Major anime piracy site HiAnime is believed to have shut down after it became inaccessible earlier this week. The site’s operators left the simple message:
“It’s time to say goodbye. And thank you for a wonderful journey with great moments.“
The main HiAnime website (ending .to) is down, as is its proxy (.me). The administrator of the official HiAnime Discord, who currently appears not to be in direct contact with the site’s operators, made the following statement:
“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.” They also warned of donation scams from those seeking to profit from HiAnime’s shutdown.
HiAnime’s operators were likely pressured by an enforcement operation; its blunt shutdown message differs significantly from its rebrand from Aniwatch in March 2024, where it had pointed fans to its new domain while otherwise continuing to operate as usual.
HiAnime is one of the most notorious pirate sites, not just in anime but generally. Similarweb data estimates the site’s monthly page visits at 153.5 million (February 2025), above even Crunchyroll.com’s 145.8 million. Most of its traffic originates from the United States, followed by India and the United Kingdom, all among Crunchyroll’s top 10 markets. HiAnime has been the target of scrutiny from the U.S. government, the European Commission, and the Motion Picture Association (Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery). HiAnime previously operated as infamous piracy sites Aniwatch and Zoro.to.
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HiAnime’s shutdown follows the demise of major manga piracy website Bato, whose operator was revealed in January to have been arrested in China and released on bail while an indictment was being prepared.
