20 iconic public domain characters: heroes and villains you can use freely

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Public domain characters connection endless originative state for storytellers, filmmakers, and artists. Prominent nationalist domain characters see classics similar Dracula, Alice successful Wonderland, and Robin Hood. Discover immoderate of the astir recognisable names you tin usage freely.

Peter Pan (L), Puss successful Boots (C) and Hercules (R)

Key takeaways

Public domain characters can beryllium utilized freely successful books, films, games, and different originative works without ineligible restrictions.
Characters similar Dracula, Frankenstein, and Alice from Alice successful Wonderland are afloat successful the nationalist domain.
Original versions are escaped to use, but later adaptations whitethorn inactive beryllium nether copyright or trademark.
Most public domain characters debuted earlier 1929, depending connected copyright expiration rules.

20 iconic nationalist domain characters

These iconic nationalist domain characters person stood the trial of clip and proceed to power popular culture. From prominent heroes to classical fairy communicative figures, these characters connection endless originative potential. This database includes legendary villains and beloved protagonists known worldwide.

Character	Notable movie adaptation
Robin Hood	Robin Hood (2010)
Sherlock Holmes	Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Dracula	Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde	Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)
Sleeping Beauty	Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Snow White	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Puss successful Boots	Puss successful Boots (2011)
The Phantom of the Opera	The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The Little Mermaid	The Little Mermaid (2023)
Frankenstein	Frankenstein (1931)
Dorothy Gale	The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Cowardly Lion	The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Alice successful Wonderland	Alice successful Wonderland (2010)
Mad Hatter	Alice successful Wonderland (2010)
Ebenezer Scrooge	Scrooge (1951)
Pinocchio	Pinocchio (1940)
Peter Pan	Peter Pan (1953)
Winnie the Pooh	Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)
Popeye	Popeye (1980)
Hercules	Hercules (1997)

1. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Movie: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920, soundless movie adaptation)
Debut year: 1886
Genre: Gothic horror, intelligence fiction

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are 2 contrasting personas wrong 1 antheral that symbolise the conflict betwixt bully and evil. Robert Louis Stevenson introduced the quality successful 1886, and the communicative rapidly became a staple of gothic and intelligence fiction. The earliest soundless films based connected the caller besides entered the nationalist domain.

2. Dracula

Movie: Dracula (1931, Universal Pictures)
Debut year: 1897
Genre: Gothic horror, supernatural fiction

Dracula is Bram Stoker’s iconic vampire introduced successful the 1897 caller by Bram Stoker. The character’s premix of horror, seduction, and immortality has kept audiences engaged for implicit a century. Because the archetypal caller is successful the nationalist domain, modern creators can usage Dracula straight successful their stories.

3. Robin Hood

Movie: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938, Warner Bros.)
Debut year: 14th–15th century
Genre: Historical fiction, adventure, folklore

Robin Hood is simply a legendary English outlaw who steals from the affluent and gives to the poor. Rooted successful medieval folklore, helium leads a set of Merry Men from Sherwood Forest and fights against injustice. His communicative appeals to audiences for its themes of rebellion, fairness, and courage. As a fig from folklore, helium is successful the nationalist domain and disposable for usage without restriction.

4. Sherlock Holmes

Movie: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939, 20th Century Fox)
Debut year: 1887
Genre: Detective fiction, mystery

The quality is known for solving cases done reflection and deduction. Sherlock Holmes rapidly gained popularity and helped signifier the modern detective genre. Most of Doyle's stories are present successful the nationalist domain, truthful writers tin legally usage Holmes and Watson successful their archetypal works.

5. Sleeping Beauty

Movie: Sleeping Beauty (1959, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Debut year: 1697
Genre: Fairy tale, fantasy

Charles Perrault archetypal published this communicative successful 1697, and the Brothers Grimm aboriginal adapted it arsenic "Little Briar Rose." The archetypal communicative is successful the nationalist domain, allowing creators to reinterpret it freely. However, circumstantial adaptations, similar Disney's version, stay nether copyright.

6. Snow White

Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Debut year: 1812
Genre: Fairy tale, fantasy

Snow White narrates the communicative of a young princess whose quality incites her stepmother's jealousy, starring to a poisoned pome and a solid coffin. The Brothers Grimm included this communicative successful their 1812 collection. The archetypal communicative is successful the nationalist domain.

7. Puss successful Boots

Movie: Puss successful Boots (2011, DreamWorks Animation)
Debut year: 1697
Genre: Fairy tale, fantasy

Puss successful Boots features a cunning feline who uses wit and deception to elevate his master's status. The character's cleverness and charm person led to assorted adaptations, including animated films. The archetypal communicative resides successful the nationalist domain.

8. The Phantom of the Opera

Movie: The Phantom of the Opera (1925, Universal Pictures)
Debut year: 1910
Genre: Gothic fiction, romance

The Phantom of the Opera centres connected a mysterious fig haunting the Paris Opera House. Its enduring entreaty has led to galore adaptations successful films and a renowned musical. The archetypal enactment is successful the nationalist domain, enabling unrestricted use.

9. The Little Mermaid

Movie: The Little Mermaid (1989, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Debut year: 1837
Genre: Fairy tale, fantasy

The Little Mermaid tells of a oversea princess who sacrifices her dependable for a quality psyche and love. Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 communicative is much tragic than aboriginal adaptations. The archetypal communicative is successful the nationalist domain and allows for originative freedom.

10. Frankenstein

Movie: Frankenstein (1931, Universal Pictures)
Debut year: 1818
Genre: Gothic fiction, subject fiction

Frankenstein follows Victor Frankenstein, a idiosyncratic who creates life, starring to unforeseen consequences. Mary Shelley's 1818 caller explores themes of ambition, creation, and humanity. The archetypal substance is successful the nationalist domain, permitting escaped use.

11. Dorothy Gale

Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Debut year: 1900
Genre: Children's literature, fantasy

Dorothy Gale is simply a Kansas miss transported to the magical Land of Oz by a cyclone. L. Frank Baum introduced her successful 1900, and her travel has go emblematic of escapade and self-discovery. The archetypal publication is successful the nationalist domain. Still, circumstantial elements from the 1939 film, similar the ruby slippers, are copyrighted.

12. Cowardly Lion

Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Debut year: 1900
Genre: Children's literature, fantasy

The Cowardly Lion seeks courage, believing himself a coward contempt acts of bravery. Introduced by L. Frank Baum successful 1900, the quality represents the thought that courageousness involves facing fears. The quality is portion of the nationalist domain, allowing for originative use.

13. Alice successful Wonderland

Movie: Alice successful Wonderland (1951, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Debut year: 1865
Genre: Literary nonsense, fantasy

Alice successful Wonderland chronicles a girl's adventures successful a whimsical satellite aft falling down a rabbit hole. Its enduring popularity has led to assorted adaptations crossed media. The archetypal enactment is successful the nationalist domain, enabling unrestricted originative use.

14. Mad Hatter

Movie: Alice successful Wonderland (1951, Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Debut year: 1865
Genre: Literary nonsense, fantasy

The Mad Hatter is an eccentric quality from Lewis Carroll's 1865 caller Alice's Adventures successful Wonderland. Known for his whimsical beverage parties and nonsensical riddles, helium embodies the absurdity of Wonderland. The character's popularity has led to assorted adaptations, including Disney's 1951 animated film.

15. Ebenezer Scrooge

Movie: Scrooge (1935, Twickenham Film Studios)
Debut year: 1843
Genre: Fiction, Christmas literature

Ebenezer Scrooge is the miserly protagonist of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. His translation from a cold-hearted miser to a generous antheral has go emblematic of redemption. The quality has been adapted galore times, including successful the 1935 movie Scrooge. Dickens's archetypal communicative is successful the nationalist domain, which permits users to usage it freely.

16. Pinocchio

Movie: Pinocchio (1940, Walt Disney Productions)
Debut year: 1883
Genre: Children's literature, fantasy

Pinocchio is simply a woody puppet who dreams of becoming a existent boy. This quality was introduced successful Carlo Collodi's 1883 caller The Adventures of Pinocchio. His travel of learning close from incorrect has captivated audiences for generations. Disney's 1940 animated movie popularised the quality globally.

17. Peter Pan

Movie: Peter Pan (1953, Walt Disney Productions)
Debut year: 1904
Genre: Children's literature, fantasy

Peter Pan is the lad who refuses to turn up, archetypal appearing successful J.M. Barrie's 1904 play. The quality has been adapted into galore films, including Disney's 1953 animated version. Barrie's archetypal works are successful the nationalist domain, enabling originative reinterpretations.

18. Winnie-the-Pooh

Movie: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966, Walt Disney Productions)
Debut year: 1926
Genre: Children's literature, fantasy

Winnie-the-Pooh is among the fashionable characters disposable successful the nationalist domain. He is simply a lovable carnivore created by A.A. Milne successful 1926. His gentle adventures successful the Hundred Acre Wood person endeared him to readers worldwide. Disney's adaptations, starting successful 1966, further cemented his popularity.

19. Popeye

Movie: Popeye (1980, Paramount Pictures)
Debut year: 1929
Genre: Comic strip, adventure

Popeye is simply a spinach-loving sailor introduced successful E.C. Segar's 1929 comic portion Thimble Theatre. The cartoon character has appeared successful assorted media, including the 1980 live-action movie starring Robin Williams. Segar's archetypal works are successful the nationalist domain, allowing for originative use.

20. Hercules

Movie: Hercules (1997, Walt Disney Feature Animation)
Debut year: Ancient Greek mythology
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy

Hercules stands retired arsenic a powerful quality from past Greek mythology. He is known for his unthinkable spot and heroic feats. His tales person been passed down done the centuries and person inspired countless adaptations. Disney's 1997 animated movie presented a family-friendly mentation of his adventures.

What are nationalist domain characters?

Public domain characters are fictional figures whose archetypal works are nary longer protected by copyright.

What characters tin you usage without copyright?

You tin usage characters whose archetypal works person entered the nationalist domain. This includes galore classical literate and mythological figures specified arsenic Sherlock Holmes (early stories), Robin Hood, and Hercules.

Is Tom and Jerry nationalist domain?

The archetypal Tom and Jerry characters from the 1930s Van Beuren Studio cartoons are successful the nationalist domain. However, the much wide known cat-and-mouse duo created by Hanna and Barbera successful 1940 for MGM are not.

How agelong earlier characters participate the nationalist domain?

In the United States, the duration earlier a enactment enters the nationalist domain depends connected respective factors. For works published earlier 1978, copyright typically lasts 95 years from publication. For works created aft 1978, the copyright duration entails the beingness of the writer positive 70 years, arsenic per Copyright RPM.

What are fashionable cartoon characters disposable successful the nationalist domain?

Notable examples see Popeye, who debuted successful 1929, and Felix the Cat, introduced successful 1919. Early versions of Mickey Mouse, specifically from the 1928 abbreviated Steamboat Willie, entered the nationalist domain successful 2024.

Public domain characters supply unmatched originative state for artists, writers, and filmmakers. Whether you request a villain, a hero, oregon a magical being, you tin reuse and reimagine them without ineligible concern.

Legit.ng precocious published an absorbing station astir ugly cartoon characters memorable acknowledgment to their design. These characters are meant to thatch people morals done film, but others are disfigured for the involvement of it.

Some cartoons whitethorn look ugly, but their endearing qualities marque you glued to your screen. These characters mostly embody characteristics that are not needfully charismatic successful existent life. Read connected to observe immoderate disfigured animated characters you volition astir apt recognise.

Source: Legit.ng

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