Admirable film.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I love animation from Nelvana Ltd., along with animation from: Fleischer Studios, Disney Studios, Rankin/Bass, Studio Ghibli from Japan, and Hanna/Barbera. Nelvana has great series like "Redwall," "Class of the Titans," "Little Bear", etc. Yes, Nelvana is an awesome studio. Well anyway, I loved this special "The Devil and Daniel Mouse," after I had watched when I was in Junior High. The special was broadcast as a Halloween special in on October 22, 1978 on Canada's CBC, then released on VHS in the 80s; of course I did not know whether it is a Halloween special, I guess I had heard that Halloween can be the highest satanic holy day, right? Well anyway (again), this musical special is about two young mouse folk singers named Daniel and Jan, who find themselves with a bleak future after finding their audience drying up in favour of rock music. Desperate for a better career and life, Jan vows that she would do anything to become a rock star. Instantly, the Devil arises to take advantage of that and offers to make her a star in exchange for her soul. She agrees and she quickly becomes the star she's dreamed of while Daniel, is left behind. On the night of her greatest triumph - her concert, the devil comes to collect on her soul. In desperation, she turns to Daniel who must attempt the impossible task of trying to find an escape loophole for his girl's release.Nelvana also remade this special as the movie "Rock & Rule," both about a couple in a musical group struggling in talent joints, the female member used in a diabolical scheme, and ending with the heroines dressed in white tatters and their lovers vanquishing an evil with a song from the heart. So my last word that I love this special, with excellent music and a top-notch cast.

I can remember it like yesterday. Christmas Eve 1978 or 9, and I'd been out helping Dad at work. It was cold, we'd had a lot of snow, and we came in at teatime. Whilst Dad got our tea, I sat and put the telly on, a big wooden box with the big clunky channel knobs. This cartoon came on and I was transfixed. Thirty one years later and it's one of my most fond and vivid memories of being with my Dad. Cold 1970's winters, helping out on the farm, and being a child again. It's funny what you latch on to for childhood memories, but this rates pretty highly up there for me. Just reading about it has started tears running down my face with fond nostalgia, and wishing back to a time when things were so much simpler.

The devil in this is really sleazy. He makes the movie.The plot is a fairly common one from the 70s (which also brought us The Phantom of the Paradise - with another good devil) - would you sell your soul for rock 'n' roll? A folk duo, Jan and Dan, break up when the devil offers Jan a chance to sign on and she jumps at it, leaving sweet, dopey Dan behind. Jan goes on to fame, fortune, and some really flashy outfits. Then, when her contract comes up, the devil decides to collect her soul and ever-faithful Dan shows up to defend her in a kangaroo-court (or rather, ghost, snake and shark court, if I remember correctly), judged by the big bad horned one himself.Very sweet. The music is fun (in the same way Xanadu is - VERY 70s), and some of the moments still give me goosebumps.Also this is VERY CLEARLY a precursor to Nelvana's much more ambitious work Rock and Rule, where a similar boy-girl team (plus two more band members) are broken up when the girl is given a shot at fame (by a representative of the devil), etc., etc.,....

I remember watching this cartoon as a kid growing up in Fairmont, West Virginia (the home of Mary Lou Retton). It is an excellent modern day adaptation of Benet's classic story told in animation. They do a wonderful job of bringing it into the 70's, in fact you could almost say that it is a cartoon for adults in some ways. The message is meaningful in so many ways that a song from your heart sets you free and beats the devil every time. I am so sorry but I still have that song stuck in my head from over twenty years ago......look where the music will take you when your getting low....a song from your heart sets you free and beats the devil every single time.