Jeremy is a young crow with the social (not to mention physical) grace and style of a three-legged mule.  He epitomizes the archetype of a character who means well, but can't seem to get his act together.  Between collecting string, pursuing sparklies, and looking for Ms. Right, he's always ready to help the Brisby family out of a jam - as soon as he can get untangled from his string collection, that is.

Quote: "Excuse me, pardon me..."

Origins of the character: In Robert C. O'Brien's book "Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH", Jeremy differs slightly from the character we see in the movie.  While he is still a young crow fascinated, even obsessed, with the collection of things (especially shiny things), he's not a bumbling goofball.  This aspect of the character was added as the character was developed for the movie, and primarily with the input of his voice actor, comedian Dom DeLuise.  The actor brought a great deal to the character, and helped define him in a way that has cemented his popularity with NIMH fans.  In the book, while Jeremy is still a helpful and well-meaning--if naïve--young fellow, who definitely is out to impress a young lady friend (one he already has met...so he's not quite the hopeless romantic that he is in the movie), colorful string is not his particular obsession.  The first time we meet him, he's discovered by Mrs. Frisby with his foot caught in a piece of silvery Christmas tinsel which had attracted his attention...which also leads to the encounter with Dragon.

In the animated sequel: After a few years, it's clear that Jeremy has become a little older, just a tad wiser and, unfortunately, a bit more boring.  We see no evidence that his encounter with Miss Right, at the end of the first movie, has produced any lasting benefits (or offspring).  And, later in the sequel, he actually takes up with a crooked con-man of a caterpillar in an attempt to bilk the animals of the forest out of their belongings, and to bring "sparklies" as tribute to him so the two of them could make it rich.  That is, until an older Timothy Brisby, and his girlfriend Jenny McBride, happen along and have a hand in unraveling the on-going scheme, which sets Jeremy back on the right path.