 Betrayer 🐀 Schemer 🕵️‍♂️ Trickster

Dr. Dithering (René Auberjonois)

An archaeologist who deciphers the treasure map and guides the expedition with scholarly insight. He is captured but saved by Tiger, and his knowledge helps reveal the Lenape history.

🧠 Scholar 🗝️ Knowledge 🧭 Explorer

Mr. Grasping (Ron Perlman)

One of the factory owners who exploits workers and fans xenophobia to maintain control. His greed drives the plot toward conflict with the Lenape and the union.

💰 Greed 🗡️ Ruthless 🧱 Boss

Mr. Toplofty (Tony Jay)

The pompous partner in the factory scheme; he enforces orders and supports the aggressive tactics of the owners.

🏢 Boss 🗺️ Shadowy 🐌 Inefficiency

Mr. O'Bloat (Richard Karron)

A ruthless factory boss who underpays workers and participates in the scheme to suppress dissent.

💲 Corrupt 🧭 Misleading 🧱 Industrialist

Papa Mousekewitz (Nehemiah Persoff)

Fievel's father; a hard-working cheese factory worker who inspires solidarity and helps organize the workers' union.

👨‍👦 Family 🛠️ Worker Leader 🛡️ Protective

Mama Mousekewitz (Erica Yohn)

Fievel's mother; protective and resilient, she supports the family during danger and helps keep hope alive.

❤️ Family 🛡️ Protective 🗺️ Cultural Keeper

Tanya Mousekewitz (Lacey Chabert)

Fievel's sister who stands by her brother, showing bravery and compassion; she participates in the mission to help Cholena.

👧 Young Heroine 🧭 Bridge-builder 🏃‍♀️ Brave

Chief McBrusque (Sherman Howard)

The brutal police chief who is on the bosses' payroll, using intimidation to suppress the workers and persecute the Lenape.

🧑‍✈️ Law 🗡️ Brutal 🕳️ Corrupt

Visqueux de Rat (Jean-Luc Galmiche)

A shadowy underworld figure in the city, involved in the criminal network that profits off fear and instability. His presence adds a layer of intrigue to the plot.

🕳️ Underworld 🐀 Shadowy 🗨️ Conniving

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:06

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

Explore the central themes of An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Labor and Solidarity

Factory workers endure long hours, low pay, and dangerous conditions. The bosses manipulate public opinion and the police to suppress dissent. Papa Mousekewitz helps organize a workers' union to demand fair wages and safer conditions. The confrontation culminates in a push for negotiation and collective action.

🗺️ Indigenous Resilience

The Lenape retreat to a hidden village beneath Manhattan to escape oppression and hostility on the surface. Cholena’s journey to the surface becomes a tense bridge between cultures, showing their cautious openness to change. The Lenape’s welcome to the visitors emphasizes resilience and the importance of preserving their heritage. The story highlights Indigenous strength in the face of external pressures.

🔥 Xenophobia and Manipulation

Grasping and Chief McBrusque cultivate anti-Native and anti-immigrant sentiment to create a distraction and justify repression. The mob atmosphere leads to violence, culminating in attempts to capture Cholena and her allies. Scuttlebutt’s betrayal accelerates the conflict, exposing the fragility of trust in times of fear. The arc reveals how prejudice can be weaponized by those in power.

💧 Courage and Hope

Despite danger, the group thwarts the mob and protects Cholena, while Dithering’s survival underscores the value of knowledge. The tunnel collapse and flood become a turning point that forces cooperation across communities. Fievel and his friends persevere, culminating in a safer, more united future.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:06

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