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

IGN has the exclusive scoop on Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration set to kick off a festival of anime excitement. From May 1st, fans around the world can dive into a plethora of activities, including exclusive merchandise, enticing deals, unique partnerships, in-store and online experiences, free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more. This year's Ani-May promises an array of exciting events that will delight anime enthusiasts everywhere.

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 is rolling out the red carpet for anime fans by offering some of the most beloved series for free with ads throughout the month. Whether you're looking to catch up on missed episodes or relive the magic of your favorite shows, this is your golden opportunity. The lineup includes gems like Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and many more. All you need is a free Crunchyroll account to enjoy this anime feast.

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

Celebrate your passion for anime with a range of new, officially licensed merchandise during Ani-May. From Solo Leveling to My Hero Academia and beyond, fans can get their hands on exclusive items. The Crunchyroll Store is set to launch new products, offer special 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, the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25, fans can celebrate the Anime of the Year nominees.

Ani-May isn't just about merchandise; it's a holistic celebration of anime culture. From retail and online stores to video games, restaurants, and movie theaters, fans can immerse themselves in a variety of experiences. Here's what Crunchyroll has planned:

• UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes with eligible online UT purchases for a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll*. UNIQLO has also collaborated with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto to create exclusive UTme! Collection designs available at their NYC flagship locations – UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. New York City-based fans can visit UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship on May 18th from 1pm-5pm for a special event with Remi, who will offer complimentary live Manga portraits.
• Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its U.S. and Canada locations, as well as online at hottopic.com, with exclusive anime merchandise and special promotions.
• 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 select 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, along with special Funko Hollywood Event Bundles.
• Bananya will partner with Fall Guys again, offering a collection of skins from May 1 to May 8, featuring Bananya and Droopy Eared Bananya.
• Demon Slayer fans can prepare for the first film of the 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 exciting new games, starting with Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth on April 30. Throughout May and early June, the vault will also include 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 boasts 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 cherish physical copies of their favorite anime, Ani-May will feature the release of a Limited Edition Blu-ray box of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1 Part 2 (pre-orders start 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 that can hold four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase on the Crunchyroll store on May 30.

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

Crunchyroll's Ani-May celebrations extend globally, ensuring fans worldwide can partake in unique experiences inspired by their favorite anime. Here's a detailed look at the global festivities:

• 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 purchases of eligible products*.
  • 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 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 social media exposure and in-store branding, offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions* with any Ani-May purchase.
  • Little Things in the Middle East will activate Ani-May 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, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions* available.
  • Thalia in Germany and Austria will present exclusive merchandising and manga in 200 stores, while Müller in Germany and Austria will offer a wide range of manga, merchandising, and home entertainment in 150 stores.
• In Australia and New Zealand:
  • JB Hi-Fi will celebrate with dedicated Ani-May end caps in stores, featuring anime home video and collectibles, and a special 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 across fan-favorite shows like JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

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