While millions of users benefited from KissAnime's "free" content, the cost to the anime industry was staggering. Experts and anti-piracy organizations have estimated that piracy causes billions of dollars in losses annually, money that is crucial for the survival and growth of the industry. This financial drain directly impacts the livelihoods of everyone involved in the creation of anime, from the a-list voice actors to the low-paid animators.
The anime industry in Japan is notorious for its challenging work conditions. Animators often work long, grueling hours for a meager salary. The revenue from legal streaming services, home media sales, and merchandise is what funds new projects, pays the artists, and allows studios to invest in new technology.
When a site like KissAnime siphons off millions of views, it starves the industry of this vital revenue. It creates a vicious cycle where a lack of funding leads to rushed productions and burnout, which in turn can lower the quality of the content and make it less appealing to a paying audience. The argument that piracy is a form of "free advertising" falls apart when one considers that the content being advertised is not being compensated.
The damage extends beyond the production process. Piracy undermines the global licensing model that has fueled the anime industry's expansion. Companies pay significant amounts of money for the rights to distribute anime in specific regions. When a show is widely pirated, it devalues the license and makes it more difficult for these companies to justify their investment.
This can result in a show not being legally available in a certain region, which ironically pushes more people toward piracy. The shutdown of KissAnime, therefore, was not just about protecting copyright; it was about ensuring the long-term sustainability of an art form that is loved and cherished by millions.