The Mouse on the Mayflower
Release: November 23, 1968

The Mouse on the Mayflower is a 1968 animated Thanksgiving television special created by Rankin/Bass. It was the first official special under the Rankin/Bass moniker after changing its name from Videocraft the previous year. It debuted on NBC on November 23, 1968. The special is about a church mouse named Willum, who is discovered on the Mayflower. Tennessee Ernie Ford voices Willum and narrates. The famous ship called Mayflower is trapped amidst a huge storm. The entire story is narrated by a church-mouse called Willum, from his viewpoint. The tale begins with the pilgrim preachers deciding to move to America and getting aboard the Mayflower. However, because of the huge storm, the ship gets on the verge of sinking. Then, Willum, the pilgrim mouse, comes up with an idea to save the ship. When the pilgrims land safely, they write the Mayflower Compact and start constructing their new church and colony. However, it is already the autumn season and they do not have much food stored for the winter. The pilgrims then learn to plant crops during the spring season and celebrate a big feast toward the onset of the autumn season or fall. This is their first Thanksgiving celebration.

Trailers
Posters
Quotes
Willum: "There are winters, and then there are WINTERS, but that winter of 1621 was a (sneezes) WINTER!"
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Willum: "And so, we started to land. I guess nobody needs to be told the name of that rock. Of course, at first we still had out sea legs."
Myles Standish: "My legs are turned to cotton! That Mayflower has ruined me for life!"
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Captain Jones: "Gentlemen, I fear it is my duty to inform you this is not Virginia! "
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Myles Standish: "And I thought that old press was only good for printing up prayer books and hymnals! Willum, if you ever wanna join me army, you can start off as a major general!"
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Myles Standish: "Glory be to God, we've got ourselves a jack! The mouse found it!"
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Willum: "You know there's a little more to Thanksgiving than all this turkey and pumpkin pie? Oh, there's nothing wrong with feasting and enjoying yourselves, but it's good to remember why we celebrate and the story behind it all."
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Willum: "I guess you could say we'd officially arrived. As soon as I lost my sea legs, I decided to do some exploring."
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Priscella: "Oh, Mister Robbin, let's not talk about Captain Standish all the time. Let's enjoy this beautiful day!"
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Willum: "Oh yes, our hopes could not have been higher. Of course, there were all kinds of hardships and dangers ahead. All kind of dangers."
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Myles Standish: "Now, let's get a little organized here."
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Myles Standish: "'Tis a pleasure ma'am. Anything I can do, anything. Will you get a move on, lad?!"
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Quizzler: "I've been fatally shot!"
William Bradford: "How terrible."
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