Yes, some were. But Pinocchio (the 1940 Disney movie) was based on the 1883 Italian children's novel "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi. Disney re

Yes, some were. But Pinocchio (the 1940 Disney movie) was based on the 1883 Italian children's novel "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi. Disney released it just after the copyright expired. (Copyright then was a 28-year initial term with a 28-year renewal = 56 years.) And "Song of the South" (the 1946 movie) is based the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris published in 1881, so entered the public domain about 8 years before the movie. I'm perfectly fine with a 56 year limit on copyright.