[1] Smith worked on some of his studio's first TV specials,[2] including A Cosmic Christmas (1977),[3] which was broadcast on CBC Television in Canada and syndicated in the United States, proving to be Nelvana's breakthrough production.

Additionally, he served as the director of Nelvana's first feature film, 1983's Rock and Rule,[4] as well as its 1997 animated adaptation of the Pippi Longstocking saga.

Smith retired from Nelvana in 2001, the year after he and his co-founders sold the studio to Corus Entertainment.

In 1967, he moved to Canada and worked as a senior animator and designer on commercials and short films with Al Guest and Vladimir Goetzleman.

[5] Since leaving Nelvana, Smith co-founded Musta Costa Fortune with Melleny Melody.