Overview

Stuart Little is a 1999 American family comedy that blends live-action performances with computer-generated imagery to tell the story of a small, anthropomorphic mouse adopted into a human family. The feature was directed by Rob Minkoff and produced by Douglas Wick. It was released on December 17, 1999; contemporary release and distribution details are summarized on many film information sites (see release info). The movie takes its inspiration, loosely, from the 1945 children's book by E. B. White, while updating characters and situations for a late‑20th‑century family audience.

Cast and characters

The picture mixes human actors with voice performances for its animal characters. Key performers include:

  • Michael J. Fox (voice of Stuart Little)
  • Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie as members of the Little family
  • Nathan Lane (voice of Snowbell the cat)
  • Supporting appearances rounded out by several character actors, including a final film appearance by Estelle Getty.

Production and visual effects

Stuart Little is notable for its combination of practical sets and then‑state‑of‑the‑art CGI to create a believable tiny protagonist interacting with full‑scale human environments. Visual effects teams worked to integrate animated facial expressions, fur rendering and precise compositing so the mouse could move naturally within live scenes. The film's technical achievements earned it industry recognition: it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (nomination), though the award that year went to The Matrix.

Reception and legacy

Critics were broadly favorable, praising the family‑friendly tone and the visual integration of CGI and live action; several review aggregators gave it a generally positive score, with a commonly cited rating of 66% on one major review site (Rotten Tomatoes). Audiences responded well enough that the film became a commercial family property and a recognizable title for children of the era.

The success of Stuart Little spawned additional productions: a theatrical sequel, Stuart Little 2 (2002); a short‑lived animated television series in 2003; and a direct‑to‑video follow‑up, Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild (2006). These follow‑ups expanded on the characters and family dynamics while relying more heavily on animation in some installments.

Notable facts and distinctions

  1. The film adapts themes and characters from a classic children's book but makes substantial changes to fit a modern cinematic narrative.
  2. Its visual effects work represented an important moment in mainstream family entertainment, helping normalize sophisticated CGI characters interacting with human actors.
  3. It marked the last motion‑picture appearance of veteran actress Estelle Getty, an often noted footnote in the film's history.

For further production credits, reviews and historical context, see director and producer information (director) and (producer), or consult database entries and reviews linked from the film's release page (release details).