Posted on Jan 1, 2024
'Steamboat Willie' is now in the public domain. What does that mean for Mickey Mouse?
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https://www.npr.org/2024/01/01/ [login to see] /mickey-mouse-public-domain-disney
An early Walt Disney movie featuring the first appearance of Mickey Mouse is among the copyrighted works from 1928 moving into the public domain on Jan. 1, 2024.
But the cartoon creature who stars in the animated short Steamboat Willie isn't a lot like the Mickey we know today. He's more rascally and rough. His roots in the blackface minstrel shows of the time are more apparent.
And he's not exactly cuddly. For much of the movie, Mickey amuses himself by forcing barnyard animals into being unwilling musical instruments.
An early Walt Disney movie featuring the first appearance of Mickey Mouse is among the copyrighted works from 1928 moving into the public domain on Jan. 1, 2024.
But the cartoon creature who stars in the animated short Steamboat Willie isn't a lot like the Mickey we know today. He's more rascally and rough. His roots in the blackface minstrel shows of the time are more apparent.
And he's not exactly cuddly. For much of the movie, Mickey amuses himself by forcing barnyard animals into being unwilling musical instruments.
'Steamboat Willie' is now in the public domain. What does that mean for Mickey Mouse?
Posted from npr.org
Cartoons
American History
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 3
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"Steamboat Willie, a 1928 animated short featuring Mickey Mouse, will enter the US public domain on January 1, 202412. However, the character of Mickey Mouse is still trademarked by Disney, and later works featuring Mickey Mouse remain under copyright protection for the time being..."...
"Steamboat Willie, a 1928 animated short featuring Mickey Mouse, will enter the US public domain on January 1, 202412. However, the character of Mickey Mouse is still trademarked by Disney, and later works featuring Mickey Mouse remain under copyright protection for the time being..."...
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Definitely a different Mickey than the one in Disney Land, Disney World, or cartoons of the past 30 or 40 years.
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