On January 1, 2026, the public domain is getting a fresh batch of classic Disney characters and stories. This happens every year now, but 2026 is special because it marks a shift from the “silent film” era to the time when Disney truly found its stride with characters we still recognize today.
Rover/Pluto – In 1930, Disney introduced a yellow hound that would eventually become Pluto. But back then, he was in a bit of a transition phase. In his first appearance in The Chain Gang (1930), he was actually a pair of unnamed bloodhounds chasing Mickey. Later that year, in The Picnic, he appeared as Minnie’s dog and was named Rover.
Here’s the problem: the name “Pluto” wasn’t used until 1931. So, in 2026, you can legally use the look of the dog from 1930, but you might get a cease-and-desist if you put the word “Pluto” on the cover of your book. For now, he’s just a “yellow dog” or “Rover” in the eyes of the law.
Mickey Mouse 1930: The Adventurous Comic Strips – Most people think of Mickey in cartoons, but 1930 was the year he took over the newspaper funny pages. These early strips, often drawn by the legendary Floyd Gottfredson, are a goldmine for creators.
In the 1930 strips like Mickey Mouse in Death Valley, Mickey isn’t just dancing around a farm. He’s a detective, an explorer, and sometimes a bit of a troublemaker. This version of Mickey is much more “human” and has a lot more personality than the Steamboat Willie version.
Silly Symphonies: The Sound of 1930 – Before Fantasia, there were the Silly Symphonies. These were shorts where the music was just as important as the animation. Ten of these shorts from 1930 are becoming free, including: Summer, Autumn, Cannibal Capers, Night, Frolicking Fish, Arctic Antics, Midnight in the Toy Shop, Monkey Melodies, Winter, and Playful Pan.
References: https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2026/
