The Mouse is Loose: AI Unleashes Steamboat Willie
Walt Disney’s original Mickey Mouse, that lovable, black and white, steamboat-driving rodent, has finally skittered out of the clutches of copyright law and into, well, everywhere. With the 1928 cartoon “Steamboat Willie” – the film that introduced Mickey Mouse to the world – now in the public domain, AI and its very creative minions are having a blast revamping this retro-rodent in every form.
Key Points
1. Mickey’s Great Escape:
- Decades after his steamboat debut, the original, rubber-hosed version of Mickey Mouse, as seen in “Steamboat Willie” has slipped the shackles of copyright protection, and is now fair game for creators of all stripes.
2. AI And The Art of the Mouse:
- Artificial Intelligence isn’t just good at chess, it turns out it has a rather quirky sense of humor. AI creators and enthusiasts are cranking out reimaginations of Mickey in wild and whimsical ways.
3. Interview with The Creators:
- We put on our best reporter hats (and ears) to chat with some of these creators about the amusing, amazing, and sometimes just plain absurd incarnations of our beloved Mickey Mouse they’ve crafted.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Mickey Mouse’s leap into the public domain isn’t just an escape – it’s a catapult into a world of AI-generated creativity. With both amateur and professional artists now having free rein to reimagine this classic character, Mickey’s not just finding new steamboats, he’s finding new heights. I’m sure Walt would be enthralled – and maybe just a little freaked out – at the wild ride his little rodent is having in the digital landscape. As for the rest of us? We’re just trying to keep up with the mouse. Keep ’em coming AI whizzes, and don’t forget the cheese!
As part of this experiment I would like to give credit where credit is due. If you enjoy these, please take a moment to read the original article:
https://www.wired.com/story/mickey-mouse-steamboat-willie-public-domain-artificial-intelligence/
Blog Title
AI: gpt-3.5-turbo-0613: chatcmpl-8ciXNuZVoY84zTMoL0YgICVc8j1t5
Instruction: “You are an AI blog title generator. Create a catchy and concise title for the blog post that is catchy and optimized for search engines. Remove all html in the response and do not use quotes. Please do not use words that are unsafe to process in Dall-E image AI.”
Prompt: Content Summary of text from above.
Response: The AI Revolution: Mickey Mouse Breaks Free in “Steamboat Willie” Public Domain Explosion
Image Description
AIgpt-4-0613:chatcmpl-8ciXUfAvMJEoTa0qG53XzjNuMum9r
Instruction: “You are a helpful assistant that creates unique images based on article titles. Create a brief visual description of what an image would look like for this title. Please pick a style of art from the following: Futurism, Impressionism, Romanticism, or Realism, be sure to consider the image should reflect an AI Robot Pirate theme during the Golden Age of Pirates.”
Prompt: The image, created in the style of Futurism to align with the AI theme, features an iconic scene from the classic animation “Steamboat Willie,” where Mickey Mouse is at the helm of the steamboat. However, in this futuristic version, Mickey Mouse is portrayed as a metallic AI robot with a pirate hat and eyepatch, merging AI Robot Pirate theme with the Golden Age of Pirates. Gears, wires, and digital elements burst out from the animation, symbolizing the “Public Domain Explosion.” The robotic Mickey, with wide digital eyes and a jovial grin, operates complex technological equipment on the steamboat, indicative of the AI revolution. Bright colors, dynamic lines, and a sense of movement are used to underscore the explosion of the public domain and the fast-paced changes of the future.
Response: The AI Revolution: Mickey Mouse Breaks Free in “Steamboat Willie” Public Domain Explosion



