It’s reboot time in theaters this week, with the release of a new animated “Smurfs,” with producer Rihanna voicing Smurfette, and a 21st-century take on 1997’s teen slasher flick, “I Know What You Did ...

Public-domain horror has given us killer Pooh bear, murderous childhood icons, like Steamboat Willie-era Mickey, and a graveyard’s worth of “sure, why not?” premises. Some are fun, some are… choices.

Animation is the perfect place for horror stories. This medium, which allows creatives to unleash their darkest, scariest imaginings to their fullest creative extent, has been the producer of some of ...