The AniWave Shutdown memes emerged in August 2024 following the sudden disappearance of several massive anime streaming sites, including AniWave (formerly 9anime), Aniwatch, and Zoroto. This massive 'purge' was the result of legal pressure from groups like the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), leaving millions of fans without their primary source for subbed and dubbed content. The memes typically utilize mournful imagery from popular series like Naruto, One Piece, or Cowboy Bebop, symbolizing the 'death' of these digital landmarks. Users use these templates to express communal frustration, joke about the inevitable 'whack-a-mole' nature of piracy, or simply pay respects to what many considered the end of a long-standing era of free anime accessibility.