Steamboat Willie is a remarkable film for a number of reasons, not only was it the film in which Mickey Mouse made his debut, i.e. the first film released featuring the famous mouse, it was also the first synchronized sound cartoon. Ub Iwerks, Walt Disney's earliest collaborator, brought Disney's concept for Mickey to life. It was this film, with Mickey playing a mischievous deckhand, which was responsible for catapulting both Disney and Mickey to international stardom.