End Of An Era: Aniwave.to Shuts Down, What Happened? (2024)

AniWave is one of the top Free Anime streaming sites on the web. It has a large content library that consists of Anime series and movies. AniWave has been around for quite some time and it is very well-known to Anime fans.

Recently, shocking news surprised the viewers of AniWave, specifically aniwave.to; the site was shut down due to multiple violations.

This left viewers confused about the real cause of the issue and finding alternatives for the site. To know more about this, continue reading below.

FYI: Everything there is to Know about AniWave

AniWave is the go-to site for Anime fans; it is a platform that offers free viewing of various Anime shows and movies. The site has a massive collection of animated content in different genres.

The shows on the platform are also available in subbed (with on-screen subtitles) and dubbed versions (voiced by a different actor in a different language; mostly in English).

The Downfall of AniWave

For years, AniWave has been hosting content without the proper authorization or copyright. Aniwave’s site with the domain aniwave.to ceased on August 27, 2024, due to several copyright issues.

If you don’t know, any type of distribution, reproduction, and usage of content without consent of the owner or copyright holder is a violation of Copyright Infringement Laws.

The punishment for such a violation depends on the severity of the crime. In most cases, the first thing that will happen is confiscating the content and ceasing the violating entity; in this case, it is AniWave.

The First Incident

This is not the first time this incident has happened to AniWave. The platform was originally known as 9Anime and it experienced the same fate as AniWave.to. It was shut down due to copyright and other issues. After some time, the site resurfaced and rebranded itself as AniWave.

So, AniWave.to is no longer available?

Yes. As I said, once the authorities notice that a site is hosting unauthorized content, the hosting entity will cease and shut down. When you access aniwave.to, you will most likely see this:

Can Aniwave still operate?

Yes. In fact, there is an existing and working AniWave site that has all the contents of the dissolved aniwave.to, and that is aniwave.se. If you wish to continue streaming your shows, this is the site to visit.

Why do Sites have Different Domains?

Most illegal sites like AniWave have prepared for this kind of situation, which is why they created multiple sites that have different domains. When you look for AniWave on Google, you will find different websites with different domains, these are called Mirror Sites.

Mirror sites are created for the following reasons:

To increase availability – Websites copy their data from one server to another. This makes the content available in multiple places and easier for users to access them.

To avoid the authorities – To avoid being taken down, they switch to different domain extensions (such as .com, .net, or .io). This tactic helps them to avoid legal consequences.

To avoid being blacklisted – Many countries and internet service providers (ISPs) block access to illegal websites. By using different domains, operators of these sites can quickly bypass these blocks, making it harder for ISPs and governments to track them.

To maintain or redirect traffic – they intentionally change domains frequently to redirect traffic to newer or safer versions of their site. This helps them maintain their user base even when one domain is blocked or taken down.

These tactics help illegal sites remain accessible to users while attempting to avoid legal consequences.

Can these mirror sites be shut down too?

Yes, it is highly possible. Since these mirror sites contain the same unauthorized content, they will most likely experience the same fate as their sister sites.

Are there any sites besides AniWave that stream Anime?

There are a lot of platforms that offer Anime streaming. Just like AniWave, these sites offer a variety of content. We compiled some of these sites in the next part.

Free Anime Streaming Sites

If you decide to skip AniWave, here are some platforms where you can stream Anime. We listed both free and paid platforms, check them out.

Here are some top-rated free Anime streaming platforms. Keep in mind that these sites also host content without the proper copyright and they are also at risk of being shut down by the authorities.

Paid Anime Streaming Sites

Subscribing to paid streaming sites may cost you, but it offers more safety and variety. Here are the top sites that offer paid streaming services.

Tip: Save your Favorite Anime using CleverGet Video Downloader

If you want to watch your favorite Anime at your own pace without having to deal with ads and paying a hefty subscription fee, you can always use a tool like CleverGet to download the shows to your device.

Yes! This reliable tool can easily save series and movies from the most popular streaming sites! Rest assured that you’ll have a pleasant experience when it comes to the process and quality.

CleverGet Video Downloader is one of the most downloaded programs on the web, get it now and start your Anime marathon!