Crunchyroll has always offered a free subscription tier with a decent library of anime. However, some of the most popular and simulcast series are often locked behind the service's Premium membership. If you've encountered the Premium paywall for a particular series, there's good news: Crunchyroll has made 20 of its most popular anime free to watch as part of the streaming site's "Ani-May" celebrations.
Whether you've been eager to experience the buzz around Solo Leveling, need to catch up on My Hero Academia before its final season, or want to revisit a classic like Cowboy Bebop, there's almost certainly something in the mix for you to enjoy this month. Check out the full list of what's streaming for free below.
20 Anime You Can Watch for Free on Crunchyroll Right Now
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See Everything Streaming on Crunchyroll
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Let's cut to the chase. Here's the full list of what's streaming on Crunchyroll for free in 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)
There's a range of series in the mix. Highlights include every season of My Hero Academia, which will be airing its eighth and final season later this year, and all of Demon Slayer that you can watch ahead of the movie trilogy to finish out the series. In fact, we have quite a spread of the best shonen anime, from Tokyo Ghoul and Soul Eater to Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man.
Solo Leveling has most recently taken the anime world by storm. IGN's review of the first season says it "brings gaming mechanics to animation, with a thrilling power fantasy that understands the tediousness of experience farming, the fun of gaining a new level and skill points, and the thrills of facing down a boss."
Solo Leveling Gallery
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The list is notably lighter on the shoujo side, but Fruits Basket might be all you need. One show I highly recommend checking out is The Apothecary Diaries, a historical drama with threads of romance. And I fully agree with IGN's Apothecary Diaries review that "the titular apothecary, Maomao, is a delightful protagonist who embodies this balance between matter-of-fact and goofy."
Otherwise, the Junji Ito Collection is an interesting addition to the mix, though I'd always recommend just checking out the original manga.
As far as we know, these series will be free to stream until the end of May, though some may stick around in the free tier for even longer. Still, any excuse to binge some anime is worthwhile.
AnswerSee ResultsWhat Is "Ani-May"?
-----------------------Ani-May is a Crunchyroll initiative. Aside from making some of their Premium catalog free-to-stream, Crunchyroll is releasing new merchandise while partnering with stores across the globe for in-person events. The site will also be hosting the Anime Awards on May 15. Here’s the message Crunchyroll’s Head of Global Products had to share about the event:
“Anime isn’t just an entertainment medium; it’s a lifestyle. To celebrate anime’s explosive growth, we’re giving fans a variety of ways to express their anime passion during Ani-May - from all-new products across apparel, collectibles, global activations, game collaborations, and new series streaming for free on Crunchyroll.”
Collector’s Sale on the Crunchyroll Store
Aside from the streaming celebrations, the Crunchyroll Store is unleashing a full month of new releases and discounts. You can see some of what’s available below or check out the entire collection.
Solo Leveling Season 1 - Blu-ray + DVD [Limited Edition]
0$89.98 save 20%$71.98 at Crunchyroll Store
Dragon Ball Super - The Complete Series [Limited Edition Steelbooks]
0$199.98 save 20%$159.98 at Crunchyroll Store
JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 - The Movie [Blu-ray Steelbook]
0$39.98 save 20%$31.98 at Crunchyroll Store
Out July 8
Grave of the Fireflies [Limited Edition Steelbook]
0$26.98 save 20%$21.58 at Crunchyroll Store
GOBLIN SLAYER - Season 1 [Limited Edition Steelbook]
0$59.98 save 20%$47.98 at Crunchyroll Store
Out July 29
Chainsaw Man - Complete Series [Limited Edition Steelbook]
0$84.98 at Crunchyroll Store
