• Cartoon Network has signed VMC as an accessories licensee for Ben 10; the company joins Blues Clothing, Brand International Group, Roy Lowe and Sons, Aykroyd, TDP and Bacup Shoe Company on the boys action property’s roster.
• The long-awaited preschool toon Frances from The Jim Henson Company and HIT Entertainment is slated to roll out on PBS KIDS Sprout‘s new Summer Fun Fridays block, which launches on June 20.
• Hong Kong-based Manley Toys has donated US$500,000 to help out victims of the recent earthquake in the Sichuan province of China, supporting food and water distribution, tent set up and other essential recovery efforts.