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If you had to pay to watch anime would you stop watching?

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Yesterday, 6:24 AM
#1

Offline
Apr 2026
305
If free unofficial access disappeared tomorrow and the only way to watch anime was through subscriptions or buying Blu-rays/DVDs would you still watch anime or stop?

How far does your appreciation for anime go. ;)

Pages (3) [1] 2 3 »
Yesterday, 6:33 AM
#2

Offline
Oct 2021
1182
If you had to pay to watch anime would you stop watching?

Call me stupid, but I'm already doing this.
Yesterday, 6:34 AM
#3

Online
Apr 2026
204
Happily, that is exactly how I watch my anime. Crunchyroll for watching new anime and my physical media collection for re-watching older anime. So, I am not impacted whatsoever by any sudden disappearances of unofficial sources. If hypothetically speaking, a server of an unofficial source burned down, not a problem! I can continue to watch my anime uninterrupted.


What have I done?!
It's too late for me now.
I guess I won't be the sane
level 5 of Academy City anymore.

Yesterday, 6:37 AM
#4

Offline
Dec 2024
242
Well, yeah, it wouldn’t make much difference to me, but I hope streaming platforms get more 90s and early 2000s anime collections if that happens.
Yesterday, 6:37 AM
#5

Offline
Jan 2011
27312
If I was a paypig I'd share my purchases with the masses. :>
Yesterday, 6:37 AM
#6
Offline
May 2016
2514
I'm also subscribed to CR. I don't have any issues paying for anime.
Yesterday, 6:37 AM
#7

Offline
Jul 2024
8589
Of course.. I would buy DVDs and Blu-rays and download content from Crunchyroll and then I'd then sell bootleg Blu-ray and DVDs out of a penthouse basement. pirated anime, manga, and games, but i wouldn’t stop there. I would torrent Crunchyroll content just so my Mal buddies can avoid paying for them . I’d even pirate snacks if they came in “premium edition” packaging.
Yesterday, 6:44 AM
#8
Offline
Oct 2014
213
Yes, I have better things to spend money on.
Yesterday, 6:52 AM
#9

Online
Apr 2026
204
Reply to RainyEvenings
Of course.. I would buy DVDs and Blu-rays and download content from Crunchyroll and then I'd then sell bootleg Blu-ray and DVDs out of a penthouse basement. pirated anime, manga, and games, but i wouldn’t stop there. I would torrent Crunchyroll content just so my Mal buddies can avoid paying for them . I’d even pirate snacks if they came in “premium edition” packaging.
@RainyEvenings I am Officer Mikoto of the FBI, I am placing you under arrest for violation of anti-piracy laws. What you just said will be admitted into evidence against you in a court of law. You now have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you can not afford one, an over-stressed, overworked, and underpaid public attorney will be provided to you.


What have I done?!
It's too late for me now.
I guess I won't be the sane
level 5 of Academy City anymore.

Yesterday, 6:56 AM

Offline
Dec 2021
158
Yup, you got me. You're a greater anime appreciator than I am, if it's based on subscription services or stacking your shelves with this stuff. I wouldn't even be here if I had to pay a penny to watch anime. I can't remember the last thing anime-related I bought. Must have been a DVD from many, many years ago. I've seen a few users on here who show off their old anime boxsets and merchandise, but it just collects dust, and I'd have already sold it on eBay. Glad to see commenters in here saying they'd go paypig and distribute the means of viewing to us non-paypiggies.
Yesterday, 7:09 AM

Offline
Jul 2022
152
I am collecting the classic, classic stuff like Ideon,Great Mazinger,Grendizer,pierrot magical girl and Heidi are worth paying for. Seasonal rom-com and Isekai is a big no.
Yesterday, 7:14 AM
Photojournalist

Offline
Apr 2007
708
Well of course. Hell, that's the only way I watch anime since I want more dubs and at least some money going to the studio/creator and none of that is possible by pirating. The exception is Hulu/Disney, they don't license enough anime to justify a subscription - I just pirate their stuff.
Yesterday, 7:23 AM

Offline
Feb 2024
1097
"Maybe" temporarily (depending on the amount). But once I get a stable job, I'd resume enthusiastically.
Yesterday, 7:26 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to Dark_Mikoto
Happily, that is exactly how I watch my anime. Crunchyroll for watching new anime and my physical media collection for re-watching older anime. So, I am not impacted whatsoever by any sudden disappearances of unofficial sources. If hypothetically speaking, a server of an unofficial source burned down, not a problem! I can continue to watch my anime uninterrupted.
@Dark_Mikoto
The best way to do it.
Unless your house burns down but I think there's a higher chance of another data center burning down first. lol
Yesterday, 7:27 AM

Offline
Dec 2008
940
I already pay a subscription to a streaming site. I still end up watching most of my anime elsewhere for free though because I am lazy.
Yesterday, 7:27 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to SPTLayzner
I am collecting the classic, classic stuff like Ideon,Great Mazinger,Grendizer,pierrot magical girl and Heidi are worth paying for. Seasonal rom-com and Isekai is a big no.
@SPTLayzner
Are you getting the L-Gaim blu-ray release that's about to come out?
Yesterday, 7:31 AM

Offline
Dec 2020
2072
I mean, Crunchyroll is not that expensive. The platform may be shit but if I had no option but to pay I would. I don't pay for it right now because my cousin shares his account. And either way we are already paying Netflix and Disney+ so if an anime is released there I'm already paying for it.
"Those words are meant for those that dare defy god's final warning... An epigraph of their stubbornness"
- Maho Hiyajo (Steins;Gate 0)
Yesterday, 7:37 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to Gsarthotegga
Yup, you got me. You're a greater anime appreciator than I am, if it's based on subscription services or stacking your shelves with this stuff. I wouldn't even be here if I had to pay a penny to watch anime. I can't remember the last thing anime-related I bought. Must have been a DVD from many, many years ago. I've seen a few users on here who show off their old anime boxsets and merchandise, but it just collects dust, and I'd have already sold it on eBay. Glad to see commenters in here saying they'd go paypig and distribute the means of viewing to us non-paypiggies.
@Gsarthotegga
I like having my own little data center with uninterrupted anime watching plus having physical anime boxsets and disks is better than just having a mal list and harddrive. ;)
PS. You can do some dusting it wont hurt you.
Yesterday, 7:45 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to Saku_k
I already pay a subscription to a streaming site. I still end up watching most of my anime elsewhere for free though because I am lazy.
@Saku_k
Why because it is easier or just the stuff isn't available?
Yesterday, 7:49 AM

Offline
Nov 2025
703
I think you've been hanging out with Colourwheel too much. Is this gonna be a daily thing now? Shaming the pirates in new and creative ways?
Yesterday, 7:49 AM

Offline
Aug 2018
58
i mean, it's in my future plans that when i can afford to pay, i will happilly do that
Yesterday, 7:53 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to OhNoAFanOfTouhou
I think you've been hanging out with Colourwheel too much. Is this gonna be a daily thing now? Shaming the pirates in new and creative ways?
@OhNoAFanOfTouhou
Well its better than boobs and ass threads. Unless you are into that.
Yesterday, 7:57 AM

Offline
Oct 2018
5854
Brazil is a country where piracy has always been the norm, but when Netflix and Spotfy first released here, with good content and fair price, the piracy dropped and people started to legally afford for their things. Now Netflix has become shit and TV shows and movies piracy is growing again.

I would gladly pay for a good service at a fair price, but the companies are not willing to give it to me.
If you're a fanboy, please don't waste my time.

Watch more movies, please.

Perhaps, this is hell.
Yesterday, 7:58 AM

Online
Jan 2010
298
I'm ok with the price I'm paying currently. But how high would prices climb, if paid subscription were the only option?
Yesterday, 7:59 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to Phosphophyllita
Brazil is a country where piracy has always been the norm, but when Netflix and Spotfy first released here, with good content and fair price, the piracy dropped and people started to legally afford for their things. Now Netflix has become shit and TV shows and movies piracy is growing again.

I would gladly pay for a good service at a fair price, but the companies are not willing to give it to me.
@Phosphophyllita
What happened did the price skyrocket or something?
Yesterday, 8:02 AM

Offline
Nov 2025
703
Reply to Azulmagia88
@OhNoAFanOfTouhou
Well its better than boobs and ass threads. Unless you are into that.
@Azulmagia88
Azulmagia88 said:
Well its better than boobs and ass threads.
Well I respectfully disagree, good sir.
Yesterday, 8:03 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to zitronentee
I'm ok with the price I'm paying currently. But how high would prices climb, if paid subscription were the only option?
@zitronentee
Good question and I am guessing maybe double what they are right now at the most. Which still wouldn't be that bad if the library got even more shows.
Although that would depend on whos asking.
Yesterday, 8:14 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to OhNoAFanOfTouhou
@Azulmagia88
Azulmagia88 said:
Well its better than boobs and ass threads.
Well I respectfully disagree, good sir.
@OhNoAFanOfTouhou
I was going to do something of that nature but I changed it to 'What are your favorite Spaceships in Anime?' which is a cooler and more manly topic than ass and boobs.
Yesterday, 8:14 AM

Offline
Dec 2021
158
Reply to Azulmagia88
@Gsarthotegga
I like having my own little data center with uninterrupted anime watching plus having physical anime boxsets and disks is better than just having a mal list and harddrive. ;)
PS. You can do some dusting it wont hurt you.
@Azulmagia88 I used to have a lot of DVDs but ended up finding them inconvenient because of space and it made more sense to me to have a file on the comp instead. I already have lots of books to dust, and I had to make space for more books, so no discs. No posters, no figurines, no anime pillow, etc. I'm curious how dedicated you are on this. Do you not pirate anything at all, or maybe certain things on occasion? Or maybe subscription service + buying select sets that you like + no pirating?
Yesterday, 8:14 AM

Online
Apr 2026
204
Reply to Azulmagia88
@Dark_Mikoto
The best way to do it.
Unless your house burns down but I think there's a higher chance of another data center burning down first. lol
@Azulmagia88 Oh no, no no no! NOT MY COLLECTION! No house fires please! What do I save first? My VHS tapes no longer made? The DVDs that are out of print? AHH I DON'T KNOW WHICH TO SAVE! NOOO! MY PRECIOUS COLLECTION!
Dark_MikotoYesterday, 8:27 AM


What have I done?!
It's too late for me now.
I guess I won't be the sane
level 5 of Academy City anymore.

Yesterday, 8:20 AM

Online
Nov 2011
6716
i pretty much only watch anime on legal streams these days anyway, so i guess this doesn't affect me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
You can buy lossless digital music from your favorite Japanese artists on https://ototoy.jp/.
The songs are all DRM-free and you can re-download your purchased albums as you wish.
Show your support to your favorite artist if you can!
ps. if you are looking for Japanese albums, you have to search it in Japanese (not romaji). Just copy and paste the name.

For those who want to learn Japanese through anime
Resources for learning the language
Yesterday, 8:22 AM

Offline
May 2025
76
I don't really watch anime now, but I would probably end up buying a few series I already like so I could enjoy rewatching them without paying for subscriptions.

I have a question for the people making those topics in the screenshot though. If you care so, SO much about increasing the size of your list, why not just lie? It would be faster than watching at 2x speed, and you might just enjoy the anime you end up watching more when you're not rushing to the next one. I think it's good that making a list can motivate people, but if you're just watching to press the complete button, you might as well read a synopsis to increase efficiency. Do you do it so you can take pride in having a big list?

I personally don't lie in my lists btw, unless it's funny.
Yesterday, 8:23 AM

Offline
Dec 2018
2089
It depends on if I have enough time to consistently watch anime, which I don't as of right now, and also what anime they have. I don't think the OG Major is on any legal streaming services.

Apparently Pluto tv is a legal option if you want to watch anime for free and they do have Sailor Moon on it.



Yesterday, 8:27 AM
Offline
Feb 2025
1749
Azulmagia88 said:
subscriptions or buying Blu-rays/DVDs

For the record, these aren't the only paid options for legal anime access. You can purchase access to stream individual shows on platforms like YouTube and Amazon. No subscription required. Most people don't do this because they can become unavailable after purchase on rare occasions, but it's still an option that is worth considering.
Yesterday, 8:45 AM

Offline
Oct 2016
3521
If there was no other option than paying? Yep, absolutely, that's as far as I'd go with anime. Would move to something else, like music or something Idk.

I mean you'll never take me Shueisha!
CaptainKenshiroYesterday, 8:50 AM
Yesterday, 8:56 AM
Tsumi To Kisei

Offline
Nov 2021
350
I'm serious, if there was a site with ALL the anime made, I would gladly pay,
but until one exists (impossible that one will ever exist) it's not worth paying at all
but if you put me in a situation like that I will pay :( lol
Yesterday, 9:40 AM
Offline
May 2011
1307
I already pay for it and I don’t mind
Yesterday, 9:45 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to nanisukoshi
I don't really watch anime now, but I would probably end up buying a few series I already like so I could enjoy rewatching them without paying for subscriptions.

I have a question for the people making those topics in the screenshot though. If you care so, SO much about increasing the size of your list, why not just lie? It would be faster than watching at 2x speed, and you might just enjoy the anime you end up watching more when you're not rushing to the next one. I think it's good that making a list can motivate people, but if you're just watching to press the complete button, you might as well read a synopsis to increase efficiency. Do you do it so you can take pride in having a big list?

I personally don't lie in my lists btw, unless it's funny.
@nanisukoshi
Those aren't real topics or people in the screenshot I just put those there to poke fun at mal users.
Yesterday, 9:51 AM
Offline
Mar 2025
1867
I alway do, when I go to cinema with frends...
Sometimes it costs 50-60 euros, sometimes 150-200 euros...
but we are with frends, and fucking hell - the cosplay team is there also...
So in that cases, we all pay for anime...
And I think if we have anime club in the city - thay should make anime show in cinema,
me - will happily watch whole My hero Academia on wide screen with popcorn und otaku fellows...
Yesterday, 9:53 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to Gsarthotegga
@Azulmagia88 I used to have a lot of DVDs but ended up finding them inconvenient because of space and it made more sense to me to have a file on the comp instead. I already have lots of books to dust, and I had to make space for more books, so no discs. No posters, no figurines, no anime pillow, etc. I'm curious how dedicated you are on this. Do you not pirate anything at all, or maybe certain things on occasion? Or maybe subscription service + buying select sets that you like + no pirating?
@Gsarthotegga
No I do a bit of that for some stuff because you either have to or just forget about it but most stuff is available legally.
I have only watched 4 shows this year using a shady site and the rest with crunchyroll and physical sets.
Yesterday, 9:53 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to valico
Azulmagia88 said:
subscriptions or buying Blu-rays/DVDs

For the record, these aren't the only paid options for legal anime access. You can purchase access to stream individual shows on platforms like YouTube and Amazon. No subscription required. Most people don't do this because they can become unavailable after purchase on rare occasions, but it's still an option that is worth considering.
@valico
To be honest I had no idea you could do that. I don't use either of those.
Yesterday, 10:03 AM
Offline
Apr 2023
526
If the price is about 50% of the minimum legal hourly wage in my country, like it is for Americans, then why not? In reality, it's too expensive for me. I don't like anime that much and the amount of what I've already seen is completely satisfactory to me too, so i may leave without regrets)
Yesterday, 10:04 AM

Offline
Sep 2016
26870
Probably, for the most part at least.
*kappa*
Yesterday, 10:05 AM

Offline
Apr 2026
305
Reply to DarkFirefly72
I mean, Crunchyroll is not that expensive. The platform may be shit but if I had no option but to pay I would. I don't pay for it right now because my cousin shares his account. And either way we are already paying Netflix and Disney+ so if an anime is released there I'm already paying for it.
@DarkFirefly72
What do you not like about Crunchyroll? Is it not having the shows you want to watch or something else with the service?
Yesterday, 10:20 AM

Offline
Oct 2017
3856
Considering that right now I physically can't afford many official options, I would probably stop altogether. I already started watching significantly less when Crunchyroll got rid of the "free with ads" option, but having no unofficial option would kill the hobby for me as a broke-ass college student who gets Blu Rays and DVDs only on special occasions due to struggling to find employment. Even if I was employed I probably wouldn't subscribe to Crunchyroll as I think their streaming service is kind of shit and would rather put that capital towards physical ownership due to higher bitrates and not having to worry about it being pulled from streaming or some shit.
This post is brought to you by your local transfem gamer goblin. Will not tolerate bigotry and will fight against "anti-woke" sentiment to make the anime community a safer place.

Yesterday, 10:21 AM

Offline
Jul 2014
878
I would for sure, but of course probably in a more limited capacity. I'd also hope that streaming services would get better and also get the licenses for the series that are only available through pirated means.
"Most anime makers are basically autistic" - Hideaki Anno
Yesterday, 10:26 AM

Offline
Oct 2014
16113
Would anime actually be available, though, or would legal services understand their oligopoly and control what anime are allowed to be watched and in what way? No longer having to compete with pirate sites means that they don't have to show you any anime that don't fit with their narrative, you can't cross reference more accurate translations from fansubbers, they can release anime at their own leisure because they won't lose viewers by stalling, which service gets which license will probably become more chaotic since if season 1 and 3 are on one site you can't just pirate to fill in the gaps, so sharing series between competitors becomes economically advantageous. Sounds like hell. I'd probably just switch to manga.

Most of my favourite anime aren't available legally, and they're series that don't have enough of an audience for it to be worth it for legal outlets to license them. Also, what about anime that were already free? There's lots of anime released on Youtube and Bilibili for free. Would you need the premium subscription to watch those too or would they be grandfathered in as free content?

If there was a site that had all the anime, and fansubbers could even post their fansubs there and get paid for contributing, but it had a reasonable subscription fee like $15/month for HD and no ads I wouldn't mind that. We all know that's not happening, though. If piracy is taken out of the equation then legal sites will get worse because they're no longer being kept in check.
zombie_pegasusYesterday, 10:36 AM
Yesterday, 10:33 AM

Offline
Mar 2026
11
Depends, if every paid site is lacking hundreds of anime titles, rather they be new or old, that would deter me from continuing to subscribe
. Also, if they have shows, but I know there is a dub for that show, yet they don't have it for whatever reason, I'd also likely be irritated enough to cancel the subscription
.
Yesterday, 10:34 AM

Offline
Mar 2026
11
Reply to zombie_pegasus
Would anime actually be available, though, or would legal services understand their oligopoly and control what anime are allowed to be watched and in what way? No longer having to compete with pirate sites means that they don't have to show you any anime that don't fit with their narrative, you can't cross reference more accurate translations from fansubbers, they can release anime at their own leisure because they won't lose viewers by stalling, which service gets which license will probably become more chaotic since if season 1 and 3 are on one site you can't just pirate to fill in the gaps, so sharing series between competitors becomes economically advantageous. Sounds like hell. I'd probably just switch to manga.

Most of my favourite anime aren't available legally, and they're series that don't have enough of an audience for it to be worth it for legal outlets to license them. Also, what about anime that were already free? There's lots of anime released on Youtube and Bilibili for free. Would you need the premium subscription to watch those too or would they be grandfathered in as free content?

If there was a site that had all the anime, and fansubbers could even post their fansubs there and get paid for contributing, but it had a reasonable subscription fee like $15/month for HD and no ads I wouldn't mind that. We all know that's not happening, though. If piracy is taken out of the equation then legal sites will get worse because they're no longer being kept in check.
@zombie_pegasus Basically what I was thinking, so many sites lack licenses or simply don't list certain shows.
Yesterday, 10:36 AM

Offline
Mar 2026
11
Reply to Azulmagia88
@DarkFirefly72
What do you not like about Crunchyroll? Is it not having the shows you want to watch or something else with the service?
@Azulmagia88 Amazing reason to not like it
Pages (3) [1] 2 3 »

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It’s time to ditch the text file.
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