IGN is thrilled to unveil exclusive details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a month-long global celebration kicking off on May 1st. This exciting event will feature a wide array of offerings, including exclusive merchandise, special deals, partnerships, in-store and online experiences, free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more.
Ani-May promises a plethora of thrilling activities for anime fans around the world. Let's dive into the highlights so you can make the most of this celebration.
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 entire month. This is the perfect opportunity for fans to catch up on or revisit classics like Cowboy Bebop, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and more.
Here's the full list of free-to-stream anime with ads available on Crunchyroll during Ani-May, accessible with just a free account:
Black Clover (Seasons 1-4)Chainsaw ManCowboy BebopDemon 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 ParadiseJujutsu Kaisen (Seasons 1-2)Junji Ito CollectionKaiju No. 8My Hero Academia (Seasons 1-7)Overlord (Seasons 1-4)Shangri-La Frontier (Seasons 1-2)Solo Leveling (Season 1)Soul EaterSPY 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 Experiences Based on Solo Leveling, My Hero Academia, and More of Your Favorite Anime
Celebrate your love for anime with a range of exclusive merchandise. Ani-May will feature new, officially licensed items from Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and many more.
The Crunchyroll Store will launch new and exclusive products, offer deals, and provide a Crunchyroll-exclusive Ani-May pin with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will focus on different product types, including collectors' items, 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 will offer numerous ways to celebrate anime in the real world, from retail and online stores to video games, restaurants, and movie theaters.
Here's a glimpse of what fans can expect, as shared by Crunchyroll:
Throughout May, UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes to customers with eligible online UT purchases, offering a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll*. UNIQLO has partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto to create exclusive UTme! Collection designs available at their NYC flagship stores – UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. New York City-based fans can attend a special activation at UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship on May 18th from 1pm-5pm, where Remi will offer complimentary live Manga portraits.Hot Topic will celebrate Ani-May across its stores in the United States and Canada, and online at hottopic.com, with exclusive anime merchandise and special promotions all month.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 will offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by Ani-May’s select IPs.Funko Pop will host an autograph signing with the English voice cast of JUJUTSU KAISEN on May 3rd to celebrate the new JUJUTSU KAISEN x Funko Pop collection. Special Funko Hollywood Event Bundles will also be available. Event details can be found at @originalfunko and @funko_funime on Instagram.Bananya will partner with Fall Guys again, offering a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8, featuring 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 in 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
Joining the Ani-May celebration, the Crunchyroll Game Vault will add new games, starting with Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth on April 30. Other titles to be added throughout May and early June 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 fans who prefer physical copies, 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 on April 30!).
Additionally, Crunchyroll introduces 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 experiences based on their favorite anime in exciting ways.
Here's the full list of global experiences for Ani-May, as detailed by Crunchyroll:
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 offer in-store signage and 20,000 free trial subscriptions with purchases of eligible products*. Ani-May celebrations will continue at CCXP Mexico!**The following European retailers from EMEA will celebrate Ani-May:**
Funside/Games Academy in Italy and HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium will participate in Ani-May, while Cultura in France will join for the second year. These stores will feature Ani-May signage, windows, and exclusive merchandise. Shoppers can experience the Crunchyroll lifestyle and have a chance to win a VIP weekend in Paris with 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. Purchases over 20€ will enter shoppers into a draw for free Crunchyroll subscriptions. ANVOL will celebrate Ani-May for the second year in the Baltic states and for the first time in the Nordics in 2025, with stores adopting Crunchyroll-approved branding. Shoppers can win free Crunchyroll subscriptions for any Ani-May purchase. Little Things will bring Ani-May to the Middle East for the first time, activating 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 feature Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, with shoppers having a chance to win free Crunchyroll subscriptions. Thalia will present exclusive merchandising and manga in 200 stores in Germany and Austria for the third year. Müller will join Ani-May in Germany and Austria across 150 stores, offering 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, featuring anime home video and collectibles, with unique in-store signage. The May edition of STACK Magazine will feature an editorial piece on anime, available in stores and online.EB Games & Zing Pop Culture – the Home of Pop Culture & Gaming will join the Ani-May fun! Customers who sign up for EB WORLD PLUS will receive a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial membership*. EB Games will feature digital signage, ceiling banners, and exclusive products across fan-favorite shows, including JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.
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