IGN is thrilled to unveil exclusive details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration that promises an exciting lineup of events, deals, and experiences for anime fans worldwide. From May 1, fans can look forward to a plethora of activities including exclusive merchandise, partnerships, free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more. We've got all the details you need to make the most out of this anime extravaganza.
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 series they've missed or revisit their favorites. The selection includes blockbuster hits like Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and many more. Here's the full list of free-to-stream anime available with ads 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 Partnerships Based on Solo Leveling, My Hero Academia, and More of Your Favorite Anime
One of the best ways to show your love for anime is through merchandise, and Ani-May offers fans around the world the chance to grab new, officially licensed items from series like Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and more.
The Crunchyroll Store is joining the celebration with new and exclusive product launches, deals, and a special Ani-May pin available with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will highlight different types of products, from collectors' items to 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.
Beyond merchandise, Ani-May offers numerous ways to celebrate anime in the real world, spanning retail stores, online platforms, video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and more. Here's a glimpse of what fans can expect, directly from Crunchyroll:
Throughout May, UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible online UT purchases*. UNIQLO has also partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto to create UTme! Collection designs, available exclusively at their NYC flagship locations – UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. New York City-based fans are invited to stop by UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship location for a special activation on May 18th from 1pm-5pm, where Remi will be providing complimentary live Manga portraits.
Specialty retailer 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.
Electronics retailer 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.
Themed restaurant and resort chain Planet Hollywood is partnering with Crunchyroll to 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. Special Funko Hollywood Event Bundles will also be available! Event details can be found at @originalfunko and @funko_funime on Instagram.
Bananya is once again partnering with Fall Guys on 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
Adding to the Ani-May excitement, the Crunchyroll Game Vault will feature new games throughout May and early June, starting with Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth on April 30. Other titles to be added 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.
Own Your Favorites With Ani-May Home Entertainment Releases
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For those who prefer physical copies, 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 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 introduces the SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal, capable of fitting 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 planned even more Ani-May celebrations around the world, ensuring fans from all corners of the globe can enjoy unique experiences based on their favorite anime. Here's a detailed look at the global experiences for Ani-May:
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 in a row, Funside/Games Academy in Italy and HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium will participate in the Ani-May fun, while in France, Cultura will renew the experience for a second year. The three chains will activate the totality of their stores with signage, windows, and a selection of 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 bring forth a special selection of Ani-May products and launch a nationwide e-commerce campaign celebrating all things anime. For purchases of Ani-May products over 20€, shoppers will get the chance to win free Crunchyroll subscriptions*.
ANVOL will come back for a second year in the Baltic states and bring the Ani-May festivities to the Nordics for the very first time in 2025. In addition to massive exposure on social media, all stores will adopt Crunchyroll approved Ani-May branding. Shoppers will have the chance to win free Crunchyroll subscriptions for any Ani-May purchase*.
The Middle East will experience their first episode of Ani-May fever thanks to Little Things. The distributor will bring the activation to their own 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 will have the chance to bring home free Crunchyroll subscriptions*.
For the third time in a row, Thalia is presenting an exciting range of exclusive merchandising and manga in celebration of Ani-May in 200 stores in Germany and Austria.
New to Ani-May in Germany and Austria is Müller, which offers anime fans across 150 stores a wide range of manga, merchandising, 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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