IGN is thrilled to share exclusive details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, a global celebration spanning the entire month. This year's event promises an exciting array of merchandise, special deals, partnerships, and immersive experiences both in stores and online. Fans can look forward to free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more, ensuring there's something for every anime enthusiast to enjoy.
Ani-May is packed with a multitude of exciting offerings, and we're here to guide you through every highlight so you don't miss out on the fun.
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 popular anime titles for free with ads throughout the entire month. This is a fantastic opportunity for fans to either catch up on missed episodes or relive beloved stories. The lineup includes classics like Cowboy Bebop and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, among others. All you need is a free account to dive into these series:
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 celebrate your love for anime is through merchandise, and Ani-May offers fans worldwide 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 will launch new and exclusive products, deals, and a special 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, 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 various ways to celebrate anime in real-world settings, from retail and online stores to video games, restaurants, and movie theaters.
Here's a detailed look at what fans can expect, courtesy of Crunchyroll:
Throughout May, UNIQLO will distribute Crunchyroll codes with eligible online UT purchases, offering a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll*. UNIQLO has partnered with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for UTme! Collection designs, available exclusively at their NYC flagship locations – UNIQLO Soho and UNIQLO 5th Avenue. New York City-based fans can visit UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship on May 18th from 1pm-5pm for a special activation with Remi, who 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 activations and special promotions, including exclusive anime merchandise throughout the month.
Best Buy will join the Ani-May festivities with select products available online and in-store, including an exclusive SPY x FAMILY pin with eligible purchases at select stores.
The themed restaurant and resort chain Planet Hollywood is partnering with Crunchyroll to offer exclusive experiences, cocktails, dishes, and merchandise inspired by select IPs featured during Ani-May.
In celebration of a 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, with event details shared on @originalfunko and @funko_funime on Instagram.
Bananya is partnering with Fall Guys once again for a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8, featuring Bananya and Droopy Eared Bananya.
Demon Slayer fans can gear up 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 theaters this May!
The Crunchyroll Game Vault Is Celebrating Anime With the Addition of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth and More
The Crunchyroll Game Vault is also joining the Ani-May festivities, adding games like Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth as part of its weekly releases throughout May and early June. Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will kick things off on Wednesday, April 30, followed by Corpse Party, Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol. 1, Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shogun Showdown, and White Day throughout Ani-May.
Launched in November 2023, the Crunchyroll Game Vault now offers over 50 titles for Crunchyroll members at the Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers in over 200 countries.
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For fans eager to own 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 begin on May 15!) and Blu-ray in SteelBook cases of Paranoia Agent and Goblin Slayer Season 1 (on sale on April 30!).
Crunchyroll has also introduced 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 revealed that Ani-May celebrations will extend around the world, ensuring fans everywhere can enjoy experiences based on their favorite anime in fun and exciting ways.
Here is the full list of global experiences for Ani-May, as detailed by Crunchyroll:
In Latin America, the following partners will celebrate Ani-May:
Liverpool will join the month-long celebration in Mexico with a special meet-and-greet with select voice actors, alongside products from fan-favorite titles with in-store signage. Suburbia in Mexico will also 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 opportunity to fully experience the Crunchyroll lifestyle and win an exclusive 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 return 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 in Germany and Austria 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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