IGN is thrilled to share exclusive details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global extravaganza set to dazzle fans worldwide. From May 1st, Ani-May promises an array of exciting offerings, including exclusive merchandise, partnerships, in-store and online experiences, free-to-stream anime, and new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault. Get ready for a celebration packed with everything anime enthusiasts could hope for!
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 fans by offering some of the most beloved anime titles to stream for free with ads throughout the entire month. Whether you're looking to catch up on missed episodes or relive your favorite moments, this is your golden opportunity. All you need is a free account to dive into a selection that 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 those who love to showcase their passion through merchandise, Ani-May is bringing a treasure trove of officially licensed items from popular series like Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, and The Apothecary Diaries. The Crunchyroll Store is joining the fun with new product launches, exclusive deals, and a special Ani-May pin available with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will spotlight different themes, from collectors' items to action/adventure titles, shonen shows, and fantasy favorites. Plus, the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25, celebrate the Anime of the Year nominees with unique events.
Beyond merchandise, Ani-May extends its celebration into the real world with experiences in retail, online stores, video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and more. Here's a glimpse of what fans can look forward to, directly from Crunchyroll:
- UNIQLO will offer Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible UT purchases online. They've partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for exclusive UTme! Collection designs at their NYC flagship stores. NYC fans can meet Remi on May 18th at UNIQLO's 5th Avenue location for live Manga portraits.
- Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its US and Canada stores and online, with exclusive anime merchandise and special promotions.
- Best Buy joins the festivities with select products and an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin available with eligible purchases at select stores.
- Planet Hollywood partners with Crunchyroll to offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by Ani-May's IPs.
- Funko Pop will host an autograph signing with the English voice cast of JUJUTSU KAISEN on May 3rd, alongside special event bundles.
- Bananya partners with Fall Guys for a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8.
- Demon Slayer fans can enjoy a re-release of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train in theaters this May, gearing up for the upcoming Infinity Castle trilogy.
The Crunchyroll Game Vault Is Celebrating Anime With the Addition of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth and More
Even the Crunchyroll Game Vault is joining the Ani-May party, adding titles like Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth to its roster starting April 30. Other games joining the lineup include Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day, available throughout May and early June. Since its launch in November 2023, the Game Vault has grown to offer 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 collectors and fans eager to own physical copies of their favorite anime, Ani-May brings exciting releases. The Crunchyroll Store will launch 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 (available April 30). Additionally, Crunchyroll introduces the SteelNook, an open display case crafted from SteelBook metal that can showcase four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase on May 30.
Ani-May Is a Global Party and Everyone's Invited
Crunchyroll's Ani-May celebrations are truly global, with fans around the world invited to join in. Here's a detailed look at the international experiences planned:
In Latin America:
- Liverpool in Mexico will host a meet-and-greet with voice actors and offer products from fan-favorite titles with in-store signage.
- Suburbia in Mexico will feature in-store signage and offer 20,000 free trial subscriptions with eligible purchases.
- Ani-May festivities will also be part of CCXP Mexico.
In EMEA:
- Funside/Games Academy in Italy, HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium, and Cultura in France will engage fans with store-wide activations, exclusive merchandise, and a chance to win a VIP weekend in Paris at Japan Expo.
- FNAC in Spain will showcase a special selection of Ani-May products and offer free Crunchyroll subscriptions with purchases over 20€.
- ANVOL will bring Ani-May to the Baltic states and the Nordics for the first time, offering free subscriptions with purchases.
- Little Things will introduce Ani-May to the Middle East, with activations at their stores and partner locations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Yatta in Poland will surprise fans with Ani-May branded corners and e-commerce promotions, including free Crunchyroll subscriptions.
- Thalia and Müller in Germany and Austria will feature exclusive merchandising and manga across numerous stores.
In Australia and New Zealand:
- JB Hi-Fi will feature dedicated Ani-May end caps with anime home video and collectibles, alongside an editorial in the May edition of STACK Magazine.
- EB Games & Zing Pop Culture will offer a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial to EB WORLD PLUS members, alongside digital signage, banners, and exclusive products.
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