AniWave (also Aniwave, formerly, 9anime[1][2]) was an anime-focused file streaming website that hosted links and embedded videos, allowing users to stream or download movies and TV shows illegally for free.
Type of site | File streaming |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | 2016 |
| Current status | Offline |
The website was related to a chain of similar websites known as FMovies[2] and had connections to individuals or operations in Vietnam.[3]
History
editThe website was initially known as 9anime. It was founded in 2016 and in 2023 rebranded itself to AniWave.[3] (Some fake clones using the same name have been reported to appear in the aftermath of this).[3] It had several domains, most recently it used a .to domain associated with the Kingdom of Tonga.[4]
The site has been targeted by copyright enforcement organizations such as Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment several times, including in 2022 and in 2023.[5][3]
It went offline on 27 August 2024, together with several related websites.[1][2][4][6][7][8] On 29 August 2024, Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment confirmed that they had assisted the Vietnamese police in shutting down the site and many other connected sites including FMovies.[9]
Significance
editThe website was widely popular. In October 2020 TorrentFreak called it "a major player in anime piracy" with over 39 million visits per month.[10] In May 2023 TorrentFreak described it as a "piracy behemoth" with 214 million visits a month and "huge, successful, and a prime target" for copyright enforcement.[5] In August that year it described the website as "one of the world's largest piracy sites" and "one of... anime piracy juggernauts" although quoting a smaller number of monthly visits (110 million).[3] In 2023 its .to domain was ranked #164 globally, with over 30% of that traffic coming from the United States.[5] A year later, it reported that "it serviced a mind-blowing 170 million visits a month".[2]
The Tech Report referred to the site as "one of the world's most visited movie streaming websites" and praised the website for being free (including ad-free), its width of coverage, as well as various useful features (such as a list of favorites and watchlists), noting that it however lacks options to download content and a dedicated mobile app.[11] Dataconomy called it "a significant player in the anime streaming space".[1] The Escapist noted that it was "important to the anime community", particularly as legal services are not available to everyone.[7] Distractify noted that the site's closure "has left [anime] fans reeling", as legal services suffer from "increasing prices and somewhat limited range of [content]".[8]
See also
edit- KissAnime – Former anime-focused piracy file streaming site
- Limewire – Peer-to-peer file sharing application
- Nyaa Torrents – File sharing website focused on East Asian media
- Online piracy – Illegal use of digital copyrighted works
- Scanlation – Fan translation of comics, often manga
- The EmuParadise – Website that hosted video game ROMs
- The Pirate Bay – Website providing torrent files and magnet links
- Warez scene – Organized network of pirate groups
References
edit- ^ a b c Gülen, Kerem (2024-08-27). "Yes, 9anime Is Down Forever: Aniwave Shut Down Explained". Dataconomy. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b c d Van der Sar, Ernesto (28 August 2024). "Pirate Streaming Giants Fboxz, AniWave, Zoroxtv & Others Dead in Major Collapse". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b c d e Van der Sar, Ernesto (August 2, 2023). "9anime Rebrands to AniWave Citing Legal Troubles". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b Nwaenie, Chike (2024-08-27). "Over 10 Popular Anime Piracy Sites Disappear Overnight in Mass Shutdown". CBR. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b c Maxwell, Andy (May 26, 2023). "2.5 Billion Visits: ACE Targets 9anime Among Several Pirate Anime Sites * TorrentFreak". Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Esguerra, Vanessa (2024-08-27). "Aniwave and other anime piracy sites are saying goodbye". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b Hayes, Jackson (2024-08-27). "What Happened To Aniwave? Explained". The Escapist. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b Noblitt, Elissa (2024-08-27). "A Massive Wave of Anime Streaming Website Shutdowns Has Left Fans Reeling". Distractify. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Corante, Pamela (August 29, 2024). "Vietnamese Authorities, with Support from ACE, Take Down World's Largest Piracy Ring". Alliance4creativity. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Maxwell, Andy (October 14, 2020). "Massive Pirate Anime Site Uses Visitors' Connections to DDoS Competitor *". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Gitt, Samuel (2024-01-07). "9Anime Review 2024 - A Look at the Anime Streaming Platform". The Tech Report. Retrieved 2024-08-29.