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

IGN is thrilled to unveil the latest scoop on Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration set to captivate anime enthusiasts worldwide. From May 1, fans can dive into a plethora of exciting activities, including exclusive merchandise, special deals, partnerships, in-store and online experiences, free-to-stream anime, and new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault. Ani-May is packed with so much to look forward to, and we've got all the details right here to ensure you catch every moment.

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. This is the perfect opportunity for fans to catch up on or revisit classics like Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and more. To enjoy these free streams, all you need is a free Crunchyroll account.

The complete list of anime available for free streaming with ads during Ani-May includes:

• 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

For fans who love to celebrate their favorite anime with merchandise, Ani-May brings a global opportunity to snag new, officially licensed items from titles like Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and many others. 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 spotlight 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 offers numerous ways to engage with anime in the real world, spanning retail, online stores, video games, restaurants, and movie theaters. Here's a glimpse of what fans can expect, as shared by Crunchyroll:

• Throughout May, **UNIQLO** will distribute Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible online UT purchases. UNIQLO has collaborated with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto to create UTme! Collection designs, available exclusively at UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue in NYC. Fans in New York can visit UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship on May 18th from 1pm-5pm for a special activation with Remi, who will offer complimentary live Manga portraits.
• **Hot Topic** will celebrate Ani-May across its stores in the United States and Canada, and online at hottopic.com, with activations and special promotions featuring exclusive anime merchandise.
• **Best Buy** will join the Ani-May fun with select products available online and in-store, including an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin with eligible purchases at select stores.
• **Planet Hollywood** will partner with Crunchyroll to offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by Ani-May's featured IPs.
• In celebration of the new **JUJUTSU KAISEN x Funko Pop** collection, Funko Pop will host an autograph signing with the English voice cast of JUJUTSU KAISEN on May 3rd. Special Funko Hollywood Event Bundles will also be available.
• **Bananya** will partner with **Fall Guys** again, offering a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8, featuring characters like Bananya and Droopy Eared Bananya.
• **Demon Slayer** fans can prepare for the first film of the **Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle** trilogy, set to hit theaters in 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 is also joining the Ani-May festivities, adding exciting titles like Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth to its lineup. Starting April 30, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will kick off the celebrations, followed by Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day throughout Ani-May. The Crunchyroll Game Vault, launched in November 2023, now boasts over 50 titles available to Mega and Ultimate Fan tier members in more than 200 countries.

Ani-May 2025 Home Entertainment Releases

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For those who prefer physical copies of their favorite anime, 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 start May 15) and Blu-ray in SteelBook cases of Paranoia Agent and Goblin Slayer Season 1 (available April 30). Additionally, Crunchyroll introduces the SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal, designed to fit four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase on the Crunchyroll store starting May 30.

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

Crunchyroll has also announced further Ani-May celebrations worldwide, ensuring fans from every corner of the globe can partake in unique experiences inspired by their favorite anime. Here are some of the global experiences planned for Ani-May:

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 offer in-store signage and 20,000 free trial subscriptions with eligible product purchases.
• Ani-May celebrations 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 in Ani-May with store-wide activations, exclusive merchandise, and 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 for purchases over 20€.
• **ANVOL** will bring Ani-May to the Baltic states and the Nordics for the first time, with branded stores and free Crunchyroll subscriptions for any Ani-May purchase.
• **Little Things** in the Middle East will host Ani-May 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 surprise fans with Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions.
• **Thalia** and **Müller** in Germany and Austria will offer exclusive merchandising and manga in celebration of Ani-May.

In Australia and New Zealand:

• **JB Hi-Fi** will celebrate with dedicated Ani-May end caps in stores, featuring anime home video and collectibles, along with unique in-store signage. The May edition of STACK Magazine will include an editorial piece on anime, available in stores and online.
• **EB Games & Zing Pop Culture** will join the fun, offering a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial membership to EB WORLD PLUS sign-ups, along with digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products from shows like JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

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