FUNimation Entertainment continues its recent emphasis on social networking media, announcing a new partnership with Joost.com that will become visible on that website starting in November of 2008, when FUNimation's own channel launches there.

The company plans to post episodes of several series from its distribution list, and North American fans will have the chance to watch them for free, form communities, comment on what they've seen, share favorites, make comments or "shouts", and other interactions using the Joost social tools.

Some of the shows that will appear in the first FUNimation offerings include Basilisk, Blue Gender, MoonPhase, Peach Girl, Slayers, and xxxHOLiC. This is just a sampling; there are many others set to debut in November, with the promise of further monthly additions from then on. There will be both dubbed and subtitled shows, to satisfy the fans' various tastes.

Danny Passman, the global Head of Programming for Joost, is enthusiastic in his welcome of FUNimation and its fans to the site. He is certain that Joost can provide what anime fans really want: "to watch their favorite shows online in their entirety, and they want an easy way to talk about their favorite moments, shows or characters with other fans." He states that Joost's goal is to be "the online destination for premium legal anime," and sees the new FUNimation channel as a step in that direction.

Joost already hosts animated content from VIZ Media, GONG, and Sony.

FUNimation President and CEO, Gen Fukunaga, is equally pleased about the new partnership, seeing Joost as a medium for providing existing fans with content they're looking to see, while expanding into new audiences as well.

This work with Joost is another step in FUNimation's continuing foray into the new social networking media. The company also has its own branded channel on YouTube, has a few series in progress or about to start on the U.S.-only site, Hulu.com, and of course has its own FUNimation Channel or on-demand services on some cable networks. In addition, it provides anime episodes to American AT&T users with video-capable cell phones, through JumpInMobile.tv. At the moment, it appears to be offering pretty much the same series in every location, rather than a diversity, so if you've signed up for one service you likely don't need to sign up for others.

Still, the distributor is obviously working hard to adapt its anime delivery methods to all the arising new media, and reach fans or potential fans wherever they may be spending their time.

In another "free anime" news tidbit, FUNimation has also announced that they would begin the temporary screening of some anime episodes, for free, each Friday beginning on October 10. The debut offering will include episodes 1-4 of School Rumble Season 2, and Ouran High School Host Club episodes 1-2. The following weeks will see the release of Black Blood Brothers 1-3, Gunslinger Girl 1-2, and Guyver 1-2.