2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for Disney fans, marking the release of Snow White (2025)—the highly anticipated live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s groundbreaking animated feature. Nearly 90 years after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) redefined pop culture, the House of Mouse is ready to unveil this divisive adaptation to a new generation.
But that’s not the only headline Disney will make this year. A slew of the company’s early creations, including several beloved Mickey Mouse shorts, will officially enter the public domain, opening up a treasure trove of opportunities for creators and fans alike.
Last year, Mickey Mouse’s Steamboat Willie made waves by becoming public domain, allowing the iconic character’s 1928 iteration to appear in everything from parodies to horror flicks. Now, as the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2025, more Disney classics will follow suit. Properties from 1929—including some of Mickey’s most celebrated early adventures—will be free for anyone to use, adapt, or reinvent.
Among the historical gems entering the public domain are The Opry House, The Karnival Kid, and Mickey’s Follies. These shorts aren’t just pivotal pieces of Disney’s early animation—they’re milestones in Mickey’s evolution. The Opry House introduced his now-iconic white gloves, while The Karnival Kid featured his first-ever speaking role.
Of course, Disney has been quick to clarify what these copyright changes mean for its legacy. In response to Steamboat Willie‘s expiration, the company emphasized that Mickey’s modern iterations remain protected.
“Ever since Mickey Mouse’s first appearance in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie, people have associated the character with Disney’s stories, experiences, and authentic products,” a spokesperson explained. “That will not change when the copyright in the Steamboat Willie film expires. More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected… and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company.”
This shift isn’t just a legal milestone—it’s a creative renaissance. As these classics join the public domain, they unlock endless possibilities for fans and artists to reimagine Disney’s earliest works. It’s a chance to celebrate their cultural significance while breathing new life into animation history.
The list of 1929 Disney creations entering the public domain includes The Barn Dance, When the Cat’s Away, The Barnyard Battle, The Plowboy, Mickey’s Choo-Choo, The Jazz Fool, Jungle Rhythm, The Haunted House, and Wild Waves. But it’s not just Mickey Mouse at the forefront—Walt Disney’s iconic The Skeleton Dance will also join this historic roster.
First released on August 22, 1929, The Skeleton Dance was a groundbreaking entry in Disney’s Silly Symphony series. Directed by Walt Disney and animated by Ub Iwerks, the short brought a whimsical graveyard to life with skeletons dancing to Carl Stalling’s haunting score. While audiences adored its mix of humor and supernatural charm, the film wasn’t without controversy. Its macabre tone even led to a ban in Denmark for being “too grotesque” for children.
Despite its rocky reception, The Skeleton Dance remains a fan favorite. Its eerie score echoes through Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland to this day.
As ComicBook notes, 2025’s Public Domain Day is significant beyond Disney. “…while [there are] quite a few Mickey Mouse offerings hitting public domain on New Year’s Day, the upcoming Public Domain Day is significant for another reason,” the outlet reports. “The day marks the milestone that all of the books, films, songs, and art that [were] published in the 1920s [are] now public domain.”
So, what does this mean for the future of Disney’s legacy? Will we see another Screamboat-style reinvention? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
