With a 20% larger exhibition space, 16% more visitors (2,300 accredited delegates and 450 registered companies compared to 350 in 2009) and over 200 buyers, the 2010 edition of the International Animation Film Market is showing some very positive figures, which confirm those of the sector in general despite the still difficult economic situation.

The Russian media companies Noviy Disk and Marmelad Media have acquired from Telescreen B.V. all media and merchandising rights to the TV series and licencing brand DIBO – THE GIFT DRAGON for the Russian market.

Imira Entertainment, Spain’s leading production and distribution company specialising in youth programming, has signed a bouquet of sales across its animation slate with Portuguese public broadcaster RTP.

On the heels of serving as supervising producer on the Rubicon/MGM co-produced Pink Panther & Pals now airing on Cartoon Network, Kerry Valentine has joined the Rubicon Studios production team as head of production at the Woodland Hills, Calif. facility; it was announced by Executive Producer David J. Corbett.

Leading family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion is expanding its growing global franchise for hit properties Mr. Men and Little Miss and Noddy by appointing Dream Theatre as its agent for the Indian subcontinent.

The exhilaration of youth. Nana get’s it right!

Judd Winick has returned to Gotham City with a vengeance. The award-winning cartoonist has successfully transitioned one of his benchmark storylines from comic book pages to animated film with the upcoming release of Batman: Under the Red Hood, the latest entry in the popular series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies.

On the heels of last year’s popular General Mills spot ''Measuring Up,'' Calabash Animation has again teamed with agency McCann Worldwide, New York to animate ''Awards,'' a new spot for General Mills that targets adults with a message highlighting the health benefits found in many popular General Mills cereals, like Trix, Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which are rich in whole grains and calcium.

SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE:SKX), a global leader in lifestyle footwear, today announced that it is supporting SKECHERS Entertainment's new animated kids’ television series Zevo-3 with a promotional sneak peek DVD insert in one million shoe boxes for back-to-school.

Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI) Productivity and Graphics Group today announced the availability of Anime Studio Pro 7, the all-in-one tool for professionals and digital artists to create stunning 2D movies, cartoons and cutout animations.

Nickelodeon, the number-one kids’ brand and largest producer of television animation in the world, wraps up Independence Day weekend with the premiere of a new SpongeBob SquarePants special, “The Clash of Triton,” on Monday, July 5, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Steven DeNure, President and COO of DHX Media is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Bartleman to the position of EVP Production and Development, DHX Kids.

Spanish sales firm, Imagina Int'l Sales is getting into the animation game, according to VARIETY.

Dr. Toon analyzes Joe Barbera's final Tom and Jerry short, The KarateGuard.

THE CLEVELAND SHOW, the highest-rated new scripted half-hour this season among Adults 18-34 and Teens, has been picked up for a third season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company.

The exec producer tells us about TBS' first original animated series.

Zinkia and ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment have inked a raft of new licensing agreements for the multi award-winning animation series Pocoyo, bringing the total number of licensees to over 100 and the total number of references in the market to over 1,500.

Fox is facing an FCC fine of $25,000 for not responding to over 100,000 indecency complaints issued against AMERICAN DAD for its Jan. 3rd episode, reports VARIETY.

VARIETY posted a list of ten animators that are on the brink of stardom.

Cube Creative Productions announces that its first animated series, Kaeloo, directed by Rémi Chapotot, will be aired both on Cartoon+, a Canal+ Family program, from 6 June 2010, and unencrypted on Canal+ in the slot left vacant by Canal Football Club during the summer.