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Popeye, Disney's Skeleton Dance, and More Hit Public Domain in 2025

Filmmakers working in the ever-expanding genre of public domain horror will soon have even more Mickey Mouse to play with.

gizmodo.com

With every new year comes new works that are set to go into the public domain. For 2025, the most notable include Disney titles such as Silly Symphony short The Skeleton Dance and Mickey Mouse shorts such as “Karnival Kid,” the first to feature his voice. Either of those already sound like a horror film—but please, no more tacky horror cash grabs. At least give us an arthouse indie Skeleton Dance.

Also being freed into the public domain are Popeye and Tintin’s early cartoons. Which hopefully means that since they can be adapted and shared maybe we’ll see Genndy Tartakovsky make his move on Popeye through this potential loophole. (There are, of course, already multiple Popeye slashers on the way.) Interestingly in the realm of horror related music, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” will also be public domain, which could be useful as an Insidious spin-off idea.

A good number of acclaimed classics going public domain in 2025.

 

[Veritable Quandry]

Popeye is public domain, but not Bluto. He appeared several years later. But Mickey Mouse with gloves is now available.

 

[Essence Lumin]

The original Tiptoe Through the Tulips