The character entered the public domain on Jan. 1 of 2024, as U.S. law allows a copyright can be held for 95 years. Steamboat Willie was first released on Nov. 18, 1928 (known as Mickey's birthday ...

This review originally ran March 19, 2022, in conjunction with the film’s world premiere at SXSW. It is easy, perhaps, to take Mickey Mouse for granted, both as an icon and a character.