In February 2024, our lab participated in a Short-Term Working Group (SWG) focused on collaborative experimental animation. The project reimagined Disney’s Steamboat Willie (1928), exploring its legacy and cultural symbolism through participatory animation and reinterpretation.

The film’s entry into the public domain in January 2024 opened the door to reexamining one of animation’s most iconic works. Our group, a collective of international participants based in North Texas, set out to deconstruct the meaning of Mickey Mouse by removing him from the narrative entirely. Selected frames from the original film were printed, and Mickey was manually erased, creating a visual void that invites reflection on cultural memory, personal interpretation, and the passage of time.

The soundtrack features the original song played in reverse, challenging historical and cultural associations while simultaneously paying homage to the film’s legacy. The short reflects on how collective memory and reinterpretation shape our relationship with one of the most recognizable icons in animation history.

The final piece, titled Steamboat, was created in the Experimenta.l Lab and was one of four animations selected for screening at the Annecy Festival 2025 Official Closing Ceremony. It was featured as part of the introduction to the Off-Limits Award, which honors innovation and excellence in experimental animation.

You can view selected footage and documentation of this project below.
The full animation, along with behind-the-scenes material, is available on the Experimenta.l Lab YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/A_Mp_mnWvxw?si=bqwdf0HQmyXqBuDR

and on the Experimenta.l website: https://labs.utdallas.edu/experimental/project-steamboat/

Screening of the Project Steamboat at Aurora Video Art Night Festival, Dallas, TX – Spring 2024