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.

The multi-award winning animated series Pocoyo (104 x 7 minutes), co-produced by Zinkia and ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment, is now airing seven days a week on Nick Jr., Nickelodeon’s 24-hour commercial-free, educational preschool network in the US.

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) has begun production on “ThunderCats,” an all-new animated series for Cartoon Network, based upon the iconic 1980s action classic.

The Pokemon Company International and Cartoon Network announced that the 13th season of the Pokemon animated series, Pokemon: DP Sinnoh League Victors, will debut Saturday, June 5th at 7 a.m. EST/PST.

4Kids Entertainment, licensing agent for the animated series Yu-Gi-Oh!, along with the property’s licensors TV TOKYO and NAS have teamed up with website specialists MadeByPi to develop a dedicated global site, www.yugioh.com, which is set to launch in November to coincide with the franchise’s 10th anniversary.

Nelvana Enterprises is packing a suitcase full of new broadcasting and licensing deals for Licensing Expo for its animated properties Babar And The Adventures Of Badou and Max & Ruby.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao have discussed launching a joint animation festival, reports VARIETY. Hatoyama met with Wen when the prime minister visited Japan. One of the top topics was cultural exchanges. The event would bring Chinese animation to Japan and visa versa in stand alone events.

Moonscoop and Wild Grinders announced today that they have completed a licensing deal with Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) for the new action-oriented, “Wild Grinders” animated TV series entertainment brand created by entrepreneur, reality TV star (MTV’s “Rob & Big” and “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory”) and skateboarding icon, Rob Dyrdek.

On the heels of a successful run in select U.S. theaters, as well as an illustrious showing at American film festivals, Waking Sleeping Beauty will screen for the first time in Europe at the Annecy International Animation Festival, as part of the festival's Official Selection, at 2:00pm on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 in the Bonlieu Petite Salle.

This post-World War II series has all the makings of a good war drama.