Welcome to the Public Domain Betty Boop, Pluto, Bosko, & Flip the Frog

As we enter the year 2026, 

It's time to welcome a multitude of cartoon characters who are now entering the Public Domain:

The first obviously is BETTY BOOP.

You might be thinking, "YOU'RE SHARING THE WRONG IMAGE OF BETTY!!!!"

No I'm not. 

The Betty Boop that's entering the PUBLIC DOMAIN is the original Dog Betty. And not just that but also the original THICC Betty as she appeared in DIZZY DISHES.

The human Betty we know and love will enter the Public Domain shortly but for now, we welcome the original DOG BETTY in the domain.

Finally she gets to be reunited with her former co-star BIMBO.

Next who's entering the Public Domain is the original SEMI-REALISITC PLUTO

Yes, that BLOODHOUND is indeed PLUTO.

Here in THE CHAIN GANG, he's chasing MICKEY MOUSE who's just escaped Prison.

Like I said, the Pluto who's entering the domain is the original SEMI-REALISTIC dog from the aforementioned cartoon.

The Cartoony PLUTO we know and love is still under copyright.

Next up is BOSKO THE TALK-INK KID

Well technically, he's from 1929 but his original Cartoon was just a test bed for the then newly christened MERRY MELODIES unit at WARNER BROS. so instead, we focus on his debut to general audiences which was SINKIN IN THE BATHTUB released in 1930.

BOSKO the Talk-Ink Kid, aka the original LOONEY TUNE, is an oddball of a character as his design was somewhat controversial even back in the 1930s due to what many think of his character design as.... darky?

I don't see any semblance of darky in BOSKO. I always see his design as more Monkey-like…. Before MGM redesigned him that is.

WB even back in the day denied that he was a caricature and instead officially called him a TALK-INK MAN. 

But his official copyright papers from back in the day left little to desire.

And the less we say about his cartoons from his MGM days, the better.

But we still have to put BOSKO in here because without him, his impact that created the likes of PORKY PIG, DAFFY DUCK, BUGS BUNNY, etc., would not have been made possible.

And unlike in the ANIMANIACS where his replacement BUDDY sought revenge against the WARNER SIBLINGS, BOSKO's portrayal in TINY TOON had in portrayed as supportive to the cast members even when redesigned to be a dog character.

And last but not least: FLIP THE FROG

Again, the original FLIP THE FROG in his more AMPHIBIOUS FORM starting from FIDDLESTICKS is the one entering the PUBLIC DOMAIN......

I've always thought that FLIP THE FROG, save for this cartoon, was already in the PUBLIC DOMAIN but I guess I was wrong.

But that changes right now as due to Copyright laws, All FLIP THE FROG cartoons from 1930 will enter the PUBLIC DOMAIN this year while the others will follow suit in the coming years.

(Barring a few FLIP cartoons who's copyrights weren't renewed.)

As usual, with the exception of BOSKO and FLIP THE FROG,

BETTY AND PLUTO in their more recognizable forms we know today are still under copyright.

And yes, I fear for when these characters will get the SLASHER FILM treatment 

but hey, just like with BLOOD & HONEY and MICKEY'S MOUSETRAP,

These Slasher Films will be terribly received by critics so why should we be worried?

However, BETTY BOOP is what I'm worried about.

Because whoever is gonna make her HORROR FILM Debut, they're gonna portray her like as a strong 

SIGOURNEY WEAVER style female character because HOLLYWOOD demands it...

Much to the Manosphere community's chagrin.