Our cup runneth over with newly public domain characters this year. While 2025’s offerings amounted to just Popeye and Tintin, 2026 has delivered twice that number and more. However, they’re a bit more restricted than you think.
PLUTO: A new batch of Mickey Mouse cartoons entered public domain on January 1, and with them, the earliest version of Mickey’s dog. Fun fact: he was named after the newly discovered “planet,” not the other way around, invalidating decades of “a dog is a planet” puns that would follow. The identical name was intentional, folks!
THE PROBLEM HERE: Two 1930 cartoons starred Pluto, but he wasn’t named Pluto yet and he didn’t belong to Mickey. He was Minnie’s dog and his name was Rover. Under these conditions, he’d be unrecognizable and not really as “free” as we’d think. Best wait another year.
BETTY BOOP: 1930 also saw the release of “Dizzie Dishes,” the first Max Fleischer Betty Boop cartoon. Despite being nearly a century old now, Betty still commands a profitable line of merchandise. Profits that could now be yours!
THE PROBLEM HERE: Don’t crank up that pottery kiln to bake your own Betty-shaped commercial ceramics just yet. Betty’s appearance in “Dizzie Dishes” was quite different…and by that I mean she wasn’t even human. She started out as a dog! Best wait another year.
BLONDIE: Chic Young’s Blondie comic strip began its run in the final four months of 1930. Dagwood also appeared in these strips, so they’re both fair use starting this week.
THE PROBLEM HERE: She wasn’t married to him yet. Blondie started out as a flapper, much like Betty Boop — in fact her maiden name was “Blondie Boopadoop.” You can only use the Boopadoop version and they have to be just dating. Blondie also looked a bit different back then, though the trademark curly hair was always part of her.
NANCY DREW: The world’s most famous teenage detective is no longer tied down by any publishing company. The Hardy Boys predate Nancy and have been free for years already, so…why not a teamup? In fact, you can go even further than that because Agatha Christie’s MISS MARPLE just crossed the PD line in 2026 as well.
THE PROBLEM HERE: No problems we foresee, actually…as long as Nancy is different enough to be yours. If only we could make a new season of the Nancy Drew CW series, but for that specific version we’ll have to wait another 91 years.
The post Who’s Public Domain In 2026? Betty Boop, Pluto, Blondie And More appeared first on Anime Superhero News.
