"Steamboat Willie" is a groundbreaking 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. This black and white film, produced by Walt Disney Studios, marked the debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, although they had appeared earlier in a test screening of "Plane Crazy." Inspired by "The Jazz Singer," Disney made "Steamboat Willie" the first fully synchronized sound cartoon, despite it being the third Mickey Mouse film produced.
1909: Copyright Act of 1909
The Copyright Act of 1909, with its specific rules, played a crucial role in later debates about Steamboat Willie's copyright status.
May 1924: Debut of Inkwell Studios' Sound Cartoons
In May 1924, Inkwell Studios, led by Dave and Max Fleischer, began releasing sound cartoons, marking an early foray into synchronized sound in animation.
1924: Early Sound Cartoons: Song Car-Tunes
'Song Car-Tunes,' a series of sound cartoons, emerged in 1924. Produced by Inkwell Studios, these cartoons represented early attempts at synchronized sound in animation.
September 1926: Challenges with Synchronization and the Release of "Dinner Time"
While Inkwell Studios' 'Song Car-Tunes' explored synchronized sound, they faced challenges in maintaining consistent synchronization. In a similar vein, Paul Terry released 'Dinner Time' shortly before 'Steamboat Willie,' but it did not achieve the same success.
June 1927: Pat Powers and the "Powers Cinephone" System
In June 1927, Pat Powers attempted to take over Lee de Forest's Phonofilm Corporation. Following his unsuccessful bid, Powers hired a former Phonofilm technician to develop a similar sound-on-film system called "Powers Cinephone."
1927: Inspiration from "The Jazz Singer"
In 1927, after witnessing the success of the sound film 'The Jazz Singer,' Walt Disney was inspired to explore adding sound to his cartoons, believing it would broaden their appeal.
September 1928: Production of Steamboat Willie and Early Screenings
'Steamboat Willie' was produced between July and September 1928. Before finalizing the soundtrack, Walt Disney conducted test screenings with live sound effects to gauge the audience's reaction to a sound cartoon.
September 15, 1928: Challenges and Success in Synchronizing the Soundtrack
The initial attempt to synchronize the recording with the film on September 15, 1928, failed. Disney had to make financial sacrifices to finance a second recording, which proved successful with the help of a filmed bouncing ball for tempo.
November 18, 1928: Premiere of Steamboat Willie
'Steamboat Willie' premiered on November 18, 1928, at Universal's Colony Theater in New York City. The film was an immediate success and helped launch the careers of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.
November 21, 1928: Variety Reviews Steamboat Willie
Variety published their review of 'Steamboat Willie' on November 21, 1928.
November 25, 1928: The Film Daily Reviews Steamboat Willie
On November 25, 1928, The Film Daily published their review of 'Steamboat Willie.'
1928: Steamboat Willie and the Rise of Synchronized Sound
'Steamboat Willie' emerged in 1928 as a groundbreaking cartoon, notable for its synchronized sound and fully post-produced soundtrack. This set it apart from earlier sound cartoons like 'Song Car-Tunes' and 'Dinner Time.
1928: Release of Steamboat Willie
In 1928, Walt Disney released 'Steamboat Willie,' a black and white animated short film considered the debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, though they appeared earlier in an unreleased test screening.
1928: Copyright Controversies and Extensions
Following its copyright filing in 1928, 'Steamboat Willie' became embroiled in copyright controversies. Its copyright was extended multiple times by the United States Congress, sparking debates about copyright duration and public domain.
1928: Promotional Poster
A 1928 promotional poster for Mickey Mouse featured the character with red shorts and yellow shoes, potentially placing these attributes in the public domain as well.
1928: Technical Innovation and Influence of Steamboat Willie
Released in 1928, 'Steamboat Willie' was lauded for its technical innovations and impact. The use of synchronized sound was groundbreaking, influencing the trajectory of animation.
1928: The Music and Possible Inspiration Behind "Steamboat Willie"
In 1928, the music for 'Steamboat Willie' was arranged, incorporating songs like "Steamboat Bill" and "Turkey in the Straw." The title itself might be a play on the Buster Keaton film 'Steamboat Bill, Jr.,' which also referenced the song "Steamboat Bill."
1928: Steamboat Willie Release
Steamboat Willie, the short film featuring Mickey Mouse, was originally released in 1928.
1930: Business Relationship and Falling Out Between Powers and Disney
Pat Powers and Walt Disney's business partnership, which involved using the Cinephone system for 'Steamboat Willie,' ended in 1930 due to financial disagreements. Powers then hired Ub Iwerks, Disney's lead animator.
1944: Saving Private Ryan Setting
The film "Saving Private Ryan" is set in 1944 during World War II.
1955: First Copyright Renewal
Steamboat Willie's copyright, set to expire, was renewed, extending its protection.
1976: Copyright Act Extension
The Copyright Act of 1976 further extended Steamboat Willie's copyright protection.
1986: Second Copyright Renewal
Steamboat Willie's copyright was once again renewed, pushing the expiration date further.
1992: The Simpsons Parody
The Simpsons episode "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie" featured "Steamboat Itchy," a parody of the opening scene from Steamboat Willie.
1993: Mickey's Toontown Ambiance
A shortened cover of Steamboat Willie's music was incorporated into the background ambiance of Disneyland's Mickey's Toontown.
1994: Mickey Mania Release
The video game "Mickey Mania" was released, featuring Steamboat Willie-themed levels.
1994: Steamboat Willie Ranked Among Greatest Cartoons
'Steamboat Willie' earned recognition as one of the greatest cartoons of all time in 1994 when animation professionals ranked it 13th in the book 'The 50 Greatest Cartoons.'
1994: Recognition in "The 50 Greatest Cartoons"
'Steamboat Willie' was voted the 13th greatest cartoon in the 1994 book 'The 50 Greatest Cartoons.'
1998: Censored Version in "The Spirit of Mickey"
A censored version of Steamboat Willie, with a scene involving pigs removed, was included in the VHS/Laserdisc compilation "The Spirit of Mickey."
1998: Preservation in the National Film Registry
In 1998, the Library of Congress selected 'Steamboat Willie' for preservation in the National Film Registry.
1998: Saving Private Ryan Reference
In the film "Saving Private Ryan," a German prisoner of war nicknamed "Steamboat Willie" attempts to connect with American soldiers by talking about Mickey Mouse.
1998: Copyright Term Extension Act
The Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, sometimes called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act," significantly extended copyright terms, impacting Steamboat Willie.
1998: Steamboat Willie Selected for National Film Registry
The United States Library of Congress selected 'Steamboat Willie' for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1998. The film was recognized for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
1999: Public Domain Claim
Law student Lauren Vanpelt published a paper arguing that Steamboat Willie was already in the public domain due to errors in its original copyright notice.
2003: Third Copyright Renewal
Steamboat Willie's copyright protection was extended once more.
2005: Kingdom Hearts II Release
Steamboat Willie-themed levels were included in the video game "Kingdom Hearts II."
2007: Walt Disney Animation Studios Logo
A clip from Steamboat Willie, showing Mickey whistling, became part of Walt Disney Animation Studios' production logo.
2007: Trademark Use
Disney began using a Steamboat Willie clip in its film production logo, potentially strengthening its trademark claim on the 1928 version.
2008: Futurama Parody
The opening of the Futurama film "The Beast with a Billion Backs" parodied Steamboat Willie.
2010: Epic Mickey Release
The video game "Epic Mickey" featured levels inspired by Steamboat Willie.
2015: Commemorative Coin by Perth Mint
The Perth Mint released a commemorative 1 kg gold coin honoring 'Steamboat Willie' in 2015.
2018: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Costume
An alternate costume for Sora in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" was inspired by Steamboat Willie.
2019: Lego Set Release
Lego released an official Steamboat Willie set to celebrate 90 years of Mickey Mouse.
2022: Political Opposition to Extension
Following Disney's stance on Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, some Republican lawmakers pledged to oppose any further extensions of copyright terms.
January 2023: Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway Opening
The whistle sound from Steamboat Willie was used in the "Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway" attraction that opened at Disneyland.
April 2023: John Oliver's Announcement
John Oliver shared his plan to use the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse as the new mascot for his show, "Last Week Tonight," once it entered the public domain in 2024.
July 2023: Disney's Anniversary Special
As part of Disney's 100-year anniversary celebration, they released a special episode of "The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse" titled "Steamboat Silly," featuring various versions of Mickey Mouse as he appears in Steamboat Willie.
2023: Copyright Expiration
After multiple extensions, Steamboat Willie's copyright finally expired in 2023.
2023: Disney Speedstorm Release
The video game "Disney Speedstorm" featured playable versions of Mickey Mouse and Pete from Steamboat Willie.
January 1, 2024: Steamboat Willie Enters Public Domain
On January 1, 2024, 'Steamboat Willie' entered the public domain in the United States. This event marked a significant milestone in the film's history, making it freely available for use and adaptation.
2024: Financial Context of Steamboat Willie's Release
In 2024, the payment Disney received for 'Steamboat Willie,' $500 per week during its initial run, would be equivalent to approximately $9,000.
2024: Public Domain Entry and Mascot Debut
Steamboat Willie was set to enter the public domain, and John Oliver planned to debut the character as his show's mascot.