IGN is thrilled to unveil exciting details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration set to kick off in May. This event promises an array of activities, from exclusive merchandise and partnerships to free-to-stream anime and new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault. Whether you're a seasoned anime enthusiast or a newcomer, Ani-May has something for everyone, and we'll break down all the highlights below so you don't miss out on any of the action.
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 offering some of the most popular anime titles for free, with ads, throughout the entire month. This is a fantastic opportunity for fans to catch up on or revisit classics like Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and more. All you need is a free Crunchyroll account to dive into this treasure trove of anime.
Here's the full list of free-to-stream anime available during Ani-May:
- 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
Ani-May is the perfect time to show your love for anime with new, officially licensed merchandise. Fans can get their hands on exclusive 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 is joining the celebration with new product launches, exclusive deals, and the chance to receive a Crunchyroll-exclusive Ani-May pin with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will focus on different product categories, such as collectors' items, action/adventure titles, shonen shows, and fantasy favorites. Additionally, there will be special celebrations for the Anime of the Year nominees right after the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25.
Beyond merchandise, Ani-May offers numerous ways to celebrate anime in the real world, including in retail and online stores, video games, restaurants, movie theaters, and more. Here's what fans can expect, as outlined by Crunchyroll:
- UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes for a 30-day free trial with eligible online UT purchases throughout May. They've also partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for exclusive UTme! Collection designs at their NYC flagship locations. On May 18th, from 1pm-5pm, fans in New York City can visit UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue for a special event with Remi, who 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 featuring exclusive anime merchandise.
- Best Buy will join the festivities with select products available both online and in-store, including an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin with eligible purchases at select stores.
- Planet Hollywood is partnering with Crunchyroll to 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 Funko Hollywood Event Bundles.
- Bananya will again partner with Fall Guys for 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 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, coming to theaters this September, with a special re-release of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train in May.
The Crunchyroll Game Vault Is Celebrating Anime With the Addition of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth and More
The Crunchyroll Game Vault is getting into the Ani-May spirit by adding new titles, starting with Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth on April 30. Throughout May and early June, additional games such as Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day will be available. 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.
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For fans who prefer physical copies of their favorite anime, 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 starting May 15) and Blu-ray 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, designed to showcase four standard SteelBooks. The SteelNook will be available for purchase on the Crunchyroll store starting 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 everywhere can enjoy experiences based on their favorite anime in fun and exciting ways. Here are some of the global experiences detailed by Crunchyroll:
- In Latin America:
- 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 feature in-store signage and offer 20,000 free trial subscriptions with eligible product 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 with store activations, exclusive merchandise, and the chance to win a VIP weekend in Paris with access to the Crunchyroll booth at Japan Expo.
- FNAC in Spain will offer special Ani-May products and launch a nationwide e-commerce campaign, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions for purchases over 20€.
- ANVOL will bring Ani-May festivities to the Baltic states and the Nordics for the first time, with social media exposure and in-store branding. Shoppers can win free Crunchyroll subscriptions with any Ani-May purchase.
- Little Things will bring Ani-May to the Middle East, including their stores in the UAE and Virgin Mega Store and ToysRUs locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
- Yatta in Poland will feature Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions available for shoppers.
- Thalia will present exclusive merchandise and manga in 200 stores in Germany and Austria, while Müller will offer anime-related products across 150 stores in the same regions.
- In Australia and New Zealand:
- JB Hi-Fi will celebrate with dedicated Ani-May end caps in stores, featuring anime home video and collectibles, along with unique in-store signage. The May edition of STACK Magazine will include an editorial piece on anime.
- EB Games & Zing Pop Culture will offer a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial membership for EB WORLD PLUS sign-ups, along with digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products from popular shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.
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