History WesternAnimation / SteamboatWillie

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US was still up in the air for a long time – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2004 upon the short's 75th anniversary, plus a month and a half as copyrights always expire on January 1 of the following year)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact have already been in the public domain during that time due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but no one wanted to challenge Disney's lawyers. As of January 1, 2024, the short, along with Mickey, Minnie and Pete as they appear in the short, are now definitively in the United States public domain.[[note]]Before you get to making your own Mickey content though, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney hasn't lost complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use ''Steamboat Willie'' and ''Gallopin' Gaucho''[='=]s version of Mickey, Minnie and Pete as much as you want, but not later versions of them still as they are under Disney's copyright. You also cannot use Mickey as a trademark as that would cause customer confusion, unless you want to get sued by Disney. Additionally, you can use the IMAGE of Mickey's unnamed (in the short) boss, but actually calling him "Pete" is... iffy. Pete himself dates back to 1925, but as a bear, not a cat. So Pete the BEAR is fair game. The cat character seen in ''Steamboat Willie'' wasn't retroactively declared to be Pete until 1930, leaving the whole thing a legal tangleweb.[[/note]] It should be noted that in several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years. [[Film/WinnieThePoohBloodAndHoney Predictably]], [[https://screenrant.com/steamboat-willie-horror-movie-updates/ an indie horror movie project]] is already on track to be made. And a [[https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/01/03/someone-is-already-making-a-steamboat-willie-mickey-mouse-horror-game horror video game]] as well.

* BlackComedyAnimalCruelty: This is the most famous example in the early Mickey Mouse cartoons; it includes a sow played like an accordion, a cat having its tail pulled and then swung around, and a goose squeezed like a bagpipe. [[EveryoneHasStandards However, Pete himself isn't amused by this at all.]]
* BootstrappedLeitmotif: The chorus to Steamboat Willie has naturally become a theme for Mickey, and Disney in general.

* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: Right after being ordered to get back to work, Mickey proceeds to blow a raspberry towards Pete. The captain was angry and attempted to kick Mickey [[OhCrap who freaked out a bit]] before dodging Pete's kick.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Mickey and Minnie don't have WhiteGloves in this short (though Mickey sports a pair in the title card.)

* FurryConfusion: Perhaps seeing a three foot mouse swing a [[ThatPoorCat cat]] around by its tail is some form of [[CarnivoreConfusion twisted justice]]. Not to mention you have a non-anthropomorphic cat in the same cartoon as Pete.

* KickTheDog: A rare example of someone doing this several times and still being the ''protagonist''.

* MickeyMousing: The {{Trope Maker|s}}, though {{Ur Example}}s do exist in some form; silent cartoons did have musical scores (which would have to be played by a piano player in the movie theater) and characters would often move to the beats, but not to the same extent.

* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: It's not okay to abuse animals just so you can make music anymore. Granted, [[PeelingPotatoes it wasn't exactly OK for Mickey either]].

* PublicDomainCharacter: The first appearance of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and this version of Pete.[[note]]He appeared much earlier in the Alice Comedies, albeit as a bear and not a cat. [[/note]] They are all still ''trademarked'', though.

* {{Wedgie}}: Around 3½ minutes in, this is Mickey’s chosen method to lift Minnie onto the boat (using the boat's hook to pull her up by the waistband of her underpants).
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Minnie isn't seen again after the concert ends, [[KarmaHoudini as she isn't seen receiving any comeuppance for helping Mickey slacking off on his job.]]

* BottleEpisode: This short mostly takes place at the steamboat with a small scene taking place at the dock.

-->-- '''Creator/ShamusCulhane''' on why "Steamboat Willie" was such an important film for animation

"Steamboat Willie" is a black-and-white WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse short released on November 18, 1928, and is the cartoon that kicked off what we have come to know as UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation. It is notable not for being the first Mickey Mouse cartoon (that honor goes to ''WesternAnimation/PlaneCrazy''[[note]]though ''Steamboat Willie'' is the first to be distributed and released to the public. ''Plane Crazy'' would not be released to the public until a few months later in 1929[[/note]]), nor for being the first sound cartoon[[note]] [[Creator/MaxAndDaveFleischer Fleischer Studios]]' 1924 ''Song Car-Tune'' "Mother, Mother Pin A Rose On Me" holds that honor, and [[Creator/TerryToons Paul Terry's]] 1928 short "Dinnertime" was released just a month before Willie hit the theaters[[/note]], but for being the first cartoon with a completely post-produced soundtrack of music, dialogue, and sound effects. Namely, it was the first cartoon to get it right, bringing UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfAnimation to an end.

!!"Steamboat Willie" provides examples of:

* PopCulturalOsmosis: The first scene where Mickey is seen steering the steamboat is far more famous than the rest of the cartoon.[[note]]Perhaps most notably as the logo for Creator/WaltDisneyAnimationStudios.[[/note]] Most people know that "Steamboat Willie" launched Mickey Mouse as a superstar, but the amount of people who actually saw this cartoon from beginning to end is much lower.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Minnie isn't seen again after the concert ends, as she isn't seen receiving any comeuppance for helping Mickey slacking off on his job.

* PopCulturalOsmosis: The first scene where Mickey is seen steering the steam boat is far more famous than the rest of the cartoon. Most people know that "Steamboat Willie" launched Mickey Mouse as a superstar, but the amount of people who actually saw this cartoon from beginning to end is much lower.

* {{Wedgie}}: Around three minutes and 35 seconds into the cartoon this is Mickey’s chosen method to lift Minnie onto the boat (Using the boat's hook to pull her up by the waistband of her underpants).

* TheBadGuyWins: Pete [[LaserGuidedKarma puts a dismayed Mickey to work peeling potatoes for the rest of the trip]]. Though it should be noted that Pete isn't so much a malicious villain in this case, and more just a grumpy captain fed up with a crewmember who keeps goofing off instead of working. But it is Mickey who gets the last laugh, both literally and figuratively, after knocking the parrot off the boat.

* EveryoneHasStandards: As grumpy as he can be, Pete has the right to be angry at Mickey, not only for slacking off at work, but also abusing the animals while playing along to "Turkey in the Straw".

* JerkassHasAPoint: Captain Pete is presented as something of a villain, but Mickey really shouldn't be goofing around on the job so much when there's work to be done. He even doesn't take it kindly after seeing that Mickey is abusing the animals just for music to impress Minnie.

* TheBadGuyWins: And [[LaserGuidedKarma puts a dismayed Mickey to work peeling potatoes]]. Though it should be noted that Pete isn't so much a malicious villain in this case, and more just a grumpy captain fed up with a crewmember who keeps goofing off instead of working. But it is Mickey who gets the last laugh, both literally and figuratively, after knocking the parrot off the boat.

* BlackComedyAnimalCruelty: This is the most famous example in the early Mickey Mouse cartoons; it includes a sow played like an accordion, a cat having its tail pulled and then swung around, and a goose squeezed like a bagpipe.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Captain Pete is presented as something of a villain, but Mickey really shouldn't be goofing around on the job so much when there's work to be done.

* LiteralAssKicking: Pete attempts to kick Mickey, only to kick his own butt.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Minnie isn't seen again after the animal concert ends.

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US was still up in the air for a long time – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2004 upon the short's 75th anniversary, plus a month and a half as copyrights always expire on January 1 of the following year)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact have already been in the public domain during that time due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but no one wanted to challenge Disney's lawyers. As of January 1, 2024, the short, along with Mickey, Minnie and Pete as they appear in the short, are now definitively in the United States public domain.[[note]]Before you get to making your own Mickey content though, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney hasn't lost complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use ''Steamboat Willie'' and ''Gallopin' Gaucho''[='=]s version of Mickey, Minnie and Pete as much as you want, but not later versions of them still as they are under Disney's copyright. You also cannot use Mickey as a trademark as that would cause customer confusion, unless you want to get sued by Disney. Additionally, you can use the IMAGE of Mickey's unnamed (in the short) boss, but actually calling him "Pete" is... iffy. Pete himself dates back to 1925, but as a bear, not a cat. So Pete the BEAR is fair game. The cat character seen in ''Steamboat Willie'' wasn't retroactively declared to be Pete until 1930, leaving the whole thing a legal tangleweb.[[/note]] It should be noted that in several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Mickey and Minnie don't have WhiteGloves in this short.

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US was still up in the air for a long time – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2004 upon the short's 75th anniversary, plus a month and a half as copyrights always expire on January 1 of the following year)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact have already been in the public domain during that time due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but no one wanted to challenge Disney's lawyers. As of January 1, 2024, the short, along with Mickey, Minnie and Pete as they appear in the short, are now definitively in the United States public domain.[[note]]Before you get to making your own Mickey content though, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney hasn't lost complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use ''Steamboat Willie'' and ''Gallopin' Gaucho''[='=]s version of Mickey, Minnie and Pete as much as you want, but not later versions of them still as they are under Disney's copyright. You also cannot use Mickey as a trademark as that would cause customer confusion, unless you want to get sued by Disney. Additionally, you can use the IMAGE of Mickey's unnamed (in the short) boss, but actually calling him "Pete" is... iffy. Pete himself dates back to 1925, but as a bear, not a cat. So Pete the BEAR is fair game. The cat character seen in "Steamboat Willie" wasn't retroactively declared to be Pete until 1930, leaving the whole thing a legal tangleweb.[[/note]] It should be noted that in several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years.

* BlackComedyAnimalCruelty: This is the most famous example in the early Mickey Mouse cartoons (to the point of providing the page image); it includes a sow played like an accordion, a cat having its tail pulled and then swung around, and a goose squeezed like a bagpipe.

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US was still up in the air for a long time – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2004 upon the short's 75th anniversary, plus a month and a half as copyrights always expire on January 1 of the following year)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact have already been in the public domain due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but no one wanted to challenge Disney's lawyers. In several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years.

As of January 1, 2024, the short, and Mickey, Minnie and Pete as they appear in the short, are now PublicDomain in the United States.[[note]]Before you get to making your own Mickey content though, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney hasn't lost complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use ''Steamboat Willie'' and ''Gallopin' Gaucho''[='=]s version of Mickey, Minnie and Pete as much as you want, but not later versions of them still as they are under Disney's copyright. You also cannot use Mickey as a trademark as that would cause customer confusion, unless you want to get sued by Disney. Additionally, you can use the IMAGE of Mickey's unnamed (in the short) boss, but actually calling him "Pete" is... iffy. Pete himself dates back to 1925, but as a bear, not a cat. So Pete the BEAR is fair game. The cat character seen in "Steamboat Willie" wasn't retroactively declared to be Pete until 1930, leaving the whole thing a legal tangleweb.[[/note]]

As of January 1, 2024, the short, and Mickey, Minnie and Pete as they appear in the short, are now PublicDomain in the United States.[[note]]Before you get to making your own Mickey content though, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney hasn't lost complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use ''Steamboat Willie'' and ''Gallopin' Gaucho''[='=]s version of Mickey, Minnie and Pete as much as you want, but not later versions of them still as they are under Disney's copyright. You also cannot use Mickey as a trademark as that would cause customer confusion, unless you want to get sued by Disney.[[/note]]

In 1998, 70 years after its debut, the short was chosen for preservation in the UsefulNotes/NationalFilmRegistry. It can be watched on Walt Disney Animation Studios' official Website/YouTube channel [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBgghnQF6E4 here]].

* EverythingIsAnInstrument: When Mickey starts playing along to "Turkey In The Straw", he uses pots, pans and animals as an accompaniment.

* PublicDomainAnimation: The short in the US Public Domain as of 2024.
* PublicDomainCharacter: The first apperance of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and this version of Pete [[note]] He appeared much earlier in the Alice Comedies, albet as a bear and not a cat. [[/note]]

* {{Wedgie}}: Around three minutes and 35 seconds into the cartoon this is Mickey’s chosen method to lift Minne onto the boat (Using the boat’s hook to pull her up by the waistband of her underpants).

The short itself begins with the iconic image of Mickey Mouse at the wheel of a steamboat, whistling to himself. The [[DesignatedVillain villain]], WesternAnimation/{{Pete}}, the real captain of the ship, steps in and hassles Mickey for not doing his job. The steamboat docks to pick up a cargo of animals, and WesternAnimation/MinnieMouse rushes to board the ship as it leaves the dock. Mickey manages to get her on board (by using a hook to pick her up by her panties no less), but an ExtremeOmniGoat eats her ukulele and her sheets of music. Somehow Mickey and Minnie are able to make the most of the situation by cranking the goat's tail, which causes it to play music. The ensuing scenes involve Mickey abusing animals in order to add to the music, by swinging a cat by its tail, choking a duck, pulling on the tails of baby pigs and then playing the mother pig's nipples. [[KickTheDog Animal abuse]] aside, this scene readily showed off what adding sound to cartoons could do. Pete gets angry at Mickey for slacking off again and [[PeelingPotatoes forces him to peel potatoes]]. The short ends with Mickey throwing a potato at a parrot for laughing at him.

* PublicDomainAnimation: The short in the US Public Domain.

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US was still up in the air for a long time – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2004 upon the short's 75th anniversary, plus a month and a half as copyrights always expire on January 1 of the following year)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact have already been in the public domain due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but no one wanted to challenge Disney's laywers. In several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years.

As of January 1st, 2024, the short, and Mickey, Minnie and Pete as they appear in the short, are now in the United States Public Domain. [[note]] Before you get to making your own Mickey content though, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney hasn't lost complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use Steamboat Willie and Gallopin' Gaucho's version of Mickey, Minnie and Pete as much as you want, but not later other version of him still under Disney's copyright or use him as a trademark that would cause customer confusion, least you get sued by Disney.[[/note]]

As of January 1st, 2024, the short, and Mickey, Minnie and Pete as they appear in the short, are now in the United States Public Domain. [[note]] Before you get to making your own Mickey content though, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney hasn't lose complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use Steamboat Willie and Gallopin' Gaucho's version of Mickey, Minnie and Pete as much as you want, but not later other version of him still under Disney's copyright or use him as a trademark that would cause customer confusion, least you get sued by Disney.[[/note]]

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US was still up in the air for a long time – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2004 upon the short's 75th anniversary, plus a month and a half as copyrights always expire on January 1 of the following year)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact have already been in the public domain due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but don't let Disney hear you mention that.[[note]] Also, even though the copyright for this cartoon has expired, Disney won't lose complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You are now able to use Steamboat Willie's version of Mickey as of 2024, but not any other version of him still under Disney's copyright or use him as a trademark (i.e. sell merch using his brand name).[[/note]] In several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years.

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US is still up in the air – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2004 upon the short's 75th anniversary, plus a month and a half as copyrights always expire on January 1 of the following year)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact already be in the public domain due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but don't let Disney hear you mention that.[[note]] Also, even if the copyright for this cartoon expires, Disney won't lose complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You will able to use Steamboat Willie's version of Mickey in 2024, but not any other version of him still under Disney's copyright or use him as a trademark (i.e. sell merch using his brand name).[[/note]] In several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years.

'''''[[TropeCodifier The]]''''' sound cartoon.

The short itself begins with the iconic image of Mickey Mouse at the mast of a steamboat, whistling to himself. The [[DesignatedVillain villain]], WesternAnimation/{{Pete}}, the real captain of the ship, steps in and hassles Mickey for not doing his job. The steamboat docks to pick up a cargo of animals, and WesternAnimation/MinnieMouse rushes to board the ship as it leaves the dock. Mickey manages to get her on board (by using a hook to pick her up by her panties no less), but an ExtremeOmniGoat eats her ukulele and her sheets of music. Somehow Mickey and Minnie are able to make the most of the situation by cranking the goat's tail, which causes it to play music. The ensuing scenes involve Mickey abusing animals in order to add to the music, by swinging a cat by its tail, choking a duck, pulling on the tails of baby pigs and then playing the mother pig's nipples. [[KickTheDog Animal abuse]] aside, this scene readily showed off what adding sound to cartoons could do. Pete gets angry at Mickey for slacking off again and [[PeelingPotatoes forces him to peel potatoes]]. The short ends with Mickey throwing a potato at a parrot for laughing at him.

The short was revolutionary for its time, and its copyright status in the US is still up in the air – in 1998, Disney successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress to extend its copyright[[note]] (which was originally set to expire in 2006, upon the 40th anniversary of Walt's death)[[/note]] to 2024 (this is part of the reason that the Copyright Term Extension Act is occasionally derisively called the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"), though by the original law it should have fallen into the {{public domain|Animation}} years ago. It may in fact already be in the public domain due to errors in the original copyright formulation, but don't let Disney hear you mention that.[[note]] Also, even if the copyright for this cartoon expires, Disney won't lose complete control of their classic characters, as later versions of these characters are still copyrighted and trademarked. You will able to use Steamboat Willie's version of Mickey in 2024, but not any other version of him still under Disney's copyright or use him as a trademark (i.e. sell merch using his brand name).[[/note]] In several other countries, including Canada and Russia, the short has been in the public domain for several years.