Steamboat Willie is the 1928 short film that marked the official debut of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, it was a landmark production as one of the first cartoons to feature fully synchronized sound. In January 2024, the copyright for the film expired, and this specific version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain in the United States. This historical milestone triggered a massive wave of internet memes, parodies, and creative projects, as users finally gained the legal freedom to use the iconic whistling mouse. Today, the meme is frequently used to celebrate creative liberty, mock corporate copyright hurdles, or simply provide a vintage aesthetic to modern jokes.