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

IGN is thrilled to unveil exclusive details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration that promises an array of exciting experiences for anime fans worldwide. From May 1, Ani-May will feature a plethora of merchandise, special deals, partnerships, and free-to-stream anime, alongside new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault and much more.

Ani-May is packed with a diverse range of activities designed to delight anime enthusiasts everywhere. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect during this exciting event:

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 an excellent opportunity for fans to either catch up on series they've missed or re-experience their favorite stories. The comprehensive list of free-to-stream anime 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 fans eager to show their love for anime through merchandise, Ani-May offers a variety of officially licensed items from series like Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, and The Apothecary Diaries, among others.

The Crunchyroll Store will launch new and exclusive products, offer special deals, and provide 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, a special celebration for the Anime of the Year nominees will take place the day after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25.

Beyond merchandise, Ani-May extends into various real-world experiences, from retail and online stores to video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and more. Here’s what Crunchyroll has planned:

• UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible UT purchases online. They’ve also partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for exclusive UTme! Collection designs at their NYC flagship stores, UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. On May 18th, fans can meet Remi at UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue location for complimentary live Manga portraits from 1pm-5pm.
• Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its US and Canadian stores, and online, with special promotions and exclusive anime merchandise.
• Best Buy will join the festivities with select products available online and in-store, including an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin with eligible purchases.
• Planet Hollywood will offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by Ani-May’s featured IPs.
• Funko Pop will host an autograph signing with the English voice cast of JUJUTSU KAISEN on May 3rd, alongside special event bundles.
• Bananya will partner with Fall Guys for a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8, featuring Bananya and Droopy Eared Bananya.
• Demon Slayer fans can look forward to a special re-release of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train in theaters this May, in anticipation of the first film of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy coming in September.

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

Ani-May will also see exciting additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault. Starting April 30, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will be added, followed by other titles like Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day throughout May and early June. The Crunchyroll Game Vault, launched in November 2023, 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 who prefer physical media, Ani-May will see the Crunchyroll Store release 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 April 30). Additionally, Crunchyroll introduces the SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal that can fit four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase on May 30.

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

Ani-May is a global celebration, with various experiences tailored for fans around the world. Here’s a detailed look at the global activations:

• In Latin America:

  • Liverpool in Mexico will host a meet-and-greet with select 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 celebrations will continue at CCXP Mexico.

• In EMEA:

  • Funside/Games Academy in Italy, HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium, and Cultura in France will participate, offering 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 launch a special selection of Ani-May products and an e-commerce campaign, offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions with purchases over 20€.
  • ANVOL will bring Ani-May to the Baltic states and the Nordics for the first time, with social media exposure and branded stores offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions with purchases.
  • Little Things will introduce Ani-May to the Middle East, activating stores in the UAE and Dubai, alongside Virgin Mega Store and ToysRUs locations.
  • Yatta in Poland will feature Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions available.
  • Thalia and Müller in Germany and Austria will offer exclusive merchandise and manga across 350 stores.

• In Australia and New Zealand:

  • JB Hi-Fi will feature dedicated Ani-May end caps with anime home video and collectibles, and a special editorial in the May edition of STACK Magazine.
  • EB Games & Zing Pop Culture will offer a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial with EB WORLD PLUS sign-ups, alongside digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products for shows like JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.

Top 25 Best Anime Series of All Time

View 26 Images