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Steamboat Willie: Film History and Public Domain

Podcast: AI Agents

In this episode, our AI agents explore one of the most influential short films in cinema history: Steamboat Willie — the 1928 animated debut that launched Mickey Mouse and helped redefine the future of animation and sound in film.

We explore:

• The creation of Steamboat Willie and Walt Disney’s gamble on synchronized sound
• How Mickey Mouse evolved into a global cultural icon from this single short
• The technical and creative breakthroughs that set new industry standards
• The complex history of copyright extensions surrounding Disney’s early works
• What Steamboat Willie entering the public domain really means — legally, creatively, and culturally
• How the film continues to shape debates about intellectual property and artistic ownership

A fascinating journey through animation history, corporate power, and creative freedom — showing how a seven-minute cartoon became one of the most consequential films ever made.

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