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

IGN is thrilled to unveil the latest details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration set to kick off with an array of exciting offerings. From May 1st, fans around the world can indulge in merchandise inspired by their favorite anime, special deals, partnerships, and unique experiences both in-store and online. Ani-May promises a feast of free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more.

Ani-May is packed with a plethora of events and perks, and we're here to guide you through everything so you won't miss out on any of the fun.

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 series for free with ads throughout the month. Whether you're looking to catch up on missed episodes or relive your favorite moments, this is the perfect opportunity. Here's the complete list of anime available for free streaming with ads on Crunchyroll during Ani-May, accessible with just a free account:

• 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 passion for anime with exclusive merchandise during Ani-May. Fans worldwide can snag new, officially licensed items from series like Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and many 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 highlight different product categories, including collectors' items, action/adventure titles, shonen shows, and fantasy favorites. Additionally, the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25, there will be a special celebration for the Anime of the Year nominees.

Ani-May isn't just about merch; it's a global festival of anime culture. From retail and online stores to video games, restaurants, and movie theaters, here's what Crunchyroll has planned:

• UNIQLO will offer Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible online UT purchases throughout May. They've also partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for exclusive UTme! Collection designs at their NYC flagship locations, UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. On May 18th, from 1pm-5pm, fans can visit UNIQLO's 5th Avenue store for a special event with Remi, who will offer complimentary live Manga portraits.
• Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its United States and Canada locations, and online at hottopic.com, with activations and special promotions, including exclusive anime merchandise.
• Best Buy will join the festivities with select products available both 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 to celebrate the new Jujutsu Kaisen x Funko Pop collection. Special event bundles will be available; details can be found on @originalfunko and @funko_funime on Instagram.
• Bananya will collaborate with Fall Guys for a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8, featuring characters like Bananya and Droopy Eared Bananya.
• Demon Slayer fans can get excited for the first film of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy in theaters this September with a special re-release of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train in May.

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

The Crunchyroll Game Vault will join the Ani-May festivities by adding Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth to its lineup starting Wednesday, April 30. Throughout May and early June, the vault will see weekly releases including Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day. Launched in November 2023, the Crunchyroll Game Vault now offers over 50 titles to Mega and Ultimate Fan tier members in over 200 countries.

Own Your Favorites With Ani-May Home Entertainment Releases

Ani-May 2025 Home Entertainment Releases

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For fans who cherish owning physical copies of their favorite anime, Ani-May will feature the release of a Limited Edition Blu-ray box set of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1 Part 2 (pre-orders begin 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, capable of holding four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase on May 30.

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

Crunchyroll has planned a series of global celebrations for Ani-May, ensuring fans everywhere can enjoy experiences inspired by their favorite anime in exciting ways. Here's a detailed look at what fans can expect in various regions:

In Latin America:

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

In Europe (EMEA):

• Funside/Games Academy in Italy and HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium will participate in Ani-May for the third year, while Cultura in France will join for the second year. These stores will feature signage, window displays, and exclusive merchandise, with shoppers having a 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 available for purchases over 20€.
• ANVOL will bring Ani-May to the Baltic states and the Nordics for the first time in 2025, with stores adopting Crunchyroll-approved branding and offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions for Ani-May purchases.
• Little Things will introduce Ani-May to the Middle East, with activations in their stores in the UAE, as well as Virgin Mega Store in Dubai and two ToysRUs locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
• Yatta in Poland will feature Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions.
• Thalia will celebrate Ani-May in 200 stores across Germany and Austria with exclusive merchandising and manga.
• Müller will join the celebration in Germany and Austria, offering manga, merchandising, and home entertainment across 150 stores.

In Australia and New Zealand:

• JB Hi-Fi will feature dedicated Ani-May end caps in stores with anime home video and collectibles, unique in-store signage, and an editorial piece on anime 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, digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products from fan-favorite shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

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