Oh, shit, right. Uh, here's my pitch for a cringe betty boop spooky story now that the original design is public domain:
Betty as a cognito hazard mind virus. Basically the queen in yellow. A buried depression era toon when rediscovered starts captivating the minds of readers and writers alike as people share her stories and write new ones. Eventually she starts appearing outside the page and screen to a select few who believe themselves to be chosen, when really they're just the most vulnerable to her spell.
It had to be the original image with the right audience and means of exposure. The reason she didn't take over sooner is her original form got buried before furries were more of a thing, then the fake revised Betty got popular, but didn't carry the magic of the original. Once people start making video essays and short form wtf reaction content her image spreads like mad and takes root.
Betty merch (effigies) are made and distributed by fans, people affected only eat Betty branded food or food in her likeness, and the unaffected start to be ostracized as Betty fans climb the rungs of societal influence.
People looking for a partner start dressing and behaving as Betty to try and get those on the higher rungs to take them in. Go full practical effect with this, don't skimp on the makeup.
It's a bad ending story, there is no destroying her, all they can do is round up the unaffected and take off somewhere with enough resources to support a population that'll shrink as the generations go on and fewer are born with resistance.
If this gets made, do it like Roger Rabbit, combo live action with 2D animation when Betty is talking to those who can see her. It could be a PG-13 thriller with jump scares and mild body horror, though Betty's fashion of clothing may push it into a light R.
Gimme about $350k and a weekend of filming in an abandoned building, we'll make peak cinema.
