Why Popular Anime/Manga Sites Get Taken Down And Tricks To keep Your Bookmarks Safe
Following the recent removal of popular manga reading site Comick, many fans are frustrated with their favorite anime/manga sites being removed after they had dedicated so much of their efforts into customizing them with to their liking. All those bookmarks and listing disappearing in an instant. Fear not, here’s some explanations on why this shit happens and what precautions you should take for a scenario as such.
Why Popular Anime/Manga Sites Get Taken Down
- They’re breaking the law
- Anime and manga belong to companies. Uploading or sharing them without permission is illegal.
- The bigger the site gets, the more money the companies lose, so they notice it faster.
- Legal warnings (DMCA)
- Companies can send a legal notice called a DMCA takedown.
- This tells the site, their servers, or search engines: “Stop sharing this content or we’ll sue.”
- Hosting and money problems
- Big sites need servers and ads to keep running.
- Hosting companies and advertisers don’t want to get in trouble, so they might stop working with illegal sites.
- Too popular = too visible
- Small sites can hide for a while.
- Once they’re popular, legal teams from around the world notice and act.
- Extra dangers
- Big illegal sites often have bad ads or malware.
- This gives another reason for authorities to shut them down.
Tricks to keep your bookmarks, watchlists, and reading lists safe in case an anime/manga site suddenly disappears
1. Use a Bookmark Backup
- Regularly export your browser bookmarks (Chrome/Firefox/Edge all have this option).
- Save them somewhere safe like Google Drive, Dropbox, or even a USB.
- That way, even if the site dies, you still have the URLs saved.
2. Use a Watchlist Manager App
- Tools like AniList, MyAnimeList (MAL), Kitsu let you track anime/manga independently of the streaming site.
- You can mark episodes/manga chapters you’ve watched or read.
- Even if the original site vanishes, your list is safe and portable.
3. Download for Offline Use
- If the site offers download options, use them.
- Offline copies let you keep watching without relying on the site staying up.
4. Screenshot or Export Lists
- Some sites allow you to export your library. If not, take screenshots of your watchlists.
- It’s low-tech but works in a pinch.
5. Keep Track of Series Names
- Maintain a simple text file or note app with the exact names of anime/manga you’re watching.
- Even if the site disappears, you can quickly find another legal source or track progress in your watchlist manager.
6. RSS Feeds / Alerts
- Some manga/anime sites have RSS feeds or update alerts.
- Subscribe via a reader app to get notified of new chapters/episodes. If the site shuts down, you still have a record of your subscriptions.
Pro tip: Combine #2 and #5 — use a watchlist manager AND a backup text file. That way, your progress is always recoverable. Also, maybe consider keeping that well-utilizable, user-friendly site a secret from your online friends, so as not to make it a bit too popular.
