Ani-May 2025: Crunchyroll Offers Free Anime, Games, and New Merch

IGN is thrilled to unveil exclusive details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration kicking off on May 1. This event promises a plethora of exciting opportunities for anime fans, including special merchandise, enticing deals, unique partnerships, and immersive experiences both in stores and online. Ani-May will feature free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more, ensuring there's something for every anime enthusiast to enjoy.

Ani-May is packed with a variety of thrilling offerings, and we're here to guide you through all the highlights so you can make the most of this celebration.

Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Chainsaw Man Lead the Selection of Free-to-Stream Anime During Ani-May

Starting May 1, Crunchyroll will offer some of the most beloved anime titles for free with ads throughout the entire month. From classics like Cowboy Bebop to modern hits like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, this is the perfect opportunity for fans to catch up on missed episodes or relive their favorite moments. All you need is a free account to enjoy the following series:

• Black Clover (Seasons 1-4)
• Chainsaw Man
• Cowboy Bebop
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (The Complete Series)
• Fruits Basket (Seasons 1-3)
• Haikyu!! (Seasons 1-4)
• Heaven Official's Blessing (Seasons 1-2)
• Hell's Paradise
• Jujutsu Kaisen (Seasons 1-2)
• Junji Ito Collection
• Kaiju No. 8
• My Hero Academia (Seasons 1-7)
• Overlord (Seasons 1-4)
• Shangri-La Frontier (Seasons 1-2)
• Solo Leveling (Season 1)
• Soul Eater
• SPY x FAMILY (Seasons 1-2)
• The Apothecary Diaries (Season 1)
• Toilet-bound Hanako-kun (Seasons 1-2)
• Tokyo Ghoul (Seasons 1-3)

Merch, Partnerships, Food, Autographs, and Other Partnerships Based on Solo Leveling, My Hero Academia, and More of Your Favorite Anime

Celebrate your love for anime with exclusive merchandise during Ani-May. Fans worldwide can get their hands on new, officially licensed items from popular series such as Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and more. The Crunchyroll Store will launch new and exclusive products, offer deals, and provide a Crunchyroll-exclusive Ani-May pin with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will focus on different product categories, including collectors' items, action/adventure titles, shonen shows, and fantasy favorites. Additionally, fans can celebrate the Anime of the Year nominees the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25.

Beyond merchandise, Ani-May will feature numerous ways to immerse yourself in anime culture, from retail and online stores to video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and more. Here's a glimpse of what to expect:

• UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible online UT purchases throughout May. UNIQLO has also partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for exclusive UTme! Collection designs at their NYC flagship locations. New York City fans can enjoy a special activation on May 18th from 1pm-5pm at UNIQLO's 5th Avenue flagship, featuring live Manga portraits by Remi.
• Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May in the US and Canada, both in-store and online, with activations and promotions, including exclusive anime merchandise.
• Best Buy will join the festivities with select products available online and in-store, including an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin with eligible purchases at select stores.
• Planet Hollywood will offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by Ani-May's featured IPs.
• Funko Pop will host an autograph signing with the English voice cast of Jujutsu Kaisen on May 3rd, alongside special Funko Hollywood Event Bundles.
• Bananya will partner with Fall Guys to release a collection of skins featuring Bananya and Droopy Eared Bananya from May 1 to May 8.
• Demon Slayer fans can prepare for the upcoming Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy with a special re-release of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train in theaters this May.

The Crunchyroll Game Vault Is Celebrating Anime With the Addition of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth and More

The Crunchyroll Game Vault is joining the Ani-May festivities by adding new titles throughout May and early June. The celebration kicks off with Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth on April 30, followed by other exciting games like Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day. Since its launch in November 2023, the Crunchyroll Game Vault has grown to over 50 titles available to Crunchyroll members at the Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers in over 200 countries.

Ani-May 2025 Home Entertainment Releases

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For fans who prefer physical copies, Ani-May will feature the Crunchyroll Store releasing a Limited Edition Blu-ray box of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1 Part 2 (pre-orders begin on May 15) and Blu-ray in SteelBook cases of Paranoia Agent and Goblin Slayer Season 1 (on sale April 30). Additionally, Crunchyroll introduces the SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal, designed to showcase four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase on May 30.

Ani-May Is a Global Party and Everyone's Invited

Crunchyroll has planned even more Ani-May celebrations around the world, ensuring that fans everywhere can participate in unique experiences centered around their favorite anime. Here's what to expect in different regions:

In Latin America

• Liverpool in Mexico will host a special meet-and-greet with select voice actors, alongside products from fan-favorite titles with in-store signage.
• Suburbia in Mexico will feature in-store signage and offer 20,000 free trial subscriptions with purchases of eligible products.
• Ani-May celebrations and activations will continue at CCXP Mexico!

In Europe (EMEA)

• Funside/Games Academy in Italy, HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium, and Cultura in France will participate with store-wide activations, exclusive merchandise, and the chance to win a VIP weekend in Paris with access to the Crunchyroll booth at Japan Expo.
• FNAC in Spain will offer a special selection of Ani-May products and a nationwide e-commerce campaign, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions for purchases over 20€.
• ANVOL will bring Ani-May to the Baltic states and the Nordics for the first time, with social media exposure and in-store branding, offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions with any Ani-May purchase.
• Little Things in the Middle East will activate in their stores in the UAE, as well as Virgin Mega Store in Dubai and ToysRUs in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
• Yatta in Poland will feature Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions for shoppers.
• Thalia and Müller in Germany and Austria will present exclusive merchandising and manga in celebration of Ani-May across numerous stores.

In Australia and New Zealand

• JB Hi-Fi in Australia will feature dedicated Ani-May end caps in stores, along with an editorial piece in the May edition of STACK Magazine.
• EB Games & Zing Pop Culture will offer a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial membership for EB WORLD PLUS sign-ups, along with digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products from popular shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

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