IGN is thrilled to unveil the latest details about Crunchyroll's third annual Ani-May, set to be a spectacular month-long global celebration. From May 1st, fans around the world can dive into a plethora of exciting events, including exclusive merchandise, enticing deals, and partnerships, as well as a variety of free-to-stream anime, new additions to the Crunchyroll Game Vault, and much more. Ani-May is packed with thrilling opportunities that we're excited to share with you, ensuring you won'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 set to delight fans by offering some of the most beloved anime titles for free with ads throughout the entire month. Whether you're looking to catch up on missed episodes or relive your favorite series, this is the perfect opportunity. The lineup includes classics like Cowboy Bebop and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, providing a fantastic selection for all anime enthusiasts.
Here's the complete list of free-to-stream anime available with ads on Crunchyroll during Ani-May. All you need is a free account to enjoy:
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 celebrate their love for anime, Ani-May offers a chance to get your hands on new, officially licensed merchandise featuring favorites like Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, Bananya, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, My Hero Academia, Overlord, The Apothecary Diaries, and more. The Crunchyroll Store is set to launch exclusive products, deals, and even a special Ani-May pin with qualifying purchases. Each week in May will spotlight different product categories, from collectors' items to action/adventure titles, shonen shows, and fantasy favorites. Additionally, fans can celebrate the Anime of the Year nominees following the Crunchyroll Anime Awards on May 25.
Beyond merchandise, Ani-May will bring anime celebrations into the real world through various retail outlets, online stores, video games, restaurants, and movie theaters. Here's a glimpse of what fans can expect, directly from Crunchyroll:
Throughout May, **UNIQLO** will offer Crunchyroll codes with eligible UT purchases for a 30-day free trial*. They've also teamed up with Manga artist Remi Yamamoto for exclusive UTme! Collection designs, available only at their NYC flagship stores – **UNIQLO Soho** and **UNIQLO 5th Avenue**. New York City fans can visit UNIQLO’s 5th Avenue flagship for a special event on May 18th from 1pm-5pm, featuring live Manga portraits by Remi. **Hot Topic** will celebrate Ani-May across the US and Canada, both in stores and online at hottopic.com, with exclusive merchandise and promotions. **Best Buy** joins the fun with select products available both 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 IPs. **Funko Pop** celebrates with a new **JUJUTSU KAISEN** collection and an autograph signing event on May 3rd. **Bananya** partners with **Fall Guys** for a collection of skins available from May 1 to May 8. **Demon Slayer** fans can prepare for the upcoming **Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle** trilogy with a 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 by adding games like Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth as part of its weekly releases throughout May and early June. Starting on April 30, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth will kick off the celebrations, followed by other titles like 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 offers over 50 titles to Mega and Ultimate Fan members in more than 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 set of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 1 Part 2 (pre-orders start on May 15), along with Blu-ray SteelBooks of Paranoia Agent and Goblin Slayer Season 1 (available on April 30). Crunchyroll also introduces the SteelNook, an open display case made from SteelBook metal that can hold four standard SteelBooks, available for purchase starting May 30 on the Crunchyroll store.
Ani-May Is a Global Party and Everyone's Invited
Crunchyroll has announced that Ani-May will feature celebrations worldwide, ensuring fans everywhere can enjoy their favorite anime in unique and exciting ways. Here's a detailed look at the global experiences planned for Ani-May:
In Latin America, the following partners will celebrate Ani-May:
Liverpool will host a special meet-and-greet with voice actors in Mexico, alongside in-store promotions for fan-favorite titles. Suburbia in Mexico will offer in-store promotions and 20,000 free trial subscriptions with eligible purchases*. Ani-May celebrations will also continue at CCXP Mexico!
The following European retailers from EMEA will celebrate Ani-May:
Funside/Games Academy in Italy, HMV in the UK, Ireland, and Belgium, and Cultura in France will participate in Ani-May festivities, featuring exclusive merchandise and a chance to win a VIP weekend in Paris at Japan Expo. FNAC in Spain will offer special Ani-May products and a nationwide e-commerce campaign, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions for purchases over 20€. ANVOL will celebrate in the Baltic states and the Nordics for the first time, offering free Crunchyroll subscriptions with Ani-May purchases. Little Things will bring Ani-May to the Middle East, including stores in the UAE and select locations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Yatta in Poland will feature Ani-May branded corners and an e-commerce takeover, with free Crunchyroll subscriptions. Thalia will offer exclusive merchandise in Germany and Austria, and Müller will provide a wide range of anime-related products across 150 stores.
Australia and New Zealand-based fans can look forward to the following retail activations:
JB Hi-Fi in Australia will have dedicated Ani-May sections in stores, featuring anime home video and collectibles. The May edition of STACK Magazine will include an editorial on anime. EB Games & Zing Pop Culture will offer a 30-day Crunchyroll Premium trial for EB WORLD PLUS members*, alongside exclusive products and digital signage celebrating popular shows like JUJUTSU KAISEN, SPY x FAMILY, Chainsaw Man, and My Hero Academia.
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