Adult Swim Uses Mickey Mouse Copyright Loss In The Perfect Way
Since news recently broke that Mickey Mouse burst through its confines at Disney and reached the public domain, a multitude of networks and creatives have been celebrating, dreaming of what they’ll do with the recognizable mouse. Now, everyone’s favorite grownup targeted source for animated programming, Adult Swim, has joined in on the fun.
Taking to their X, formerly Twitter, account, Adult Swim tapped into the Mickey Mouse design from the almost century-old animated short, Steamboat Willie.
Adult Swim used the century-old animated short, Steamboat Willie
Donning his little hat, a 1928-style Mickey Mouse can be seen smooching three giant block-lettered words that read “Public Domain Bitch” while a jaunty tune plays in the background.
Quite frankly, the animation is giving us some heavy Glenn Quagmire of Family Guy vibes as it’s debatable exactly what Mickey Mouse is doing to the words.
While they haven’t announced whether they plan to use Mickey Mouse now that he’s free to toss into any content, Adult Swim’s celebratory post certainly alludes to it.
With titles like Rick and Morty and Smiling Friends, who knows where viewers will see the face of Disney pop up? And, even though it seems that the twisted animated variety show Robot Chicken has come to an end after its eleventh season, we can’t think of a better guest star than Mickey Mouse.
There will be a Steamboat Willie/ Mickey Mouse horror film as well
Outside of Adult Swim, perhaps the biggest buzz surrounding Mickey Mouse’s trip out of the family-friendly animation world was the announcement of a horror film directed by The Mean One’s Steven LaMorte.
Like Adult Swim’s latest graphic, the movie will be based on the iconic Steamboat Willie feature – but with less black and white and more blood. While a bigger picture has yet to be revealed, we know that the film will follow the killer mouse as he sets his murderous sights on a handful of guests aboard a ferry.
Production on the film is expected to begin in the spring and LaMorte is trying to stay out of Disney’s crosshairs by referring to Mickey Mouse in the film as Steamboat Willie. Although the cartoon rodent is technically up for grabs, you’d better believe that the higher-ups at Disney don’t want anyone besmirching his good character.
LaMorte called his horror spin on Steamboat Willie a dream come true as the director sets out to destroy memories of childhood favorites further. Last year, the director brought audiences The Mean One, putting a vicious and brutal spin on How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Those who are curious how Mickey Mouse will be depicted in the horror makeover need only go as far as to check out LaMorte’s holiday slasher.
The last few years have seen an uptick in horror directors ripping a page from our favorite children’s stories and turning them deadly.
The success of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey was so immense that it led to a sequel, making it a no-brainer for other artists to hop on the train – or steamboat as it may be – and turn Mickey Mouse into the stuff of nightmares.
Source: X
