Steamboat Willie is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, produced in black and white by Disney Cartoons and released by Pat Powers' Celebrity Productions. It is considered the official debut of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, though both characters had appeared months earlier in a test screening of Plane Crazy and the then-unreleased The Gallopin' Gaucho; it was the third Mickey Mouse film produced but the first to be officially distributed, since Disney had seen The Jazz Singer (1927) and was determined to make one of the first fully synchronized sound cartoons.
Facts
Classification
Original Language Release Year FAQs
Is Steamboat Willie in the public domain?
Yes in the United States since January 1 2024; other countries may differ.
In the United States, yes. Works from 1928 entered the US public domain on January 1, 2024, and Steamboat Willie, the film featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse, was named among the highlights of that year. This applies to US copyright law only, and copyright terms in other countries may be different. Duke University's Center for the Study of the Public Domain also notes that trademark law is involved in what can be done with the characters, so the film's copyright ending does not answer every question about using Mickey and Minnie.
Connections
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Source Steamboat Willie - Wikipedia
In Medium
Source Steamboat Willie - Wikipedia
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Also in Language Atlas: the original language of this subject.
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Source Steamboat Willie - WikipediaLead sentence 1Quote, Lead sentence 1
Steamboat Willie is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks.
Sources
1. Steamboat Willie - Wikipedia
Infobox, released
1928 11 18 US
Infobox, country
United States
Steamboat Willie, Description, original language
Steamboat Willie is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, produced in black and white by Disney Cartoons and released by Pat Powers' Celebrity Productions.
In Medium: Film, Article lead sentence
Steamboat Willie is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks.
Created By: Walt Disney, Article lead sentence
Steamboat Willie is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks.
View the Source2. Library of Congress, National Film Preservation Board: Complete National Film Registry Listing
Library of Congress, National Film Preservation BoardNational Film Registry listing row: film released 1928, inducted 1998Quote, National Film Registry listing row: film released 1928, inducted 1998
Steamboat Willie 1928 1998
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