The Devil and Daniel Mouse

Did You Know?

• Dialogue from this film was used by the rock band Bauhaus in the song Party of the First Part.
• A dialogue sample from the film was used by Black Dresses at the end of their song Maybe This World Is Another Planet's Hell?.
• The polar bear logo was used as an in-credit logo in Nelvana specials from 1979 to 1980 and from after 1980 to 1988.

Plot

Two mouse folk musicians, Daniel and Jan, lose their job because their sound is considered outdated. While Daniel tries to pawn his guitar, Jan wishes aloud for stardom at any cost. A suspicious reptilian figure in a white suit, calling himself B.L. Zebub, a record producer, appears with his weasel assistant, Weez Weezel. They promise Jan fame and fortune if she signs a contract in her own blood. She trusts him without reading the fine print and signs away her rights to his company. B.L. is actually the devil, and at the peak of her success, at midnight, he will claim her soul. Weez conjures three band members from nothing: a rabbit named Rabbit Delight, a beaver named Boom Boom Beaver, and a praying mantis named Pray Mantis. As the frontwoman of Funky Jan and the Animal Kingdom, Jan becomes the biggest rock star on Earth, leaving Daniel behind. When the devil arrives for her soul, a frantic Jan seeks Daniel’s help. A trial over Jan’s soul takes place in the woods, with Weez as judge, a jury of ghostly music-industry creatures, and Daniel as Jan’s lawyer. The devil adds that if Daniel loses, both their souls will be taken. Daniel, lacking legal training, cannot form a solid argument. Instead, he sings a sincere song. Jan joins him, then her band members follow. The watching animals, Weez, and even the rigged jury start singing and clapping. The devil tries to summon demons, but the spirits he calls also get caught up in the music. Weez declares Daniel and Jan have won the case, and the jury agrees. Frustrated, the devil returns to Hell, dragging Weez and all his minions with him. The two mice hug as the film ends. The final image repeats the lesson: a song from the heart beats the devil every time.

Merchandising

A tie-in story LP record was released by Nelvana Records in 1978, narrated by John Sebastian. The album features dialog from the film's soundtrack and songs performed by Sebastian, Valerie Carter (credited as Laurel Runn), and the Reggie Knighton Band. A storybook written by screenwriter Ken Sobol was first published by Avon/Camelot in 1979, including music and lyrics for three John Sebastian songs, but omitting many visual gags and scenes.

Home video

The Devil and Daniel Mouse was issued on Betamax and VHS as a stand-alone title and on compilations of Nelvana's TV specials. The first widely available compilation was Nelvanamation (Volume 1), which also includes Romie-0 and Julie-8, Intergalactic Thanksgiving, and A Cosmic Christmas. A CED Videodisc collection also features Easter Fever. The special inspired Nelvana's first feature film, Rock & Rule, and a making-of documentary was included on two-DVD and Blu-ray versions of that film in a slightly edited form of 22 minutes from its original 25-minute running time.