During the noitamina panel hosted by media scholar Alex Leavitt this morning at Otakon, the ratings for the shows broadcast on Fuji TV’s noitamina late-night animation block were revealed to panel attendees in order to provide context for the popularity of late-night broadcast anime in Japan and the block itself.  The ratings are broken down per show by highest total rating and average rating per episode.

Of note is the second season of Nodame Catabile being the highest rated program on the block at 6.6%, while the shows with the highest average rating across the block were Moyashimon and Hakaba Kitarou at 4.6% each during their respective initial broadcast run. 

The noitamina animation block is also notable for its focus on experimental shows such as Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 and Eden of the East, as well as its focus on female viewership with shows such as Paradise Kiss, Honey and Clover and the aforementioned Nodame Cantabile.

Funimation is currently streaming the current noitamina block in House of Five Leaves, The Tatami Galaxy, Shiki and the live-action adaptation of Moyashimon online via its video portal as part of its recent simulcast agreement with the broadcast network, which began in April.

[image via janaiblog]

Funimation has announced during its Otakon industry panel that it has acquired Hetalia World Series (seasons 3+4 and the feature film Paint it White), Strike Witches 2, Blessing of the Campanella (Shukufuku no Campanella), and Okamisan (Ōkami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi) anime series. All of the licenses include home video and streaming rights. Funimation has also announced the home video rights for the currently airing Strike Witches 2, which is streaming on competitor Crunchyroll.

Funimation has also announced that it has acquired Evangelion 2.0 You (Can Not) Advance, despite rumors that the licensing cost was pushed up to exorbitant levels due to Japanese popularity and that the distributor passed on the title, along with confirming previous reports of its acquisition of the Summer Wars feature film. As with the aforementioned titles, the licenses for Eva 2.0 and Summer Wars span home video, streaming and broadcast rights, as well as theatrical distribution rights.

Update: Funimation will also be streaming Strike Witches 2, while Crunchyroll’s current simulcast will continue as normal.

During its panel Aniplex USA has announced its forthcoming release of Durarara!! for January 2011.  The release will span three parts of two DVDs in each volume with 8-9 episodes on each two disc set. The release will include subs and an English dub featuring Darrel Guilbeau as Mikado, Kari Wahlgren as Celty and Crispin Freeman as Shizuo .

[image via omo, cast info via calaggie]

Funimation has surreptitiously posted the first subtitled episode of erotic comedy Girls Bravo ahead of its official announcement today during Funimation’s industry panel at Otakon.  The episode requires sign-in and age verification due to its content, although the version posted to YouTube is still censored.

Girls Bravo was previously licensed by the former Geneon Entertainment USA in 2006.

[via Mania Anime/Manga]

During Madhouse’s Otakon panel, more information has been confirmed regarding the content of the Supernatural anime series.  The series is completely developed via 1/3rd of original episodes, 1/3rd involving character backstory and another 1/3rd involving original Japanese content involving folklore and demons such as the yokai and kappa.

[via ClarissaG on Twitter]

Funimation has announced the forthcoming launch of its social networking oriented video portal as…Funimation.com. 

This follows the initial announcement made last year during AX as ShoDojo.com, only for Funimation to allow the domain to lapse with no service launched under the domain. 

The portal will roll out as a public beta in September with pre-registration available now, with the public rollout slated for October.  A subscription service known as the Elite Membership will be rolled out in the future, with registration available during the Otakon 2010 convention (booth B at the front of Hall F) or by going here.

I didn’t know Funimation bought Section23.   [via @omonomono]

Funimation has launched a DVD/Blu-Ray consumer survey to gauge licensing decisions for 2011. 

The survey resembles previous incarnations which led to acquisitions such as Black Butler and other titles previously announced and licensed this year  with questions centered on packaging, release format preferences and pricing for complete/half-season sets.

Funimation has quietly opened up a page on its blog and portal announcing the forthcoming rollout of prepaid Visa debit cards featuring characters from some of its most popular series such as Fruits Basket, Soul Eater, Sgt. Frog and Afro Samurai.  The page includes a registration form for more information on the prepaid cards ahead of their release in August.

The prepaid card program is being launched as a response to one of the largest complaints that many fans and consumers have about not being able to take advantage of online sales, either due to not having a credit card available or not being of age to possess one, since brick and mortar retailers are stocking less and less releases on store shelves.

Aniplex USA has confirmed plans to release the Read Or Die anime adaptation on Blu-Ray in the future.  The release will consist of the OVA series previously licensed by Manga Entertainment and TV series previously licensed by Geneon on 5 Blu-Ray discs with English subs and dubs.