Since 2024, HiAnime.to has been a primary destination for millions of anime viewers. Today, this reign appears to come to an end as a message shown across its official domain names says that it's "time to say goodbye". However, not everyone is convinced that this is indeed a final farewell.
The anime industry has experienced a surge in popularity, but this growth is not limited to legal streaming platforms.
A significant portion of the demand for anime arrives from unofficial channels, with several major pirate websites dedicated solely to anime content.
This includes HiAnime.to, which, with an estimated 150 million+ monthly visits is one of the most trafficked websites on the Internet. A message now displayed across the site’s main domains suggests that may be about to change.
“It’s time to say goodbye. And thank you for a wonderful journey with great moments,” the message reads, also shown on other official domains, such as HiAnime.me.
The HiAnime name first appeared under its current name in March 2024, as a rebranding of the Aniwatch website, which was known as Zoro.to before that. Since then, its popularity has continued to grow.
While the goodbye message seems crystal clear, the site’s official Discord server and Reddit community don’t appear convinced. While it is unclear whether the operators are moderating these communities, the mods and admins caution people not to jump to conclusions.
“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,” a status message in the Discord channel reads.
At the same time, a Reddit thread urges people not to panic and stop sharing unverified information.
At TorrentFreak, we can verify that the “goodbye” message posted on the official HiAnime domains reads like a shutdown notice. Time will tell whether the site will indeed remain offline. It’s also an option that it will rebrand yet again.
HiAnime has had its fair share of legal pressure over the past two years. The MPA’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment has targeted the site on multiple occasions, for example.
Earlier this month, the pressure further increased as the U.S. Trade Representative added HiAnime to its annual list of notorious piracy markets.
There is no evidence to suggest that the legal pressure has anything to do with the goodbye message on the site, but it would be a fitting explanation. If any new information comes in, we will update this article accordingly.
Source: Torrent Freak