The "Steamboat Willie" Theory
*WARNING* This post contains spoilers and speculation about the Myth of the Machine comic series (this is a fan theory post). If you want to avoid that, or haven’t finished reading the latest updates, please read no further. Lastly, make sure to support @flygutzz and @nortsauce for the amazing comic series!
Now with that part out of the way, let’s get into it…
Theory One: Willie has a piece of the Ink Machine
Point A) The glove connection
The first thing that really stands out (and honestly, what sent me down this whole rabbit hole in the first place) is gloves.
At the beginning of the comic, there’s a prologue that informs all of us of a vague, organized history to lead us up to where our story begins, aka the world-building. And in one of those panels, we were given this image…
The basic context for this image is that it shows the Ink Machine split into five pieces, with the visual subtext being that each piece was taken by five different, unknown characters (Celestials, but we will come back to that detail later).
However, while re-reading this section, one specific detail caught my attention. The hand holding the wrench. For some reason… it looked familiar. And then, it clicked. In the post above the prologue, there is a character sheet that shows the main group, along with two additional side characters. One of those characters is Steamboat Willie….
Now, there are other details I want to get into later, but for now, focus on his gloves. Specifically, the one on the left side of the image.
At first, it might seem like a small detail. But when you actually compare his glove to the one shown in the prologue, side by side, it starts to feel much less like a coincidence and much more like an intentional connection.
Because when you line them up, the similarities are hard to ignore:
The overall glove design/style is extremely similar (thick fingers, oversized, that flare past the wrist where the arm and the glove meet)
They both have the same number of fingers
And most importantly, that distinct band around the wrist appears in both images
Zoomed in images below for comparison:
It’s those details that feel too specific to just be random or a coincidence. Out of all the ways you could design gloves, why do these two not only look similar, but damn near identical?
Point B) The wrench connection
Now, let’s come back to that image of Willie again.
There’s another detail that lines up almost a little too well. If you look at the hand in the prologue and then compare it to Willie’s character portrait, you’ll notice they are both holding a wrench.
That alone is already interesting. Out of all the tools you could show, why a wrench in both cases? It feels like a very specific choice, especially when paired with the glove similarities from before.
But there’s something else that stands out even more.
In Willie’s portrait, the wrench he’s holding is a distinct color: yellow. Not gray, not metallic like the rest of the tools on his belt (see hammer on his belt), but bright yellow. And that feels intentional, especially since the other tools around it stick to more “normal” colors.
Which leads into a smaller theory I’ve been thinking about….
Point C) Mini Theory: “The Color Theory”
Let’s talk about color for a second, specifically in the context of the MOTM universe.
Throughout the series, yellow keeps appearing in very specific ways. It usually shows up in one of two forms: 1) appears behind words or 2) it is used directly within the artwork itself.
And that matters, because the comic is primarily black and white. So any use of color stands out immediately. Because of that, I think it is safe to assume that any color is almost never used randomly. It is either tied to a specific character, to convey emotion, or, in this case, has a specific meaning or piece of symbolism.
It is a way for the authors to show the readers something without directly saying it. Something many of us probably already recognize on a subconscious level.
My theory is that yellow symbolizes magic. Or more simply, yellow = magic.
And there is actually a lot of evidence in the comic to support this. Let’s start with the clearest example of a magical object that we know of: the Map (confirmed magical by both Mickey and Felix). Every time we see the map, have a character talk about the map, or see it in ‘use’ by Bendy, what color is it?
Another good magical example is the Cup Bros, specifically Bendy’s contract with Cuphead. Since it’s already confirmed, the cup bros have magical powers (although we don’t know the how or why yet). Look at the specific panels, after Bendy and Cuphead make the contract. What colors are used?
And now, you must all be asking, “Why is this important?” or “How is this related to Willie having a piece of the Ink Machine?”
Well, it matters because of what we know about the Ink Machine.
The Ink Machine was created using Yen Sid’s magic. If the source is magical, then the artifacts created from it or tied to it should also carry that same magical influence. They are not just mechanical objects; they are extensions of that magic.
So if pieces are tied to magic, it would make sense for them to share a visual language. A consistent way of signaling that connection. Or, in very basic terms, magical items = yellow items.
And pray tell, what color is Willie’s freaking wrench?
Now, I will admit there are some contradictions to this theory.
The most obvious being that the Ink Machine wrench and the one Willie’s holding have different details. After all, the Ink Machine wrench has 1) a hole in the bottom of the handle and 2) seems a lot smaller than the one Willie is holding (in the prologue, the hand only needs one glove to hold it, while in Willie’s character portrait, he is using both hands to carry his wrench).
But that does not completely break the connection.
There is an alternative explanation that still links Willie back to the glove in the prologue and the Ink Machine, even if it is not the exact same wrench.
And this is where the color detail becomes even more important.
Yellow may symbolize magic, but it also seems to be consistently associated with a specific group, especially when alluded to by other characters: the Celestials.
For example, when characters like Mugman or Bugs reference Celestials, the word itself is often visually highlighted or colored yellow.
That choice feels deliberate, reinforcing the idea that yellow and Celestials are connected or often associated together. And it makes sense why since we already know (confirmed) that the Celestials have access to magic.
So now you have a pattern forming.
Yellow appears alongside magic = Magic is tied to the Ink Machine = The Ink Machine connects to the pieces = And the Celestials are part of that same system.
Which leads directly into the next theory
2. Theory Two: Willie is a Celestial
Point A) The Prologue AGAIN
Let’s go back to the prologue for a second.
It very clearly states that the Ink Machine was split apart and taken by the Celestials. The exact wording is, “What the Stars didn’t know was that the Ink Machine had been torn apart by the Celestials…” So right away, we know that whoever took those pieces are CONFIRMED to be Celestials (this is IMPORTANT!)
We already established a possible link between Willie and the glove in the prologue. The glove is shown holding a wrench, which suggests that whoever that figure is, they are one of the individuals who took a piece of the Ink Machine. And if the glove connects to Willie, then that places him directly in that scene.
So if we follow that logic:
Point B) Explains the Differences in the Wrenches
If Willie is a Celestial, that could also explain why the two wrenches are different while still supporting the idea that he has a piece of the Ink Machine.
Disclaimer: Stay with me because this is going to get more complicated.
If Willie has magic, and we know that magic is associated with the color yellow, then the wrench in his portrait, if it’s not the piece of the Ink Machine, could be the equivalent of when a magical character has a ‘wand’
Now, I don’t mean a literal wand, but more figuratively, like the object he could use to channel or interact with magic.
That is especially important because so far, we have not really seen magic used directly by characters. Instead, it has mostly been tied to objects, like the map. So Willie’s wrench could be his way of accessing or using that magic in a physical form.
And this still keeps the connection to the Ink Machine intact.
Because if Willie is a Celestial (wrench = magic = Celestial), then he would have to be one of the Celestials who took a piece of the Ink Machine.
And here is where the numbers come in.
Because, as far as we know, there are only five Celestials, and those are the same five who split the machine. There has not been any mention of additional Celestials outside of that group, (at least not yet) and how do I know that?
In the prologue, it states that the Celestials divided the artifacts among themselves, and then says, “Finally, with no explanation, The Celestials disappeared.” That wording matters.
Because that means there are five artifacts, which means they had to be divided among the group present. So logically, there cannot be fewer or more than five Celestials. It also uses the phrase “The Celestials,” capital “The’, which reads as referring to the entire group, not a portion of them.
(So yeah. This is where I am at. I am literally using grammar and wording choices to support this theory. I'm too deep in the rabbit hole at this point)
And that is a very long way of saying this:
If Willie is a Celestial, then it would explain the glove connection, the difference in the wrenches, the color of his wrench, and support Theory One on why he would still have one of the pieces of the Ink Machine.
Point C) Willie’s color scheme(This is more speculation)
Going to be honest, this one is a lot looser, but I still think it’s worth mentioning.
Looking at Willie’s character design, there are notable things that stand out. Specifically, his glasses.
Going back to the “Color Theory,” there does seem to be a pattern where yellow is often drawn attention to around the eyes. We see this with Bendy, especially when he uses magic tied to Cuphead or the map. The yellow shows up around his eyes in those moments.
His glasses are yellow, particularly the lenses.
Now, I am fully aware this could just be an aesthetic choice. Not every character with yellow on them is secretly a Celestial (that would be a stretch).
But it is still interesting.
Because if yellow is connected to magic, and there is already a pattern of that color being emphasized around the eyes, then Willie having yellow glasses could be a subtle way of hinting at that connection without directly changing his eyes themselves.
But also, it could just be a design choice.
Either way, I thought it was a fun detail to point out.
3. Theory Three: Willie is Mickey’s Celestial
Disclaimer: This section contains the most speculation out of all three theories. Sadly, there is just so very little confirmed information about Celestials, how they function, or their relationships to Toons, so this is mostly connecting ideas rather than solid evidence.
Point A) Real World Information about “SteamBoat Willie”
Alright, let’s start with a small media history lesson.
It’s complicated, bu in the real world, “Steamboat Willie” is not exactly Mickey Mouse, but he is not completely separate either. He is essentially an early version of Mickey. That short is what launched Mickey’s popularity, which means Willie is directly tied to Mickey’s origin.
If you compare them, the connection is pretty obvious. Their designs are very similar, with the main difference being the style. Willie has the older black-and-white look with classic cartoon eyes, while Mickey, especially in MOTM, has a more modern design.
On its own, that could just be a reference to animation history.
But it could also be hinting at something in-universe.
If Willie represents an earlier version, then he could be the “original” in some sense. Not just visually, but in terms of origin/role. That could mean Willie came before Mickey, not alongside him.
And if Willie comes first, then their connection is not just aesthetic. Their histories could be directly linked.
Taking that one step further, it raises the possibility that Willie is not just an earlier version of Mickey, but the one responsible for him existing in the first place.
And if that is the case, then Willie being Mickey’s Celestial would actually make sense. Because Celestial create Toons, so Willie could have created Mickey as his Toon, and chronically that would make sense.
Point B) Motive for Willie
This is where things get more speculative.
Just because we do not have enough information to fully understand how Celestials and Toons system actually works. Do Celestials see Toons as family, or just creations? What do Toons see Celestials as? How involved are Celestials in their Toons lives? Are they considered gods, authority figures, or something else entirely?
Right now, all we really know is this:
The Toons resent The Celestials
The Celestials disappeared
The Celestials have magic
The Celestials are not helping, even though they could (?)
But also, we do not know what things were like before all of that.
Now, iff Willie is Mickey’s Celestial, then that could give him a motive for being involved in breaking up the Ink Machine.
Mickey clearly fell into greed. He was trying to find the Ink Machine and may (?) have played a role in restarting the Blot’s Curse. Those actions have consequences.
So if Willie is his Celestial, the million dollar question is… does Willie feel responsible?
Even if the creators, Nort and Fly, lean toward the idea that every character is responsible for their own choices, that does not mean guilt is not a factor. Characters can still blame themselves, even if they may not directly at fault.
We have seen similar situations before, like with Tails and Sonic. Tails blames himself for Sonic’s death. Is he at fault because he pushed Sonic to go over the The Mother? (he certainly had some part to play)
Something similar could have happened with Willie.
If Mickey is responsible for restarting the Blot’s Curse (something the Celestials literally fought a war to resolve) then that raises a pretty big question. If Willie is Mickey’s Celestial, does he feel guilty for not being able to stop him? Is he indirectly at fault for restarting the Blot’s Curse as well because he created Mickey? Did he have some part to play in Mickey going down that path, either by pushing him… or maybe not stopping him?
It starts to feel like a philosophical question. Is a creator(almost like their parent figures) responsible for what their creation(their children) becomes? After all, the Celestials created the Toons. They were probably meant to guide them.
We do not have enough concrete information about Celestials or about Willie’s personality to fully support this idea. There is not enough to build a solid argument, only to suggest a possible connection.
So for now, this stays in speculation.
After the Dandy Saga, we will run into Willie next or…
He will be the first Celestial the gang (knowingly) encounters.
And to wrap this up, I’m very, very curious about Willie (obviously) and what role he will play in MOTM. So! If anyone has any evidence or theories I may have missed, leave a comment or, better yet, make a post!
I am DYING for more information about this stupid mouse or even just a discussion on. this. little. guy. because I feel like I’m the only one wondering what he gonna do! So please, let this post bring more attention to this character because at this point, I’ll take anything.
Also left a little side theory down at the bottom for funzies.
See ya next time! It’s gonna be a doozie!
5. Side Theory: This Hidden Figure is a Celestial
We all know this mysterious figure that shows up at the end of Chapter 1, the one who slices Searcher Bendy in half.
Now, take a closer look at the hand of that hooded figure. Specifically… there gloves.
Take these two images the one on the right hand shows the figure taking out their (Mickey?) phone to call Mickey Mouse. Look at that glove/hand.
It looks very similar to the hand on the far right in the prologue, the one holding the book, which we know is a piece of the Ink Machine. The glove design and overall style match up in a way that feels intentional.
And if we bring back the Color Theory, another detail stands out.
This character is using a yellow sword.
And I’m sure y’all know by now, if yellow is connected to magic, then that would suggest the weapon itself is magical, or at least tied to that same system we have been talking about.
And who are the only people we know who have magic? Celestials
Also! Fun little call back to my “Wand Theory” with Willie and his wrench, what if this Celestial’s figurative ‘wand’ is their sword? Makes sense on how they killed that Searcher so easily :)
And since the map exists as a way to locate the pieces of the Ink Machine. If someone is actively tracking those pieces, a Celestial being involved in tracking the map (if they somehow caught wind of it being loose) would not be that surprising.
The only problem is… we do not have enough information to figure out who this could actually be.
So for now, this one stays as a ‘hey, that would be cool’ idea rather than a fully developed theory.
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