Well, sort of. Turns out it's just the Steamboat Willie version (which was the debut of Mickey) that's expired— Disney still owns the many other iterations of the character.
Like clockwork, the second the copyright expired everyone pounced on the opportunity and began exploiting the character. The cartoon began appearing EVERYWHERE online, and there's already a low budget Steamboat Willie horror movie!
And there's not a blessed thing Disney can do about it.
Amidst all the hubbub, it occurred to me that while I've been seeing clips of Steamboat Willie my entire life, I've never actually watched the entire cartoon.
So I finally sat down and watched it, and... YIKES!
At one point I was treated to this horrifying and disturbing scene, of Mickey Mouse playing a sow's teats like some sort of
I've been aware of Steamboat Willie short my entire life, I've never actually seen the actual cartoon.
I finally watched it today, and was treated to this horrifying scene, of Mickey Mouse playing a pig's teats like some sort of repulsive lap organ.
Jesus Christ! What the hell, Walt?