In Steamboat Willie, Mickey has no gloves; as of 1929, he does. In Steamboat Willie, Mickey is rendered in black and white; in 1935, he is colorized.

The "Steamboat Willie" version of Disney icon Mickey Mouse just entered the public domain, and there's already an explosion of related AI-generated art. We talked to some of the creators behind it.

But the Mickey Mouse from 1929, whose copyright expires in 2024, had smaller eyes and didn’t wear white gloves. The white-gloved version of Mickey will still fall under Disney’s copyright.

What could happen to the original version of Mickey Mouse and others after they entered the public domain on Jan. 1? Hint: think Winnie the Pooh wielding a sledgehammer.