Top 10 Most Pirated and Illegally Watched Anime

The majority of seasonal anime as well as popular classics are now more accessible than ever before.

Internationally recognized streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and many others offer anime culture enthusiasts the ability to watch their favorite series in marathons and at their own pace.

It's not uncommon to discover a new favorite by exploring alternative catalogs offered by free services like Tubi or Freevee, where a large number of captivating titles are featured. However, despite this democratization of legal streaming, some anime remain sadly famous for being at the center of a massive piracy phenomenon, with episodes still widely distributed illegally across the web.

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Iconic series such as Sailor Moon, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Sword Art Online have been widely available on various legal streaming platforms for several years. Yet, many popular shōnen, shoujo, and isekai titles continue to be among the most viewed on online piracy sites. One of the main reasons is that even if these anime are legally accessible, not everyone benefits from easy or economical access. Thus, some fans do not hesitate to navigate what is called the "high seas" in search of their favorite franchises, via illegal platforms.

10. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003), a classic adaptation with restricted legal streaming availability

The original Fullmetal Alchemist anime from 2003 is a cult classic, but unfortunately, it remains difficult to find on common legal streaming platforms. While the newer and more manga-faithful version, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, enjoys wide distribution on services like Crunchyroll, the 2003 series has not had the same luck [1]. It remains accessible for purchase or viewing through Fandango, but viewing options remain limited and often costly for fans.

Furthermore, DVD box sets of this series have long been almost out of print, making their acquisition sometimes complicated, sometimes expensive. This crucial lack of accessibility has pushed many enthusiasts, despite themselves, to turn to illegal alternatives to enjoy this mythical adaptation. This is truly a shame, because even if it deviates from the original manga storyline as well as Brotherhood, this version is full of timeless and poignant scenes that new viewers deserve to discover legally.

Let's hope that distributors and platforms will re-evaluate the availability of this series, so that fans worldwide can finally explore this underestimated adaptation under the best conditions and without resorting to piracy.

9. My Hero Academia, a favorite target for pirates despite wide accessibility

My Hero Academia is an anime and manga series that has gained ever-increasing popularity over the seasons. With a rich cast of charismatic characters, thrilling action scenes, and appreciated dubbing quality regardless of the language, the series is very accessible. It is available on platforms such as Crunchyroll [1], Netflix [1], Hulu [2], Disney+, Amazon Prime Video [1], and many others.

However, its growing renown also makes it a prime target for piracy sites. In 2023, the MUSO firm ranked My Hero Academia among the most pirated anime in the world, particularly during the broadcast of its 6th season. This double-edged sword – phenomenal success but also high piracy – illustrates the difficulty of reconciling legal offerings with global demand. Fortunately, this popularity has encouraged distributors to further promote the series on official platforms, thus improving legal accessibility for fans.

8. Solo Leveling dominates views on pirate sites, despite its wide availability

Solo Leveling is among the best adaptations of a manhwa into anime in recent years. The series has established itself thanks to remarkable action scenes and an endearing hero, Sung Jinwoo. Available for legal streaming on major platforms such as Crunchyroll, it has achieved remarkable success and gathered a large fanbase.

Despite this, this new release has not escaped the piracy phenomenon and has ranked among the most illegally viewed action anime. Even if this phenomenon paradoxically increases its notoriety, it remains regrettable that many prefer unofficial sources. The popularity of Solo Leveling is not waning, but it is difficult to predict if illegal consumption on various dubious sites will cease in the near future.

7. Restricted access to The Eminence in Shadow makes it prone to piracy

The Eminence in Shadow offers an adventure blending action and humor in the already popular world of isekai, with an offbeat tone that attracts many fans. But one of the major obstacles to its distribution lies in its limited availability depending on the region. Thus, while North American fans can watch the series on HiDive, German enthusiasts do not always have an official platform to enjoy it, particularly during season 2.

This access restriction has made the series particularly vulnerable to piracy. Season 1 of The Eminence in Shadow was also one of the most pirated in 2022, a trend amplified during season 2 in 2023. For the series to continue its audience growth and achieve even greater success, better promotion on official platforms and expanded availability are essential.

6. Bleach: a loyal audience that watches the anime, no matter the source

For decades, the Bleach series has captivated a wide audience around the world thanks to its rich universe, complex power system, and unique style, which sets it apart from other classic shōnen anime. While some fans sometimes joke about the length of certain secondary arcs, the series still manages to hold attention thanks to its main plot full of twists.

Official streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll [1] and Hulu [2] have offered the anime for a long time, but despite this, the series is among the most pirated. Notably, the first season ranked among the most illegally downloaded in 2022, probably due to the high demand around the "Thousand-Year Blood War" arc, which disrupts the series' dynamic and pushes fans to catch up, even through illegal sources.

5. Chainsaw Man: exceptional streaming demand, accompanied by significant piracy

Chainsaw Man was one of the most anticipated anime of the last decade, bolstered by the growing popularity of its manga, with over 5 million copies sold by 2021. During the initial broadcast, the high traffic on Crunchyroll even caused service interruptions, leading some fans to seek other ways to watch the series.

In 2022, the series was among the most pirated, ranked second behind the very popular House of the Dragon. Despite its presence on most major platforms, demand for Chainsaw Man remains high and shows no signs of slowing down. With the announcement of a highly anticipated animated film, this trend of illegal consumption is likely to continue.

4. Season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen: an undeniable success, even on pirate sites

Jujutsu Kaisen has become a pillar of modern shōnen anime, enjoying colossal popularity with over 100 million copies sold worldwide in manga format. The anime adaptation has also won the hearts of fans and critics, available on all major streaming platforms.

Yet, despite this accessibility, season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen was among the most illegally viewed series, according to MUSO's 2023 analysis. This phenomenon raises questions: how can a series so easily accessible legally generate so much traffic on piracy sites? The answer lies in its exceptional popularity – for many, the means do not matter, as long as they can watch their favorite anime.

3. Naruto remains a sure bet on streaming platforms as well as pirate sites

Naruto is undeniably one of the most popular anime franchises in the world, with a strong presence on both legal platforms [1] and piracy sites. Whether it's the original series or its sequel Naruto Shippuden, fans continue to show definite interest in these timeless episodes.

A notable point concerns the English dubbing, which is particularly appreciated, but was long partially unavailable on platforms like Hulu beyond episode 140. The other method to access the complete dubbing was to purchase DVD box sets. This shortage unfortunately pushed a major portion of the audience to watch the anime either through unauthorized means or through piracy.

The series remains iconic, and despite this legitimate popularity, it's easy to understand why the search through illegal channels continues to be significant.

2. Dragon Ball Z: a timeless classic victim of digital distribution problems

Although Dragon Ball Z is a monument of anime culture, its digital release has not always been optimal. The "Orange Bricks," English-language DVD box sets, had the major flaw of being poorly cropped to widescreen format, harming the visual experience. Other editions like the "Level Sets" were never finalized, while subsequent re-releases repeated these errors, sometimes with disappointing image quality.

These technical flaws have greatly frustrated the fan community, with some preferring to turn to pirated versions for smoother streaming, without cuts or drops in audio or visual quality. This lack of standardization continues to fuel the cycle of piracy among fans seeking an optimal experience, pending a satisfactory official solution.

1. One Piece: the undisputed reign of the most pirated anime of all time

With over three decades and more than 1100 chapters to its credit, the global and uninterrupted renown of One Piece makes it an indispensable pillar of shōnen anime [1]. The series comes in an impressive number of episodes, as well as films and merchandise, consolidating its legendary status.

The core of the massive piracy problem of One Piece lies primarily in its accessibility. This cult work gathers an immense and global fanbase, but not all countries yet benefit from fluid access to official distribution. For example, some nations, like North Korea, lack licenses for the distribution of foreign anime, thus depriving their inhabitants of the opportunity to legally follow the adventures of the Straw Hats.

These legal barriers therefore encourage fans worldwide to resort to piracy so as not to miss the exploits of the characters, thus fueling the undeniable popularity of the series on illegal platforms, despite its global importance.

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