ALEX MAJOR ART
Are you allowed to do this?
Isn't this plagiarism?
Copy right infringement?
Stealing!?
I've been asked these questions quite a bit.
Its a good question. And I have a lot to say on the matter.
But, to give it to you straight away.
The original text and Illustrations of Alice in Wonderland are in "PUBLIC DOMAIN"
WHAT IS PUBLIC DOMAIN?
Basically, a book enters "Public Domain" when it becomes old. And since the book is old, anyone in the general public can use it to make their own adaptations. Now there are a lot more details around the specifics of what qualifies as "old" and it varies from country to country by there laws. But like, trust me bro. Its in Public Domain.
This book came out in 1865. That's when Abraham Lincoln was President of the United States! 161 years ago. Its old.
If you want to know more about the rules and other cool book titles that are in the Public Domain. Go do some research for yourself.
So if it's your first time ever hearing of it, here's your word of the day.
Public Domain.
THE ICKY STICKY TRICKY PART
Many companies and studios have done this already. They took the original book, made an adaptation and made the world fall in love with their unique versions.
So when you think of Winnie the Pooh. You think of a bear with a red t-shirt, and thats the problem. If you were to illustrate your own Pooh Bear book and put a red tshirt on him that would be copyright infringement. The original book by A.A. Milne (Published in 1926) did not have a red tshirt, it was just a naked bear. (See image above)
So the red shirt is a Disney Invention and off limits.
What does that mean for me?
I cant draw the Queens Castle. That is a Disney Invention.
In the book they say nothing about this Castle, just that they are in a Courtyard Garden.
I cant draw the army of cards marching through a maze.
But i can draw them marching, and they are soldiers.
Here's one i almost let slip.
In the book the White Rabbit is said
to be standing beside the King and
Queen. While my subconscious pictured
the white rabbit standing on a little stoop in front of them reading a letter aloud.
So i drew that, but only later did I realize the atrocities I had committed.
In the actual book its said that the Knave stands before the king and queen in chains.
(The "Knave" is what they called the "Jack" card back in the day.)
There is nothing in the book about the White Rabbit standing on a stoop reading the letter. It is in the Disney movie that he is sitting on the stoop. Also in the Disney movie he is reading from an extra long letter. The crazy length is not in the book so i would not be allowed to make the letter humorously long.
So i used my trusty Photoshopping techniques and redrew that part of the scene.
In my humble opinion I like these adjustments better because it gives a bit of a darker tone, while also bringing the scene closer to original text.
Chapter 11. Who Stole the Tarts? (The Table of Jurors)
Public Defenders vs. the Court of Domain
#Public Domain Jokes
NO AI WAS USED FOR ANY PART OF THE CREATION OF THIS BOOK OR WEBSITE.
*other then the fact google always gives Ai answers now.
And website creator apps constantly seek to
make your life harder with Ai pop ups.