It’s inevitable that most of the anime direct download sites available on the net today host only Naruto and/or Bleach. Why? Their sheer popularity. So, just bear with it when multiple DDL sites on these series are featured here.

Don’t worry. There will always be sites that serve other stuff. A first stop to discover those? Anime Field’s type-sorted list.

So, for now, here’s a site that hosts both of the series we mentioned earlier:

1) Saiyan Island

• Media Server Speed: Above Average
• Media Server Content: Recent episodes of Naruto and Bleach.
• Update Frequency: Above Average
• Video Format: .rmvb (LQ to MQ)
• Note: Hassle-free, i.e. registration and forum posting not required to access downloads.

Another Naruto direct download site here. This time, it’s one which hosts both .avi and .rmvb versions – though the .avi episodes are only available for some of the more recent episodes. And from what I can see, they only host their episodes on free file hosts, e.g. SendSpace, RapidShare, etc.

Anything else? Nope. Just check it out:

1) Naruto Bunshin

• Free File Host Speed: Unknown (too many different free file hosts used)
• Free File Host Content: All Naruto anime episodes and manga chapters.
• Update Frequency: Above Average
• Video Format: .rmvb/.mkv (multiple versions from LQ to MQ), .avi (HQ)
• Note: Free registration required to access downloads, but forum posting is not required. Optional pay-for premium downloads section available. Site only uses free file hosts, i.e. does not have their own media server.

This is one anime direct download forum implementation that feels right in my book. WelcomeOtaku.com, though requiring you to post in their forums to access most of the anime they host, still maintains a free media section which is almost hassle-free, i.e. no forum posting required to access downloads (though free registration is still required).

This way, a system to “try before you commit” yourself to posting is established, and is often a magnet for new members. After all, how many of us are willing to post and post and post without a sample of the anime downloads that await us? Not many I think.

Well, some webmasters will certainly disagree, but then, given that a number of anime forums have already embraced this concept (or something similar to it), there are certainly those who do agree as well.

1) WelcomeOtaku.com

• Media Server Speed: Average (tested on free media section only)
• Media Server Content: 54 ongoing (e.g. Innocent Venus, WitchBlade, Tsuyokiss, etc.) and 96 completed (e.g. Ai Yori Aoshi, REC, Gun X Sword, etc.) anime series, as well as 30 OVAs (e.g. One Piece, Happy Lesson, etc.) and 17 movies (e.g. Air, Cowboy Bebop, etc.).
• Posts Required to Access Downloads: None for free media section. 10 posts for ongoing series, 25 to 200 posts for completed series, 40 posts for OVAs and 50 posts for movies.
• Posts Required Per Download: None
• Update Frequency: Frequent
• Video Format: .avi (HQ), .ogm (HQ), .mp4 (HQ), .mkv (HQ)
• Note: Free registration required (e-mail confirmation required). Forum posting is required to access most of their anime. Only the free media section does not require forum posting. Hentai available, but since forum posts are required to access them (40 to 200 posts), the site remains (mostly) kid-safe.

Not to be outdone by the various Blogspot-powered anime sharing blogs around the web, similar blogs have been popping up on WordPress.com.

Latest Anime is one of them (hat tip to Gary who informed me of it via email), and a very new one at that, so don’t expect too much in terms of content just yet. As usual, the site hosts its anime on free file hosts and does not have its own server. But interestingly, the admins are primarily using Turbo Upload instead of the traditional Megaupload, Gigaone, Oxyshare offerings – though speeds still seem to be average.

1) Latest Anime

• Turbo Upload (Free File Host) Speed: Average
• Free File Host Content: 2 completed (Shakugan no Shana and Trinity Blood) and 6 ongoing anime series (e.g. Strawberry Panic, Black Blood Brothers, Bleach, etc.).
• Update Frequency: Average
• Video Format: .rmvb (LQ to MQ)
• Note: Hassle-free site, i.e. registration or forum posting not required to access downloads. The site only uses free file hosts, i.e. they do not have their own media server. Episodes are compressed as .zip files, so you’ll need software like WinZip to uncompress them.

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.

Only three ongoing series available on this anime DDL site, but it’s hassle-free and fast. Few things are more important than that when it comes to direct download sites (well… at least to me).

1) StarFreeze

• Media Server Speed: Quite Fast
• Media Server Content: 3 ongoing series (Utawarerumono, Soul Link and Demonbane).
• Update Frequency: Above Average
• Video Format: .avi (HQ)
• Note: Hassle-free, i.e. registration and forum posting not required to access downloads.