Just like Oz-Anime, AnimeA serves anime episodes through two channels: Its own media server and free file hosts.

While downloads hosted on free file hosts are completely hassle-free, AnimeA requires you to garner points for every download on its own media server. Interestingly, there are three distinct methods you can use to accumulate those points, rather than just forum posting (and therefore, the site/forum label).

One way is the conventional forum posting method, where you get 1 media server download for every two (one) post. The second way is to add free file host links to their database. For every link you add, you get 1 download on their media server. The last, but definitely not least method is to send traffic to AnimeA. This ingenious creation rewards you with one download for every 5 unique visitors (per 24 hours) you send to AnimeA (they have to click a personalised link which will be automatically generated for you when you want it).

This does mean, however, that it will be necessary to mark links to the site with an indicator that it is an “affiliate”-style link - just like how bloggers practicing affiliate marketing should mark their links with something like (aff) for products they are promoting. Of course, I could be thinking too much, so let’s jump straight to the real stuff:

1) AnimeA (aff until I get 1 download to test server speeds and whether or not this system actually works) (aff removed)

• Media Server Speed: Unknown, but should be updated soon. Quite Fast
• Media Server Content: 11 completed anime series (e.g. Elfen Lied, Gokusen, Kiddy Grade, Love Love, etc.)
• Free File Host Content: Around 135 anime series (e.g. Azumanga Daioh, Ayashi no Ceres, etc.) and movies (e.g. Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust, etc.).
• Update Frequency: Low (for Media Server) or Frequent (for Free File Hosts)
• Video Format: .avi (HQ) or .rmvb (LQ to MQ)
• Note: Free registration required to access media server, but hassle-free for anime on free file hosts. Points also have to be earnt in order to download from the media server, but you have three ways to do this. One: Two One forum post for 1 download. Two: Add 1 free file host link for 1 download. Three: Send 5 visitors for 1 download. Please note that this only applies for the anime on their media server, not on free file hosts.

It was in November last year when Sushi Bar Network was first profiled here, so it is high time for an update - especially since they’ve started serving not only older, completed anime, but also the latest ongoing ones (thanks to Shareparadise for the tip).

Download speeds are much faster than when profiled before. And given its frequent updating, it’s now an excellent source for the latest episodes from recent fansubs (which you can use as a complement for the other good sites for latest fansubs, e.g. National-Anime and Anime-Treasures).

1) Sushi Bar Network

• Media Server Speed: Quite Fast
• Media Server Content: Recent episodes from many ongoing anime series (e.g. Princess Princess, Jyu Oh Sei, etc.), as well as 46+ completed anime series (e.g. Ai Yori Aoshi, Full Metal Panic, Galaxy Angel Season 1-4, etc.) and movies (e.g. Ah My Goddess, FF7 Advent Children, etc.).
• Update Frequency: Frequent
• Video Format: .avi (HQ)
• Note: Free registration required (e-mail confirmation not required). Forum posting not required to access downloads. Restricted to one connection at a time.

Here’s an anime direct download site that uses both its own media server and free file hosts (e.g. Megaupload, Sendspace, etc.) to channel anime to the public.

Its own media server is named “#oz server 1 - ddl”, while free file host servers are grouped under “#oz server 2 - ddl redict!”

1) Oz-Anime.com

• Media Server Speed: Quite Fast
• Media Server Content: 2 ongoing anime series (i.e. Ouran High School Host Club and Bleach), and 7 anime movies (e.g. Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers, etc.).
• Free File Host Content: 20+ completed anime series (e.g. Berserk, Hellsing, Samurai Champloo, etc.), plus several OVAs (e.g. Ah My Goddess, etc.) and movies (e.g. Naruto, etc.)
• Update Frequency: Quite Frequent
• Video Format: .avi (HQ) or .rmvb (LQ to MQ)
• Note: Hassle-free site, i.e. no registration or forum posting required to access downloads. Some anime episodes have been compressed using the .rar format, so you’ll need something like WinRar or StuffIt Expander to uncompress them after you finish downloading them.

Yakitate Japan is your standard “born tensai (genius) in something -> wants to become best in that something -> plot revolves around the development of said genius -> genius rarely, if ever, loses -> genius has really l33t and mad (literally) skillz” anime series a.k.a. shounen anime. If you really need a prominent comparison, I’d say Prince of Tennis comes close.

Here are a couple of examples of what I mean:

Yep. Natural super-heated hands hot enough to allow you to knead even goddamn hard dough and ensure that our precious yeast stay active. Don’t worry, Blizzard Hands exist too.

I doubt you need any commentary on that.

Yet, despite the seemingly derisive stuff I’m saying about Yakitate Japan and unlike many shounen anime, you’ll find that it’s really some funny stuff (yep, besides the crazy techniques). But before we progress to even more rolling-on-floor laughter, let’s look at our plot.
(more…)

Just Another Anime Direct Download Site™ (no negative connotation intended).

On hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have used the statement above because Anime Eden isn’t exactly normal. For one, it requires you to use Internet Explorer to download their anime episodes. Secondly, all episodes are zipped - so they’ll have to be uncompressed upon download completion. Thirdly, download accelerators can’t be used (tested with Getright Pro and Net Transport)

But other than these three quirks, the site is solid. Download speeds were good for me.

1. Anime Eden

• Speed: Quite Fast
• Content: 19 ongoing (e.g. Black Lagoon, Ergo Proxy, etc.) and completed (e.g. Gundam Seed Destiny, Cowboy Bebop, etc.) anime series.
• Update Frequency: Above Average
• Video Format: .avi (HQ)
• Note: Free registration required (e-mail confirmation not required). Use of Internet Explorer required to download anime episodes. Episodes are compressed into .zip files. Download accelerators cannot be used.

The post title might actually be a wee bit misleading since most of the posts I’ve titled with “Anime Direct Download Forum” have concerned direct download sites that have a minimum forum post requirement before allowing you to download.

In TriniTaku’s case, its admins have decided to scrap the minimum post requirement, as well as the free registration requirement until further notice. So, this means TriniTaku is now completely hassle-free.

Better enjoy it for now since I’m not sure how long this will last.

1. TriniTaku

• Speed: Quite Fast
• Posts Required to Access Downloads: 30 posts.
• Content: About 40 ongoing (e.g. Air Gear, Black Lagoon, Ergo Proxy, etc.) and completed (e.g. Mai-Otome, Fate-Stay Night, Karin, etc.) anime series.
• Update Frequency: Above Average
• Video Format: .rmvb (LQ to MQ)
• Note: Hassle-free site, i.e. no registration or forum posting required to access downloads. Only donators get .avi (HQ) downloads, the rest get re-encoded .rmvb files which still look pretty good.
• Warning: Not completely kid-safe since TriniTaku also provides hentai anime and manga. But they are placed under a separate section, so it should be okay.

A pretty much standard anime direct download site here, though slightly thin on their public media. It seems to be pretty fast during non-peak hours though.

1) Anime Seal Network

• Speed: Quite Fast
• Content: Episodes from three anime series (i.e. Law of Ueki, Naruto, and Beck)
• Update Frequency: Unknown
• Video Format: avi (HQ)
• Note: Free registration required (e-mail confirmation not required). Forum posting not required. Paid VIP section available, but it’s strictly optional.

Despite its name, Inuyasha’s Forest provides more than just Inuyasha. And ironically, while it seems to provide about 100 different anime series and movies, it does not serve the Inuyasha anime series, but only the movies.

Please also note that there’s a lot of uncertainty about the “facts” I’m about to list here since I can’t seem to find much info without making the required 30 forum posts to gain download access. For example, I’m not sure whether Inuyasha’s Forest has their own media server or not since there are no solid hints towards either answer.

1. Inuyasha’s Forest

• Speed: Unknown (Didn’t want to take the time to make 30 non-spam forum posts just to get download access…)
• Posts Required to Access Downloads: 30 posts.
• Content: About 100 complete anime series and movies (e.g. Air, Berserk, Blue Seed, etc.)
• Update Frequency: Unknown
• Video Format: .rmvb [LQ to MQ] and .avi [HQ] (not exactly sure, based on some forum comments only)
• Note: Requires free registration and 30 non-spam forum posts to access downloads. Uses free file hosts for many of the anime series provided.

P.S: If you happen to be a member or admin of Inuyasha’s Forest, I would be grateful if you clarified some of the stuff I’m unclear of. Thanks in advance.