This anime DDL site is pretty much self-explanatory, I think. Similar to sites like BleachTV, the site focuses completely on Death Note alone – providing both streaming episodes and direct download of all the episodes via Megaupload.

1) Death Note TV

• Megaupload (Free File Host) General Speed: Average
• Content: All episodes of Death Note released so far.
• Update Frequency: As Soon as a New Episode is Released.
• Video Format: .avi (HQ)
• Note: Hassle-free, i.e. registration and forum posting not required to access downloads.

This site’s grown quite a bit since we last looked at it, but it’s still primarily intended to be a distribution site for a few ongoing series.

Just downloaded the first 3 episodes of Mamoru-kun ni Megami (sounds interesting enough from the synopsis) from the site, so I thought it would be best to re-feature it given its growth.

1) Crazi-pwns-joo.com

• Speed: Above Average
• Content: Recent episodes from 7 ongoing series (e.g. Mamoru-kun ni Megami, D.Gray-Man, Kekkaishi, etc.) and 1 completed series (Zegapain).
• Update Frequency: Very Frequent
• Video Format: High Quality (HQ) file formats, e.g. .avi (HQ), .mkv (HQ), .mp4 (HQ)
• Note: Hassle-free site, i.e. no registration or forum posting required to download stuff. Has some non-kid safe stuff (e.g. Hgame CGs).

Here’s another piece of news from my e-mail backlog. There’s a new DDL-related group on Yahoo! Groups called Anime-Sharing [A-S], and it seems to be one of the more active ones this year.

Last year, one of the more active ones I paid attention to was Anime Hosterz – which seems to somewhat be in idle mode this year.

FYI, these groups primarily focus on sharing anime uploaded to free file hosts such as Megaupload, though uploading is not a prerequisite to gain access. Nevertheless, if you have good upload speeds, it’s always nice to contribute back to the group – just like in any anime forum really.

Also note that Anime-Sharing has a wiki, through which anime links posted to the group are listed. This is unlike Anime Hosterz which primarily utilises Yahoo! Groups’ in-built link listing system.

1) Anime-Sharing [A-S]

• Megaupload (Free File Host) Speed: Unknown
• Free File Host Content: 90+ completed (e.g. Aishiteruze Baby, Chrno Crusade, Shakuga no Shana, etc.) and 15+ ongoing anime series (e.g. Air Gear, Saiunkoku Monogatari, Naruto, etc.), as well as 5+ movies (e.g. Blood, Full Metal Alchemist, etc.) and 5+ OVAs (e.g. Prince of Tennis National Championship, Hoi Hoi San, etc.). Also has some manga, drama and anime/JPop music.
• Update Frequency: Frequent
• Video Format: .avi (HQ)
• Note: You’ll need to register for a Yahoo! account to gain access to the individual anime sharing groups. Application for membership into the various groups after getting a Yahoo! account is normally approved automatically (after a CAPTCHA of course). The site only uses free file hosts, i.e. they do not have their own media server.

Update: A-S isn’t new considering that posting activity started in April 2005. My mistake here.

Two anime direct download sites/forums, Shareparadise (coverage here) and HSB Site (review here), are currently testing a script that generates premium Megaupload links for any normal Megaupload link you input into it.

This means that you’ll get the full advantages of a Megaupload Premium account (which you normally have to pay for) for free if you’re a member of one of these two sites (and are from a few select countries, see below). Yes, that’s resume support, multiple download connections, no downloader limits and faster speeds.

Currently, they are making this available to members from a few countries, i.e. United States, United Kingdom and Australia, and are also having some limited tests with Malaysians (not completely sure here, so feel free to correct me). So, if you’re interested, join one of these anime direct download sites/forums, and refer to the appropriate threads.

P.S.: HSB Site seems to be down, so I’ve only linked to the Shareparadise thread on this. If and when HSB Site comes up, I’ll make an update. Moreover, it’s likely you have to be an active member be given access to this script. Last but not least, the two sites are not hacking Megaupload, but are actually paying for accounts.

Update: Apparently, the programme has been expanded to include the Netherlands as well.

Disclaimer: I was alerted to this test by Shareparadise’s admin and given a chance to test the script out a few weeks back, but there was no specific request to feature the script or sites in question.

Like most anime direct download sites these days, AnimeSeat.com offers downloads through their own media server and through free file hosts.

Stuff on their media server can only be accessed by those who make 15 non-spam posts, while stuff on free file hosts are automatically accessible by anyone who registers.

It must be noted, however, that their free file host archive was built up by scraping from other sites like Da-Anime, rather than through their own uploaders. I highly disapprove of this behaviour, but at least, the admins did clearly state what they were doing, and attributed their content to the true uploaders (unlike some sites). There is still need to link back to the original site though, which they have not yet done.

1) AnimeSeat.com

• Media Server Speed: Unknown (making 15 posts… urgh…)
• Media Server Content: There’s supposed to be several completed series (e.g. Chobits, Full Metal Alchemist, Hunter x Hunter, etc.), but I can only confirm the existence of Hunter x Hunter.
• Posts Required to Access Downloads: 15 posts for media server content, none for free file host content.
• Posts Required Per Download: None
• Free File Host Content: 1 ongoing (Eureka 7) and 15 completed (e.g. Chrno Crusade, s-cry-ed, Shaman King, etc.) anime series.
• Update Frequency: Average
• Media Server Video Format: .rm (LQ to MQ)
• Free File Hosts Video Format: .avi (HQ)
• Note: Free registration required (e-mail confirmation not required). Forum posting is required to download from the site’s own media server, but not for free file host content.

Can someone point to me any real differences between AnimePremium and AnimePrivate (both pay-for-use anime direct download sites)?

Invitations to both have appeared by email from the same person, i.e. the owner of AnimeUpload – which both sites are affilated to. Both are hosting mostly the same anime (read their download lists from top to bottom, and you’ll see what I mean). Both seem to be using the same underlying content management system (check the path names). And both seem to have the same template style. Heck, both charge the same monthly fees.

I would go so far to say that both might be hosting anime on the same servers, and are merely two fronts for the same service. If this is true, then it’s darn “weird” that AnimePrivate has discounted long-term pricing plans (6-months and above) which AnimePremium does not. And I’m barely even scratching the surface here.

Or am I just damn paranoid (because nameservers and contact information on WHOIS seem to be widely different)?

Here’s some stuff that kept me in the loop for the past week or so:

1. Akagi First Impressions
   Ahh… someone who has discovered the uberness of Akagi. Reminds me that I should restart blogging on the series since it has entered a new arc (ep. 8/9) – which BTW seems to be suggesting that Akagi’s crazy skills could actually be more outrageous than we’ve seen so far.
2. The 5 Loli-Sister Collection
   Who in the world can withstand the “insidious whisperings of the Dark-Loli-Siscon-Overlord”? Surely not me…
3. Death Note Movie Out in Japan
   This piece of news would surely be more interesting if I had gotten past Volume 3. Probably time for a restart (urghh, should kill this word from my vocab soon…).

Here’s some stuff that kept me awake yesterday and today:

1. Kamisama Kazoku: Ep. 1
   Looks interesting enough. When I first read the summary, it felt just a bit like Ueki no Housoku (main char’s a Heavenly Being, a bum of sorts, has a female sidekick that cares a lot, and there’s a Tenko), but it’s actually more of a Shuffle lookalike – though much crazier. Pity I’ll most likely have to BT through this for now.
2. Yuribou Celebrates Its First Month
   Got introduced to this blog through a post at Wakaranai. Yuri, yuri, and more yuri. Always good in my book.
3. Anime Aggregators: Why They Exist (a.k.a. Aggregation Aggravation)
   James over at Anime My Ass summarises the anime aggregator issue – highlighting the bitterness some anime bloggers are feeling over being rejected entry from Blogsuki. and arguing that such aggregators actually exist to build a community (rather than build your traffic stats).

   Eeeks. Let’s just say I didn’t expect to see the same sort of inclusion/exclusion crap I have to wade through when I blog elsewhere. I’d say the overall aim of anime aggregators like Blogsuki are clear, and the rules for entry are even clearer. Heck, I know I no longer meet the requirements for entry to aggregators like Blogsuki since I blog so much on anime DDL sites that I barely even blog on anime itself these days (darn, a good reminder!). That’s why I didn’t even apply for entry when I met the 6 month-in-existence requirement (it’s been upped to a year I’m told).

   IMHO, it’s important to understand the purpose of things, which in this case, is the purpose of anime aggregators, as well as the purpose of your anime blog. Of course, this doesn’t mean I don’t understand the meaning of elitism or preferentialism (this word doesn’t exist, does it?), but neither is innately (or rather, completely) wrong even if some aggregators do practice either of these.

P.S.: Sorry for the rant. The paragraphs just started coming… Oh yes, I sounded like quite the arse in the last few paragraphs. I apologise if you were offended.