Jayvee Enaguas (HarvettFox96) reviewed the copyright for the animated short film on November 14, 2021, which includes most materials and elements.
A copyright notice that reads "Copyright MCMXLV in U.S.A. by Loew's Incorporated ·· Produced by Loew's Incorporated. All rights in this motion picture reserved under international conventions ·· Passed by the National Board of Review." is present on the opening credits sequence.
Loew's filed a registration entry of the animated short film eight days before the release date.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer didn’t file a renewal entry of the animated short film for the original copyright within a required 28-year period throughout 1972 (1, 2) and 1973 (1, 2).
Therefore, the animated short film entered the public domain on the first day of January 1974.
The animated short film is freely available and distributable in both physical and digital formats.
Note that it may still be copyrighted in jurisdictions that do not apply the rule of the shorter term for US works (depending on the date of the author's death), such as Canada (70 years p.m.a.), Mainland China (50 years p.m.a., not Hong Kong or Macao), Germany (70 years p.m.a.), Mexico (100 years p.m.a.), Switzerland (70 years p.m.a.), and other countries with individual treaties.