Best animation software?

so
does anyone know which software is used to make cartoons like The Simpsons, Family Guy, and stuff like that? Also, if anyone can tell me what was used for this animation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9N1F...eature=channel

thanks in advance (and sorry if there's already a thread for this, I'm still figuring my way around here)

3D animation
1. If you're looking to knock out TV commercials, cartoons, or game assets, you really can't beat Adobe After Effects
2. 3ds Max
3. Getting those sexy moves down in Poser is honestly killer when it comes to character design

When we're talking strictly 3D, this stuff just blows me away.
But then again, The Simpsons are a whole different beast—that's 2D hand-drawn work done in Photoshop, using tools like Cintiqs, Storyboard Pro, Pencil Check Pro, and Maya

Gary Williams47 said:3D animations
The Simpsons are actually totally different—it's all hand-drawn 2D stuff done in Photoshop using Cintiqs, Storyboard Pro, Pencil Check Pro, and Maya

Wait, what even is a "Cintiqs"?