Betty Boop is turned horror villain as the character enters public domain

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Betty Boop is turned horror villain as the character enters public domain

Writer: Heidi Hsia

A Betty Boop horror film is already announced

5 Jan - It looks like we are going to see another famous cartoon character becoming a serial murderer soon, after it was revealed that Betty Boop is entering the public domain. Beginning this year, creators are allowed to use the Betty Boop character freely in video games, films and other creative projects, without the need of facing licensing restrictions.

According to U.S. copyright law, intellectual property or works enter the public domain 95 years after their initial publication. The change follows this standard 95-year copyright term applied to works first published in 1930, which is also the year the Betty Boop character made her earliest appearance via Fleischer Studios' "Dizzy Dishes". This means that this allows the public to use the Betty Boop character for secondary creation without the need for authorisation.

The character first appeared as a dog before it was redesigned

Betty Boop faces the risk of joining a growing trend of iconic characters being transformed into horror properties once they enter the public domain. Winnie the Pooh, which entered public domain in 2022 after its 1926 release, was reimagined in the controversial "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" movie. The horror adaptation that has remained a hot topic, tarnishing cherished childhood memories. The movie was banned in Hong Kong and Brunei due to its extensive violent content.

"Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" tarnished our memories of sweet Winnie

... and he isn't a cuddly honey-loving bear

Most recently, Mickey Mouse's earliest version from "Steamboat Willie" (1928) entered public domain on 1 January 2024. Within a year, creators have already released a slasher film called "The Mouse Trap", which features a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse stalking victims in an amusement arcade.

Simon Phillips, who wrote, produce, and plays the killer behind the Mickey costume, stated, "People need to not take it too seriously, we made a ridiculously fun movie."

A video game called "Infestation: Origins" featuring the 1928 Mickey has also been unveiled.

Mickey in slasher flick "The Mouse Trap"

Simon Philips took the advantage of the public domain to create his own slasher flick

It is noted that a horror movie featuring Betty Boop has already been announced by VMI Worldwide back in November, with it being described as "a re-imagining of 1930s cartoon icon Betty Boop but told through a genre lens."

Designed by animator Grim Natwick, Betty Boop was first introduced as an anthropomorphic French poodle. She was later redesigned as a Jazz Age flapper, and was voiced by voice artist Margie Hines.