No. 1 Anime Website, HiAnime Shuts Down Amidst Unprecedented Global Crackdown on Piracy

TOKYO — HiAnime, the most trafficked unauthorized anime streaming platform in the world, has officially ceased operations. The platform, which became a global hub for millions of viewers following the rebranding of its predecessors Zoro.to and Aniwatch, left a succinct farewell message on its homepage:

“It’s time to say goodbye. And thank you for a wonderful journey with great moments.”

The closure marks a definitive win for the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), which have spent years tracking the site’s decentralized server network. This shutdown is part of a broader, aggressive offensive by the Japanese government to mitigate staggering financial losses.

A January 2026 survey by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) estimated that digital piracy losses for Japanese content surged to ¥5.7 trillion ($38 billion) in 2025, nearly tripling in just three years.

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Interpol, have shifted strategies from simple domain blocking to targeted criminal prosecutions. Under Project I-SOP (INTERPOL Stop Online Piracy), authorities have conducted multiple raids throughout 2025 and early 2026 across Southeast Asia and Brazil, leading to the arrest of several high-level site administrators.

On March 13, 2026, ACE confirmed a significant victory in the U.S. District Court, securing an $18.75 million judgment against a piracy operator, a ruling that legal experts say signaled the end for sites like HiAnime.

Before its collapse, HiAnime was a juggernaut in the streaming space, consistently outperforming legitimate platforms in raw engagement. According to February 2026 traffic data, the site recorded 153.5 million visits in a single month, surpassing major legal competitors like Crunchyroll (145.8M visits). Ranking #219 globally and #10 in the US for streaming, the site’s influence was undeniable, with a 64% desktop-to-36% mobile distribution and an average visit duration of over 16 minutes.

The list of fallen giants in the anime piracy space continues to grow as international police seize physical hardware and financial assets. Within the last 18 months, the following major platforms have been permanently dismantled or seized:

• AniWave (9anime) and AnimeSuge: Shuttered during a coordinated global sweep in late 2024.

• AnimeFlix: Seized by European authorities following an ACE referral.

• Anoboy: A major Southeast Asian hub closed following criminal arrests in Vietnam.

• 1xAnime & AnimeKai: Domains seized by the FBI under the “Operation 404” initiative.

Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association, stated in a recent briefing that the current enforcement actions are intended to deliver a final blow to illegal streaming networks:

“This ruling sends a clear message to digital piracy operators: your actions have consequences.”

With Japan’s “Cool Japan” initiative aiming to reach ¥20 trillion in content exports by 2033, the era of turning a blind eye to unauthorized distribution appears to have reached its conclusion.

UPDATE ON THE STORY by HiAnime Admins:

HiAnime Admins on Discord have posted:

WEBSITE STATUS UPDATE

‌‌ We are currently aware of the situation and are actively reviewing the matter. We are monitoring the situation and attempting to obtain further clarification as of the moment. Further developments or confirmed updates will be communicated accordingly once the review process progresses. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time. Do rest assured, the matter is being handled with due attention.

Stay tuned for further updates, we have reached out to HiAnime team for a statement on this!