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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteYes—but only as a dated promotion. Crunchyroll offered Solo Leveling Season 1, Chainsaw Man, and other selected anime free with advertisements beginning May 1, 2025, as part of Ani-May 2025. The offer was temporary, so it should not be presented as a current or permanent free-streaming policy.
Short answer: Crunchyroll did make Solo Leveling Season 1, Chainsaw Man, and other anime available to watch free with advertisements during its Ani-May 2025 promotion. The offer began on May 1, 2025, covered 20 series, and was temporary. It should not be read as a permanent policy that makes those shows—or Crunchyroll’s full library—free today.
What Crunchyroll offered for Ani-May 2025
On April 29, 2025, Crunchyroll announced that it would roll out 20 popular anime series for free, ad-supported streaming as part of its third annual Ani-May celebration. The free-access promotion began May 1.
The promotion was part of a broader fan event that also included anime merchandise, games, and other Ani-May activities. In streaming terms, the important distinction was that viewers could watch selected shows without a Premium subscription, but they would see advertisements.
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Which anime were included?
Crunchyroll’s announcement specifically named these titles and seasons:
- Solo Leveling Season 1
- Cowboy Bebop
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Haikyu!!
- JUJUTSU KAISEN
- Shangri-La Frontier
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 1
Crunchyroll said the complete promotion included 20 series. Contemporaneous coverage also identified Chainsaw Man among the free titles. Because the announcement highlighted examples rather than presenting every title in the material available here, it is more accurate to describe the list above as officially named examples and Chainsaw Man as a title reported in coverage of the promotion.
Was Solo Leveling free on Crunchyroll?
Yes—Solo Leveling Season 1 was one of the featured anime in the May 2025 Ani-May free-streaming offer. The show follows Sung Jinwoo, a hunter considered the weakest in the world, who gains access to a visible leveling system after surviving a deadly dungeon encounter.
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The promotion concerned Season 1; it did not establish that every season, episode, language track, or related release would be free. Crunchyroll’s series page currently lists Japanese audio along with multiple dubbed and subtitled options, but that listing alone does not establish that the complete series is available without Premium.
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Chainsaw Man was identified by contemporaneous reports as another title included in the temporary Ani-May promotion. The series centers on Denji, a young devil hunter who is revived through his bond with the chainsaw devil Pochita.
That promotional availability should not be confused with a continuing free-access guarantee. Crunchyroll announced in 2022 that the Chainsaw Man television anime would simulcast on the service in Crunchyroll territories outside Asia, with additional dubbed languages. That announcement confirms the show’s relationship with Crunchyroll, but it does not prove that the series remains free today.
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Is the Ani-May free streaming offer still active?
Not as the May 2025 promotion described here. The “free with ads” language belongs to a time-limited Ani-May event that started May 1, 2025. Streaming rights, territories, advertising policies, and subscription requirements can change, so readers should check the current episode listing before assuming that a particular show is free.
Crunchyroll also operates a separate Crunchyroll Channel: a free, curated, 24/7 anime channel available on selected platforms, including LG Smart TVs, Vizio Smart TVs, Amazon Freevee, and Roku, according to Crunchyroll’s help information. The Channel is not the same thing as permanent free access to the entire Crunchyroll app catalog. A show appearing in the Crunchyroll library does not necessarily mean it is available on the free Channel, and Channel availability can vary by platform and territory.
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How to watch these anime legally now
- Check the current Crunchyroll listing. Look at the show’s episode page and the access requirements shown for your country. Do not rely on an old Ani-May article or social-media post.
- Check whether the Crunchyroll Channel is available on your device. It is a separate, curated service rather than a substitute for the full on-demand library.
- Consider Crunchyroll Premium if the current listing requires it. Plan names, prices, trials, advertising, and regional availability should be confirmed directly with Crunchyroll because they are subject to change.
- Use official physical or digital releases. This is useful when a season is unavailable in your territory or when you want to keep a copy rather than depend on changing streaming licenses.
What to read after watching Solo Leveling
The anime is adapted from a larger print and webcomic property, so viewers who want more of the story have two distinct starting points.
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The English Solo Leveling comic is credited by Yen Press to Chugong, with art by REDICE Studio and adaptation by h-goon. Yen Press lists comic volumes through Volume 15. The Crunchyroll Store also lists the official English Solo Leveling manhwa volume 1, with story by Chugong and art by DUBU. Starting with Volume 1 is the clearest choice for readers who want the comic adaptation from the beginning.
There is also Solo Leveling, Vol. 1 (novel), the original prose version. Yen Press lists paperback and digital editions, including paperback ISBN 9781975319281, and identifies retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Kinokuniya, and the Crunchyroll Store. The novel is not the same product as the manhwa: choose it if you prefer prose and want the original novel format rather than the illustrated adaptation.
Official ways to continue with Chainsaw Man
VIZ’s official Chainsaw Man property page lists manga volumes, the Public Safety Arc box set, the Chainsaw Man: Buddy Stories novel, and a Season 1 Blu-ray release. Viewers who discovered the anime through the Ani-May promotion can therefore continue with the manga or choose an official home-video edition.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What “free” meant in this promotion
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When did it start? | May 1, 2025 |
| What was included? | 20 selected anime series, including officially named examples such as Solo Leveling Season 1 and Cowboy Bebop; Chainsaw Man was also reported as included. |
| Did viewers need Premium? | The selected promotional episodes were offered free with advertisements. |
| Was the whole Crunchyroll catalog free? | No. The offer applied to selected titles during Ani-May 2025. |
| Is it a permanent free tier? | No. It was a temporary promotion. |
| Does the Crunchyroll Channel change that? | No. The Channel is a separate, curated, free 24/7 service available only on selected platforms and in supported territories. |
The bottom line
Solo Leveling Season 1, Chainsaw Man, and other selected anime were free to stream with ads during Crunchyroll’s Ani-May 2025 promotion, which began May 1. That was a historical, limited offer—not evidence that the shows remain free in the Crunchyroll app. For current access, check the title’s present listing and the separate Crunchyroll Channel where available; for lasting access, consider the official manga, novels, or Blu-ray releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Solo Leveling free on Crunchyroll?
Yes. Solo Leveling Season 1 was one of the anime Crunchyroll officially named for its Ani-May 2025 free-with-ads promotion, which began May 1, 2025.
Was Chainsaw Man included in Crunchyroll’s free Ani-May promotion?
Chainsaw Man was identified by contemporaneous coverage as one of the titles included in the temporary Ani-May 2025 offer. That does not establish that it remains free today.
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Is Crunchyroll permanently free with ads?
No. The promotion was temporary and applied to selected titles. Crunchyroll’s separate free Crunchyroll Channel is a curated 24/7 service on selected platforms, not free access to the entire app library.
How can I check whether an anime is currently free legally?
Check the current Crunchyroll episode listing for your territory, and separately check whether the Crunchyroll Channel is supported on your device. Subscription and licensing terms can change.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Crunchyroll’s Ani-May 2025 promotion temporarily offered 20 selected anime—including Solo Leveling Season 1 and, according to contemporaneous reports, Chainsaw Man—free with ads. The promotion is not a permanent free catalog policy. Check Crunchyroll’s current listing or Crunchyroll Channel availability before watching.
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