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

IGN is thrilled to unveil exclusive details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a global celebration spanning the entire month of May. This event promises an array of exciting features, 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 a multitude of highlights, and we're here to ensure you catch every detail.

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 month. This is the perfect opportunity for fans to catch up on missed episodes or relive their favorite series. Here's the full list of free-to-stream anime with ads available on Crunchyroll during Ani-May, all accessible with 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

Celebrating your love for anime is made even more enjoyable with merchandise, and this Ani-May will bring fans around the world 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 more.

The Crunchyroll Store will celebrate Ani-May with 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, the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25, there will be a special celebration for the Anime of the Year nominees.

Beyond merchandise, Ani-May will offer numerous ways to engage with anime culture, from retail and online stores to video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and beyond. Here's a glimpse of what Crunchyroll has in store:

Throughout May, 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 at their NYC flagship stores – UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. Fans in New York City can visit UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue location on May 18th from 1pm-5pm for a special event where Remi will offer complimentary live Manga portraits.

Specialty retailer Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its United States and Canada locations and online at hottopic.com, featuring activations and exclusive anime merchandise.

Electronics retailer Best Buy will join the festivities with select products available both online and in-store, offering 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 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 is returning to celebrate Ani-May, partnering with Fall Guys on a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8, featuring 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, set to hit theaters in September, with a special Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train re-release in May.

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

Ani-May will also see the Crunchyroll Game Vault adding new titles as part of its weekly releases throughout May and early June. Kicking off on Wednesday, April 30, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will be the first addition, followed by 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 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

View 3 ImagesFor 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 will offer the 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 fans everywhere can enjoy unique experiences based on their favorite anime.

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 will join the month-long celebration in Mexico with 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 renew the experience for a second year. These stores will feature 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. For purchases over 20€, shoppers can win free Crunchyroll subscriptions*.
• ANVOL will return for a second year in the Baltic states and bring 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 for any Ani-May purchase*.
• The Middle East will experience Ani-May thanks to Little Things, which will activate 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 exclusive merchandise and manga in celebration of Ani-May in 200 stores in Germany and Austria. Müller will also join, offering anime fans across 150 stores in Germany and Austria 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, 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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