The popularity of Popcorn Time meant that it was only a matter of time before similar projects started popping up, and Waifu is a great example of one. The app aims to clone the functionality offered by Popcorn Time, but aimed in a slightly different, more tightly specialized direction – anime shows. The app focuses on anime entirely, so fans of Japanese animated films should be able to find everything they need in one centralized location with the help of Waifu.
The app still has the same potential issues like its predecessor Popcorn Time, however – users should be wary of any piracy laws in their respective countries that they might be violating. Waifu seems to work on the same principle as Popcorn Time, so it can potentially leave users vulnerable to organizations tracking them for piracy use.
On the other hand, according to some experts, Waifu could be a slightly safer alternative to regular torrents, because its streams may not be monitored as much as the torrents for the respective shows. Still, most organizations that track the Internet for piracy tend to have a very broad approach when choosing their targets, so it’s not clear how much this would help users to avoid being caught.
Waifu has been getting lots of positive recognition ever since it was released, as the app has taken the best of Popcorn Time and evolved the concept even further, with a smooth, intuitive interface and a great selection of shows that stream at good speeds all over the world. Shows come with a lot of detailed information about them, so the application can be perfect for those who’re looking to explore new anime, not just those watching their favorite shows they’re already familiar with.
The only downside that has been pointed out by users is the lack of any controls for the download and upload speed. The app is based on a torrent protocol, but at the same time it doesn’t give users any control over their rates, which can be problematic for those with slower connections. At the same time, some users might want to control how much they upload – if anything – in order to avoid getting hit with a heftier fine should they get caught. This is also not currently possible with the latest version of Waifu, although considering how much support the app has been getting, features like this might get implemented in the future. Waifu still has a long development path to go through, but the app has a huge potential and it could easily become the central streaming location for anime in the future, unless it gets hit by law enforcement (something which is not that unlikely, given the history of Popcorn Time and similar apps).