Steamboat Willie was one of the most influential works in early animation history, pairing sound effects with animated action for extra fun. The characters sound alive and their actions have more impact. Most of the short is made to show off the new use of technology, so it focuses heavily on a musical theme, which pays off but gets a bit repetitive. Not to mention, it seemed a bit callous to use animals as instruments, no matter how fun the slapstick. Best viewed in historical context.
Review of Steamboat Willie
