Steamboat Willie (film)
"Steamboat Willie" is a groundbreaking animated short film released on November 18, 1928, that marked a significant milestone in the history of animation. Created by Walt Disney and animator Ub Iwerks, it is recognized as the debut of the iconic character Mickey Mouse. This film is notable for being one of the first to feature synchronized sound, which enhanced the viewing experience by aligning music and sound effects with the animated action. The storyline follows Mickey Mouse as he pilots a steamboat, engaging in whimsical interactions with various animals, including his girlfriend Minnie Mouse. The cartoon showcases innovative techniques in animation, such as using animals as instruments and integrating music throughout the narrative.
The premiere of "Steamboat Willie" was met with enthusiastic reception, leading to its re-release due to its popularity. This success played a crucial role in revitalizing the careers of both Disney and Iwerks and set the stage for the future of animated films. The film has since become a cultural icon, symbolizing the advent of sound in animation. Additionally, ongoing copyright discussions about "Steamboat Willie" reflect its lasting significance in both entertainment and legal spheres.
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Subject Terms
Steamboat Willie (film)
Identification: An animated cartoon with sound
Director: Walt Disney
Date: 1928
Steamboat Willie pushed entrepreneur Walt Disney to the forefront of famous film directors, introduced the animated character known as Mickey Mouse to the public, and used synchronized sound to accompany action for the first time in animation history. It became an instant hit with the American public.
Walt Disney produced dozens of silent 1920s cartoons, including a series known as the Alice Comedies. Rights to his popular animated character Oswald the Rabbit were lost in a dispute with a former partner. Disney and animator Ub Iwerks produced two 1928 cartoons featuring a mouse sketched by Iwerks. These cartoons, Plane Crazy and The Gallopin’ Gaucho, were not shown to the public, however, because no willing distributor could be found.
Disney and Iwerks had been fascinated with The Jazz Singer, the first feature-length Hollywood production of a musical motion picture with spoken dialogue, released in 1927. Disney decided to use the new technique for his next cartoon, Steamboat Willie. Because it was difficult to perfectly synchronize pictures with sound, dialogue was kept to a minimum. Disney used his own voice for the little dialogue uttered during the cartoon’s first version. Most of the sound featured in the cartoon was the timely blending of music with cartoon action.
Steamboat Willie shows Mickey Mouse merrily piloting a steamboat until Captain Pete arrives and makes Mickey leave the bridge. While picking up animals at Podunk Landing, Mickey feeds a cow hay so it will fit into the harness to hoist aboard. Mickey’s girlfriend, Minnie, arrives as they depart, and Mickey hoists her onto the steamboat. When she lands, her sheet music and stringed instrument are eaten by a goat. Minnie twists its tail and the folk song “Turkey in the Straw” plays out of its mouth as Mickey dances and plays percussion with spoons, pails, and a washtub. Other animals are used as instruments, including a cat, a duck, piglets, and a cow. The fun concludes when Captain Pete arrives and forces Mickey to peel potatoes. When a parrot mocks him, Mickey knocks it into the water using a potato. The cartoon closes with Mickey enjoying a good laugh.
The cartoon premiered November 18, 1928, at New York City’s Colony Theater. Disney reportedly received $1,000 for the two-week booking of Steamboat Willie, which aired before the movie Gang War, an independent film starring actor Jack Pickford. The cartoon became so popular that Disney released it a second time at the Roxy Theater in New York City.
Impact
Steamboat Willie, widely considered the birth of the Mickey Mouse character, popularized sound animation cartoons and revitalized the flagging careers of Disney and Iwerks. Copyright disputes over the cartoon continue into the twenty-first century, as some believe it to be public domain material.
Bibliography
Bain, David, and Bruce S. Harris. Mickey Mouse: Fifty Happy Years. New York: Harmony Books, 1977.
Gabler, Neal. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. New York: Vintage Books, 2007.