Despite expectations that hit series like House of the Dragon, Shogun, and Arcane would dominate the list of most pirated shows, new data reveals a surprising trend. Anime and manga have taken over the rankings, proving their immense popularity worldwide. While this surge in piracy is concerning for the industry, it also highlights the medium’s growing influence in international markets.
According to a report from data analytics company MUSO, anime accounted for eight of the ten most pirated series in 2024. Only The Boys and House of the Dragon made the cut from outside the anime genre. With anime becoming more accessible through platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix, this increase in piracy raises questions about the evolving of digital entertainment.
Anime Dominates the List of Most Pirated Shows
Variety’s coverage of MUSO’s research confirms that anime piracy is more rampant than ever. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 led the rankings, followed by My Hero Academia Season 7 and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2. The widespread demand for anime has led to an increase in illegal streaming and downloads, showing how the medium has overtaken even last year’s biggest shows.
Top 10 Most Pirated TV Shows of 2024
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3
- My Hero Academia Season 7
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2
- House of the Dragon Season 2
- Dandadan Season 1
- Tsukimichi: Moonlight Fantasy Season 2
- The Boys Season 4
- Solo Leveling Season 1
- Tower of God Season 2
- Blue Lock Season 2
While anime piracy has reached new highs, manga piracy has grown at an even faster rate. MUSO’s report shows that manga piracy skyrocketed from 16.5 billion views in the first quarter of 2024 to 25.7 billion by the fourth quarter. A 21.82% increase in views between Q2 and Q3 was noted as highly unusual, signaling a massive rise in illegal consumption.
Unlike anime, manga has not seen the same improvements in accessibility. Many fan-favorite series, including Hajime no Ippo, Basara, and Captain Tsubasa, still lack official English translations. Even major titles like Kingdom and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run have only recently secured English releases, leaving countless other series unavailable to international audiences.
A significant reason for rising manga piracy is the delay between the Japanese and English releases. While simulpubs are becoming more common, many major titles like One Piece, Berserk, and Kagurabachi still experience a gap between their magazine release and official translations. Additionally, the cost of physical and digital volumes remains high, making piracy a more attractive option for many fans.
Japanese authorities have intensified efforts to combat anime and manga piracy, with international enforcement measures also taking place. While these crackdowns help reduce piracy in the short term, industry leaders must focus on making legal content more accessible and affordable. Without addressing the root causes of piracy, demand for illegal sources is unlikely to decrease.
