January 1, 2025 will mark an important turning point for Disney fans and creators. A series of classic films will enter the public domain in the United States. This means that these works will now be free to reuse, allowing everyone to share, copy and adapt them as they wish.
A major turning point in the cinema industry
The entry into the public domain of these films is not only a legal event. She marks a change of mentality in the cinema industry and animation. The works of Disney, which shaped much of popular culture, will now be available to everyone. And creators will be able to transform them, revisit them, and reinterpret them in their own way.
As a reminder, Disney is no stranger to copyright discussions. In fact, the company was even one of the main drivers behind the extension of the term of protection copyright at 95.
When the 75-year period of protection was about to expire, Disney lobbied the government to extend this term, ensuring the preservation of his early works. This law, nicknamed the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act”shows the importance of Disney in maintaining its rights to its creations.
Legendary Mickey Mouse films
Among the films concerned, we find several Mickey Mouse feature films. Among the most notable:
- The Opry House : The film where Mickey makes his debut with his famous white gloves.
- The Karnival Kid : The first film where Mickey speaks.
- Mickey’s Follies : The movie where Mickey sings “Minnie's Yoo Hoo”.
Other short films, just as iconic, will also be available:
- 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
- Wild Waves
Another landmark film will enter the public domain in 2025: The Skeleton Dance.
This 1929 animated short film, made by Walt Disney himselffeatures skeletons dancing in a cemetery at midnight. Although considered harmless today, this film caused shock at the time of its release. In Denmark it was banned for its morbid humor. In fact, this film marks the beginning of the Silly Symphonies series, a series of groundbreaking musical animations from Disney.
