HiAnime, AnimeKai & More Return as Major Anime Streaming Targets in New U.S. Crackdown
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has launched a new mass anime piracy investigation against over 40 notorious domains. The group’s latest crackdown has targeted both AnimeKai and HiAnime — two examples of the “hydra” phenomenon that has continuously foiled official shutdown efforts.
As reported by TorrentFreak, the MPA recently issued two lengthy subpoenas to global web security network, Cloudflare, and to the .to domain registry, “Tonic.” Aiming to vanquish “zombie brands” linked to several infamous piracy hubs, the MPA has demanded that both entities turn over identifying data for 46 domains, including (but not limited to) 123moviesfree, Aniwave, AnimeDefenders, AniGo, JkAnime, HiAnime, Nunflix, Bingewatch, Fmovies and Cuevana. HiAnime, which is currently accessible via at least four different proxy sites, is one of the world’s biggest piracy destinations, with monthly traffic that far surpasses that of paid competitors such as Disney+ and Crunchyroll.
Anime Streaming Piracy Faces Renewed MPA Crackdown After More U.S. Subpoenas
In the modern era of content piracy, hydra sites and “pirate brands” — sites that piggyback on the popularity of established names — pose significant problems for law enforcement officials. In order to permanently defeat a “hydra” site, the MPA must prevent the original domain from producing mirrors of itself — a tactic that has been noted in previous MPA crackdowns against AnimeKai, AnimesHeaven, 1xAnime, Anoboy and 123Animehub, among others. Earlier this month, HiAnime was flagged by the MPA and the U.S. government as a “priority notorious streaming site,” making it a critical target for future anti-piracy investigations.
As of Oct. 24, 2025, the two subpoenas have not yet been officially validated by a U.S. court clerk. However, unless CloudFlare and Tonic choose to challenge it in court, the two companies will be required to turn over invaluable data such as names, IP addresses and payment information related to the listed domains. As detailed in an official statement previously issued by the MPA, HiAnime is “believed to be operated from Vietnam.” Nonetheless, the exact hosting location is masked via “CloudFlare’s reverse proxy,” making the exact location difficult for officials to pinpoint.
Despite the continued existence of many such “notorious” domains, the anime world has scored some victories in the war against piracy this year. Back in September, Comick.io — a huge hub for pirated manga and manhwa — was officially shut down by the site’s administrator, drawing comparisons to the sudden closure of infamous anime piracy site, Gogoanime, in 2024. While Comick’s admin did not cite a specific reason for the site’s shutdown, many speculated that it was, at least in part, related to legal complications.
Notably, Gogoanime’s shutdown was instigated by ACE — an international anti-piracy coalition comprised of over 50 different companies, including Amazon, Netflix, HBO, Paramount, Comcast, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery. The MPA, which is closely partnered with ACE, issued the aforementioned subpoenas to CloudFlare and Tonic on the latter group’s behalf.
