Public domain versions of classic Disney villains

There’s a lot of discussion about public domain fairy tale heroes and heroines who were co-opted by Disney, and how to use them legally. But I thought someone should also make a post to point out the villains as well, since I think a lot of people are unaware that they too have their basis in the public domain.

Evil Queen – I think this is already well known but the evil stepmother of Snow White is fully public domain. The only notable difference between her and the Disney version is you can’t use the exact costume or the name Grimhilde, although I don’t think it matters since most people tend not to know her real name anyways. Previously used public domain names she has were Brangomar in a 1912 play and Alice in a 1916 silent film.

Lady Tremaine / Wicked Stepmother – Again she is public domain and she largely has the same role, but you can’t call her “Lady Tremaine” since that’s Disney copyrighted. If you’re curious about the stepsisters, the elder one is named Charlotte in Perrault’s version while an opera gives them the names Clorinda and Tisbe.

Maleficent / Carabosse – Maleficent as a name is of course not in the public domain, but she IS in the original story where she also served as a wicked fairy godmother who curses Sleeping Beauty after not being invited to a party. She was given the name Carabosse in a play, and it’s what most versions rename her.

Ursula / Sea Witch – Never named Ursula in the original story, but the Sea Witch is indeed in it turning the Little Mermaid human. Her role was expanded in the Disney version since the Little Mermaid dies in the original story with no final battle.

Jafar / the Sorcerer – Like in the movie, Aladdin is tricked by a sorcerer into finding the lamp for him. While this sorcerer looks and is dressed very similar to the film version, he is not named Jafar and he’s not a vizier – Although there is a separate minor antagonist who is one.

Doc Facilier / Baron Samedi – I had no clue about this one and assumed this would be the exception, but there actually is a public domain version. While not part of the Frog Prince story, in mythology Baron Samedi is a spirit who welcomes the newly dead. He has the exact same design as Doc Facilier as a black man with a top hat and skull face paint, the same personality as being rude yet charismatic, although he is not inherently evil. That being said plenty of other creators have already used his public domain status to depict him as a villain (famously James Bond is an example).

Gothel – Like the Evil Queen she is actually fully public domain, although worth noting she’s usually called Dame Gothel rather than Mother Gothel. The art I attached depicts her as grotesque but she is never actually described in the original story, so you can depict her as a normal woman if you wish.

Elsa / Snow Queen – So Elsa isn’t actually a villain, but still worth noting since a lot of people don’t know that Frozen is an adaptation of a fairy tale. The Snow Queen, who is never named, is a more traditional villain in the story who kidnaps Kai and his friend Gerda journeys to save him.

Gaston / Avenant – NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN, but this should be mentioned anyway. Gaston is Disney’s renamed reinterpretation of the main antagonist of the 1946 French film Beauty and the Beast, who is also a suitor of Beauty that tries to kill the Beast after he is rejected. The reason I mention him is because he will enter public domain in 2034 in Europe and 2042 in the United States, which is a much more sensible wait time than Gaston entering in 2087.

TLDR – Most classic Disney villains are actually already in the public domain already, just not with the names or exact designs they’re associated with. And of course there are a lot of others in the public domain like Captain Hook and the Big Bad Wolf but I think people are more aware of those particular characters.