Do you remember the last time you discovered a series that captivated you from start to finish? Now imagine that there is a secret platform, hidden in the corners of the Internet, offering unlimited access to thousands of such series, but illegally. That is exactly what AnimePlay was, until its recent shutdown by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). How could such a platform thrive for six years? And what are the impacts of its closure?
The 3 key facts not to miss
- AnimePlay, an illegal anime streaming platform, was shut down after six years of operation and a base of 5 million users.
- The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) dismantled the entire infrastructure of AnimePlay, including the source code and servers.
- The closure of AnimePlay marks a notable success in the fight against illegal APK files in Indonesia.
Details of AnimePlay’s closure
AnimePlay was a popular illegal anime streaming platform in the Asia-Pacific region, with over 5 million users primarily based in Indonesia. Despite its success, it operated outside the law, distributing pirated Japanese animation content. This week, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment announced the complete shutdown of the platform, after seizing all essential elements of its infrastructure.
The operation was made possible thanks to the voluntary handover by the operator of all key components of AnimePlay, including the backend servers, databases, and 15 domain names.
ACE’s methodology against piracy
Traditionally, actions against illegal streaming were limited to blocking access to sites or seizing domains. However, operators often managed to quickly reestablish themselves under new names. ACE innovated by directly targeting the source code of AnimePlay, making any attempt to relaunch almost impossible without starting from scratch.
Larissa Knapp, Executive Vice President of the Motion Picture Association, explained that this method effectively prevents any reconstruction or relaunch of the service by the former operator.
The challenges of APK files in Indonesia
One of the most notable aspects of this closure is that it represents the first successful action against an APK file in Indonesia. APK files, often used to distribute applications outside official channels like the Play Store, are particularly difficult to track and block. AnimePlay exploited these channels to reach a wider audience, thus bypassing the moderation mechanisms of official stores.
In this region, a large part of the app market relies on these alternative channels, due to economic constraints and the limited availability of legal services.
History and impact of ACE on online piracy
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) is a coalition of major entertainment companies such as Disney, Netflix, and Sony, united to fight piracy. Since its creation, ACE has succeeded in several notable operations, such as the shutdown of Photocall in November 2025, an illegal TV streaming platform with over 26 million annual users.
AnimePlay, although smaller, demonstrates the growing effectiveness of ACE’s methods to combat digital piracy. With the closure of such platforms, ACE hopes to encourage users to turn to legal alternatives like Crunchyroll, which offer legal and secure access to animated content.