Papa Mousekewitz

Papa Mousekewitz (whose first name is Bernard according to the series Fievel's American Tails), is a friendly and kind father who enjoys telling his children old folk tales and legends, and playing the violin. The story he tells Fievel and Tanya at the beginning of An American Tail about the Giant Mouse of Minsk plays a bigger role near the end of the film. According to his account in the song 'There Are No Cats In America' he was orphaned at a young age due to a cat attack. He made money in Russia building violins, however once in America he found that this simply wasn't enough to support the family. In the third film he works at a cheese factory, his spirit broken by the harsh working conditions, and in Fievel Goes West the main reason he chooses to leave New York is because he is so poor he can't afford any birthday presents for Fievel.

He was particularly hard hit by Fievel's disappearance in the first film, coming to the conclusion that Fievel had drowned. He would hear none of it whenever Tanya begged him not to give up hope because she felt Fievel was alive somewhere. However, he is overjoyed when he is the first to be reunited with Fievel at the end of the movie at the Orphan alley, thanks to the help of Reese, Tony, Bridget and Tiger. He was always a strong believer in the American dream, and he shows many of the same adventurous, optimistic and aspirational ways of thinking that Fievel and Tanya develop. So yes, this is where they get it from. And occasionally, he is taught to be more optimistic by his children, including Reese and Toja.