Director: Mohammadali Talebi, Marziyeh Boroumand
Cast: Hamid Jebeli, Iraj Tahmasb, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya
Shahre Moosh'ha (City of Mice) is a 1986 Iranian animated adventure-comedy directed by Mohammadali Talebi and Marziyeh Boroumand. A beloved classic of Persian children's cinema, it follows a community of mice whose peaceful world is upended by a dangerous predator, forcing them to band together, flee their home, and ultimately fight for the right to return.
What is Shahre Moosh'ha about?
A close-knit colony of mice live happily in their school, going about their daily routines with warmth and humor. Everything changes when a ferocious cat arrives and begins terrorizing the community. Fearing for their lives, the mice are forced to abandon their school and set out on a perilous journey into the unknown. Along the way they face hardships, discover unexpected strengths, and learn what true courage looks like. Their odyssey becomes a story of solidarity and resilience — small creatures standing up against a much larger threat. The resolution, earned through collective action rather than luck, brings the community full circle back to the home they never stopped fighting for.
The K-Time take
Talebi and Boroumand craft a film that works simultaneously as lighthearted children's entertainment and as a quiet allegory about displacement and community solidarity — themes that resonated deeply with Iranian audiences in the years following the Revolution. The animation is warm and expressive, and the pacing keeps even young viewers engaged across its 92-minute runtime.
Cast & crew
The film is co-directed by Mohammadali Talebi, a significant figure in Iranian children's cinema known for his accessible storytelling, and Marziyeh Boroumand, a pioneering female director and actress in Iranian film. The voice cast includes Hamid Jebeli, Iraj Tahmasb — a household name in Iranian children's entertainment — and the acclaimed actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya.
Context & significance
Released in 1986, Shahre Moosh'ha holds a special place in the memory of Iranians who grew up during or just after the Revolution. Children's animation was one of the few genres that flourished in the early years of the Islamic Republic, and this film — with its gentle humor, vibrant characters, and clear moral compass — became a staple of Iranian childhood. For diaspora families, watching it today carries a strong nostalgic charge, offering a direct link to the cultural world of pre-digital Iran. It is the kind of film that parents who saw it as children now share with their own kids, making it a true multi-generational title in the Persian-speaking community.
Where & how to watch
Shahre Moosh'ha is available to stream on K-Time with original Persian-language audio. Watch on your web browser, television, or phone — no VPN needed, no geo-blocking, and no extra download required. Subscribe and cancel anytime.