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

IGN is thrilled to unveil exclusive insights into Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration set to captivate anime fans worldwide. Ani-May will feature a diverse array of events, including exclusive merchandise, exciting deals, strategic partnerships, and immersive in-store and online experiences. Fans can look forward to free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and a host of other engaging activities throughout the month.

Ani-May is packed with an abundance of exciting offerings, and we're here to ensure you don't miss any of the highlights.

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 a selection of popular anime titles available to stream for free with ads throughout the entire month. This presents a fantastic opportunity for fans to catch up on missed series or relive cherished narratives. The lineup includes classics like Cowboy Bebop and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, along with other fan favorites.

Here's the complete list of free-to-stream anime with ads available 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 Experiences 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 around the world can acquire new, officially licensed items featuring Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and more.

The Crunchyroll Store will commemorate Ani-May with new product launches, exclusive deals, and a special Crunchyroll-exclusive Ani-May pin available with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will spotlight different product categories, including collectors' items, action/adventure titles, shonen shows, and fantasy fan-favorites. Additionally, the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25, fans can celebrate the Anime of the Year nominees.

Beyond merchandise, Ani-May will offer various ways to celebrate anime in the real world, spanning retail and online stores, video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and more. Here's what fans can anticipate, as shared directly by Crunchyroll:

• UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes to customers with eligible online UT purchases for a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll*. UNIQLO has partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto to create UTme! Collection designs, exclusively available at their NYC flagship locations – UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. New York City-based fans can visit UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship for a special activation on May 18th from 1pm-5pm, where Remi 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 Ani-May festivities with select products available online and in-store, and an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin included with eligible purchases at select stores.
• Planet Hollywood, a themed restaurant and resort chain, will partner with Crunchyroll to offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by Ani-May’s select IPs.
• In celebration of a 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 will partner with Fall Guys again on 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 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 will also join the Ani-May festivities by adding new games, including Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, as part of its weekly releases throughout May and early June. Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will kick off the celebration 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 during the run of Ani-May.

Launched in November 2023, the Crunchyroll Game Vault now boasts over 50 titles accessible 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 eager to own 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 begin on May 15!) and Blu-ray in SteelBook cases of Paranoia Agent and Goblin Slayer Season 1 (on sale on April 30!).

Additionally, Crunchyroll has introduced the SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal, designed to showcase 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 revealed even more Ani-May celebrations worldwide, ensuring fans from all corners of the globe can enjoy experiences based on their favorite anime in fun and exciting ways.

Here is the full list of global experiences for Ani-May, as detailed 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 and in-store signage.
  • Suburbia in Mexico will delight fans with 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!
• 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 in the Ani-May festivities. In France, Cultura will continue the experience for a second year. These chains will activate all their stores with signage, window displays, and exclusive merchandise. Shoppers will have the opportunity to fully immerse in the Crunchyroll lifestyle and enter a contest for an unforgettable 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 anime. Purchases over 20€ will enter shoppers into a draw for free Crunchyroll subscriptions*.
  • ANVOL will return for a second year in the Baltic states and introduce Ani-May to the Nordics for the first time in 2025. All stores will feature Crunchyroll-approved Ani-May branding, and shoppers can win free Crunchyroll subscriptions with any Ani-May purchase*.
  • The Middle East will experience Ani-May thanks to Little Things, which will bring the celebration 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, offering 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, featuring anime home video and collectibles, and unique in-store signage created by talented store staff. The May edition of STACK Magazine will include 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 feature digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products across fan-favorite shows, including JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

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