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

IGN is thrilled to unveil exciting new details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long, global celebration kicking off in May. This event promises a packed schedule of merchandise inspired by beloved anime, exclusive deals, partnerships, and immersive experiences both in stores and online. Fans can look forward to free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more, making Ani-May a must-attend event for anime enthusiasts worldwide.

Ani-May is set to be brimming with excitement, and we're here to guide you through every highlight so you don't miss out on any of the action.

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 popular anime titles for free with ads throughout the entire month. This is the perfect opportunity for fans to catch up on series they've missed or revisit their favorites. The lineup includes iconic shows like Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and many more. All you need is a free Crunchyroll account to dive into these anime gems.

Here's the complete list of free-to-stream anime with ads available on Crunchyroll during Ani-May:

• 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

One of the best ways to celebrate your love for anime is through merchandise, and Ani-May is your chance to get your hands on new, officially licensed items from Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and more.

The Crunchyroll Store will be joining the celebration with new and exclusive product launches, deals, and the opportunity to receive 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.

Ani-May isn't just about merch; it's a global celebration that extends to retail and online stores, video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and beyond. Here's a sneak peek at what fans can expect, as detailed by Crunchyroll:

• Throughout May, UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible online UT purchases*. UNIQLO has also teamed up with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto to create exclusive UTme! Collection designs at their NYC flagship locations – UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. New York City-based fans are invited to a special activation on May 18th from 1pm-5pm at UNIQLO's 5th Avenue flagship, where Remi will offer complimentary live Manga portraits.
• Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its United States and Canada locations, as well as online at hottopic.com, with activations and special promotions, including exclusive anime merchandise.
• Best Buy will join the Ani-May 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 partner with Crunchyroll to offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by select Ani-May 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! Event details can be found at @originalfunko and @funko_funime on Instagram.
• Bananya is back 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 gear up for the first film of the highly-anticipated Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, coming to theaters this September, with a special Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train re-release 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 also getting in on the Ani-May fun, adding games like Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth as part of its weekly releases throughout May and early June. Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will kick things off on Wednesday, April 30, followed by Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day throughout the Ani-May period.

Launched in November 2023, the Crunchyroll Game Vault now offers over 50 titles to Crunchyroll members at the Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers 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 eager to own 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 on May 15!) and Blu-ray in SteelBook cases of Paranoia Agent and Goblin Slayer Season 1 (on sale on April 30!).

Crunchyroll also introduces SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal that can fit four standard SteelBooks. The SteelNook will be available for purchase on the Crunchyroll store on May 30.

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

Crunchyroll has announced even more Ani-May celebrations worldwide, ensuring that fans from every corner of the globe can enjoy experiences based on their favorite anime in fun and exciting ways.

Here's a detailed look at the global experiences for Ani-May, as shared by Crunchyroll:

In Latin America, the following partners will celebrate Ani-May:

• 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 delight fans with in-store signage and an offer of 20,000 free trial subscriptions with purchases of eligible products*.
• Ani-May celebrations and activations will continue at CCXP Mexico!

The following European retailers from EMEA will celebrate Ani-May:

• For the third year, Funside/Games Academy in Italy and HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium will participate, while in France, Cultura will join for the second year. These chains will activate all their stores with signage, window displays, and exclusive merchandise. Shoppers will have the chance to win a "nothing that money can buy" prize: an amazing weekend in Paris with VIP access to the Crunchyroll booth at Japan Expo*.
• In Spain, FNAC will offer a special selection of Ani-May products and launch a nationwide e-commerce campaign celebrating all things anime. For purchases over 20€, shoppers can win free Crunchyroll subscriptions*.
• ANVOL will return for a second year in the Baltic states and bring the Ani-May festivities to the Nordics for the first time in 2025. All stores will adopt Crunchyroll-approved Ani-May branding, and shoppers can win free Crunchyroll subscriptions for any Ani-May purchase*.
• The Middle East will experience its first Ani-May thanks to Little Things. The distributor will bring the activation to their stores in the UAE, as well as Virgin Mega Store in Dubai and two ToysRUs locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
• In Poland, Yatta will surprise anime fans with Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover. Shoppers can bring home free Crunchyroll subscriptions*.
• For the third time, Thalia will present an exciting range of exclusive merchandise and manga in celebration of Ani-May in 200 stores in Germany and Austria.
• New to Ani-May in Germany and Austria is Müller, offering anime fans across 150 stores a wide range of manga, merchandise, and home entertainment.

Australia and New Zealand-based fans can look forward to the following retail activations:

• In Australia, JB Hi-Fi will celebrate with dedicated Ani-May end caps in stores, encompassing anime home video and collectibles, with unique in-store signage created by talented store staff! The May edition of STACK Magazine will feature an editorial piece on anime, available in all stores and online.
• EB Games & Zing Pop Culture – the Home of Pop Culture & Gaming will join the Ani-May fun! Customers who sign up to EB WORLD PLUS will receive a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial membership*. EB Games will also celebrate with digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products available for purchase across fan-favorite shows, including JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

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