The events of 2002 in anime.
At the Mainichi Film Awards, won the Animation Film Award and Millennium Actress won the Ōfuji Noburō Award. Internationally, Spirited Away became the first, and so far only, anime to win both the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. Kōji Yamamura's Mt. Head was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Spirited Away also won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film.
| Release date | Title | Studio | Director(s) | Running time (minutes) | Japanese name | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turn A Gundam I: Earth Light | Sunrise | Yoshiyuki Tomino | 128 | Gekijō-ban ∀ Gandamu I chikyū hikari | ||
| Turn A Gundam II: Moonlight Butterfly | Gekijō-ban ∀ Gandamu II gekkō chō | |||||
| One Piece: Chopper Kingdom of Strange Animal Island | Toei Animation | Junji Shimizu | 55 | Wanpīsu chinjū shima no choppā ōkoku | ||
| Tetsuharu Nakamura | 30 | Dejimon teimāzu bōsō dejimon tokkyū | ||||
| Shin-Ei Animation | Tsutomu Shibayama | 81 | Eiga Doraemon Nobita to robotto ōkoku [Kingu damu] | |||
| A Tree of Palme | Palm Studio | Takashi Nakamura | 136 | Parumu no ki | ||
| Patlabor Movie 3: WXIII | Madhouse | Fumihiko Takayama | 100 | WXIII kidō keisatsu patoreibā | ||
| Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Battle of the Warring States | Shin-Ei Animation | Keiichi Hara | 95 | Eiga Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Dai Kassen | ||
| eX-Driver the Movie | Actas | Akira Nishimori | 62 | Ekusu doraibā the movie | ||
| Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street | TMS Entertainment | Kenji Kodama | 107 | Meitantei Conan: Baker Street no Bourei | ||
| AIC | Katsuhito Akiyama | 90 | Amitēji za sādo DUAL – matorikkusu | |||
| Pokémon Heroes | OLM | Kunihiko Yuyama | 74 | Poketto monsutā mizu no miyako no Mamoru-shin ratiasutoratiosu | ||
| Studio Ghibli | Hiroyuki Morita | 75 | Neko no Ongaeshi | |||
| Nippon AnimationSynergy Japan | Takuo Suzuki | 70 | Bakuten shūto beiburēdo THE mūbī gekitō! | Takao VS daichi | ||
| Madhouse | Satoshi Kon | 86 | Sennen Joyuu | |||
| t.o.L | 91 | Tamara 2010 a panku kyatto in supēsu | ||||
| AIC | Koichi Oohata | 98 | BLUE GENDER THE WARRIOR | |||
| Inuyasha: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass | Sunrise | Toshiya Shinohara | 99 | Inuyasha-kyō no naka no mugen-jō |
| data-sort-type="text" width="150px" | First run start and end dates | Title | Episodes | Studio | Director(s) | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Secret of Cerulean Sand | 26 | Telecom Animation Film | Yuuichiro Yano | Patapata Hikousen no Bouken | |
| – | Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat | 48 | Madhouse | Shigehito Takayanagi | Panyo panyo de ji kyaratto | |
| – | Beyblade V-Force | 51 | Nippon Animation | Yoshio Takeuchi | Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 | |
| – | Mirage of Blaze | 13 | Madhouse | Susumu Kudo | Honoo no Mirage | |
| – | Full Metal Panic! | 24 | Gonzo | Kouichi Chigira | Furumetaru panikku! | |
| – | Ultimate Muscle | 51 | Toei Animation | Toshiaki Komura | Kinnikuman II Sei | |
| – | Please Teacher! | 12 | Daume | Yasunori Ide | Onegai ☆ tīchā | |
| – | Nana Seven of Seven | 25 | A.C.G.T. | Yasuhiro Imagawa | Shichinin no Nana | |
| – | Aquarian Age Sign for Evolution | 13 | Madhouse | Yoshimitsu Oohashi | Akuerian'eiji sain fō eborūshon | |
| – | RahXephon | 26 | Bones | Yutaka Izubuchi | Rāzefon | |
| – | Kanon | 13 | Toei Animation | Naoyuki Ito | Kanon (2002) | |
| – | Genma Wars | 13 | E&G Films | Tsuneo Tominaga | Genma taisen – shinwa zen'ya no shō | |
| – | Useless Witch Doremi Kaboom! | 51 | Toei Animation | Takuya Igarashi | Ojamajo doremi dokkan! | |
| – | Galaxy Angel Z | 9 | Madhouse | Morio Asaka | Gyarakushī enjeru Z | |
| – | Kick Off 2002 | 26 | KBS Media | Kim Dae Jun | Kikku ofu 2002 | |
| – | Rockman.EXE | 56 | Xebec | Takao Kato | Rokkuman eguze | |
| – | Gun Frontier | 13 | Vega Entertainment | Soichiro Zen | Gan furontia | |
| – | Psychic Academy | 24 | E&G Films | Shigeru Yamazaki | Saikikku akademī kirara banshō | |
| – | Happy☆Lesson | 13 | Studio Hibari | Iku Suzuki | HAPPY☆LESSON | |
| – | Tokyo Underground | 26 | Pierrot | Hayato Date | Tōkyō andāguraundo | |
| – | Tenchi Muyou! GXP | 26 | AIC | Shinichi Watanabe | Tenchimuyō! GXP | |
| – | Chobits | 26 | Madhouse | Morio Asaka | Chobittsu | |
| – | Rizelmine | 24 | MadhouseImagin | Yasuhiro Matsumura | Rizerumain | |
| – | .hack//Sign | 26 | Bee Train | Koichi Mashimo | .hack//SIGN | |
| – | Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi | 13 | Madhouse | Masayuki Kojima | Abeno-bashi mahō ☆ shōten machi | |
| – | Daigunder | 39 | Brain's Base | Hiroyuki Yano | Bakutōsengen daigandā | |
| – | Forza! Hidemaru | 26 | Gallop | Yoshihiro Takamoto | Forutsu~a! Hidemaru | |
| – | Mirmo Zibang! | 172 | Studio Hibari | Kenichi Kasai | Wagamama ☆ fearī mirumo de pon! | |
| – | Searching for the Full Moon | 52 | Studio Deen | Toshiyuki Kato | Mangetsu wo sagashite | |
| – | Tokyo Mew Mew | 52 | Pierrot | Noriyuki Abe | Tōkyō myūmyū | |
| – | Lightning Super Express Hikarian | 52 | Tokyo Kids | Hideaki Ooba | Denkou Chou Tokkyuu Hikarian | |
| – | Cheeky Angel | 50 | TMS Entertainment | Masaharu Okuwaki | Tenshi na Konamaiki | |
| – | Digimon Frontier | 50 | Toei Animation | Yukio Kaizawa | Dejimon furontia | |
| – | Pita Ten | 26 | Madhouse | Toshifumi Kawase | Pitaten | |
| – | Azumanga Daioh The Animation | 26 | J.C.Staff | Hiroshi Nishikiori | Azumanga daiō the animēshon | |
| – | The Twelve Kingdoms | 45 | Pierrot | Tsuneo Kobayashi | Jūnikokuki | |
| – | Ai Yori Aoshi | 24 | J.C.Staff | Masami Shimoda | Bluer Than Indigo | |
| – | My Family | 330 | Shin-Ei Animation | Akitaro DaichiTetsuo Yasumi | Atashinchi | |
| – | Whistle! | 39 | Studio Comet | Hiroshi Fukutomi | Hoissuru! | |
| – | 13 | Studio Deen | Hiroshi Watanabe | Ōdorobō jing | ||
| – | She, The Ultimate Weapon | 13 | Gonzo | Mitsuko Kase | Saishūheiki kanojo | |
| – | Samurai Deeper Kyo | 26 | Studio Deen | Junji Nishimura | SAMURAI DEEPER KYO | |
| – | G-On Riders | 13 | ShaftTNK | Shinichiro Kimura | G – on raidasu | |
| – | Witch Hunter Robin | 26 | Sunrise | Shuko Murase | Uitchi hantā robin | |
| – | UFO Princess Valkyrie | 12 | TNK | Shigeru Ueda | Enban kōjo warukiyure | |
| – | Fortune Dogs | 39 | Vega Entertainment | Hiroshi Saito | Fōchun doggusu | |
| – | Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan | 26 | Xebec | Yoshiaki Iwasaki | Rikujō bōeitai maochan | |
| – | Shrine of the Morning Mist | 26 | Chaos ProjectGANSIS | Yuuji Moriyama | Asagiri no miko | |
| – | Dragon Drive | 38 | Madhouse | Toshifumi Kawase | Doragon doraibu | |
| – | Princess Tutu | 38 | HAL Film Maker | Junichi SatoKiyoko Sayama | Purinsesu chuchu | |
| – | Maou Dante | 13 | Magic Bus | Kenichi Maejima | Maō dante | |
| – | Overman King Gainer | 26 | Sunrise | Yoshiyuki Tomino | Ōbāman kingugeinā | |
| – | 52 | Nippon Animation | Satoshi Saga | Hangurīhāto wairudo Striker | ||
| – | Mahoromatic ~Something More Beautiful~ | 14 | GainaxShaft | Hiroyuki Yamaga | Mahoromatikku ~ motto utsukushī mono ~ | |
| – | Petite Princess Yucie | 26 | GainaxAIC | Masahiko Ootsuka | Puchipuri* yūshii | |
| – | Monkey Typhoon | 52 | Studio Egg | Mamoru Hamatsu | Asobotto senki go kyū | |
| – | 26 | Production I.G | Kenji Kamiyama | Kōkakukidōtai STAND arōn konpurekkusu | ||
| – | Spiral: The Bond of Reasoning | 25 | J.C.Staff | Mamoru Hosoda | Supairaru – suiri no kizuna - | |
| – | Hanada Shounen-shi | 25 | Madhouse | Masayuki Kojima | Hanadashōnenshi | |
| – | Heat Guy J | 25 | Satelight | Kazuki Akane | Hīto gai jei | |
| – | Bomberman Jetters | 52 | Studio Deen | Katsuyuki Kodera | Bonbāman jettāzu | |
| – | Naruto | 220 | Pierrot | Hayato Date | Naruto | |
| – | Sister Princess Re Pure | 13 | Zexcs | Nagisa MiyazakiTsubame Shimotaya | Shisutā purinsesu ~ ripyua ~ | |
| – | Mobile Suit Gundam SEED | 50 | Sunrise | Mitsuo Fukuda | Kidō senshi Gandamu shīdo | |
| – | GetBackers | 49 | Studio Deen | Kazuhiro FuruhashiKeitaro Motonaga | Getto bakkāzu dakkan-ya | |
| – | Galaxy Angel 3 | 26 | Madhouse | Shigehito Takayanagi | Gyarakushī enjeru A | |
| – | Super Heavy God Gravion | 13 | Gonzo | Masami Oobari | Chō omo kami guravuion | |
| – | Kiddy Grade | 24 | Keiji Gotoh | Kidi gureido | ||
| – | Haibane Renmei | 13 | Radix | Tomokazu Tokoro | Haibanerenmei | |
| – | Diary of a Fishing Fool | 36 | Toei Animation | Tetsuo Imazawa | Tsuribakanisshi | |
| – | 10 | OLM | Norihiko Sudo | PIANO | ||
| – | Pokemon Advanced Generation | 192 | Kunihiko YuyamaMasamitsu Hidaka Yuuji Asada | Poketto monsutā adobansu jenerēshon | ||
| – | Knight Hunters Eternity | 13 | ufotable | Hitoyuki Matsui | Vuaisu kuroitsu gurīen |
| data-sort-type="text" width="150px" | First run start and end dates | Title | Episodes | Studio | Director(s) | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detective Conan: 16 Suspects | 1 | TMS Entertainment | Yasuichiro Yamamoto | Meitantei Conan: 16-nin no Yougisha | ||
| – | Hunter x Hunter: Original Video Animation | 8 | Nippon Animation | Satoshi Saga | HUNTER×HUNTER Original Video Animation | |
| Digital Juice | 6 | Studio 4°C | Kouji MorimotoOsamu KobayashiTatsuyuki TanakaKazuyoshi Yaginuma | Dejitaru jūsu | ||
| – | Love Hina Again | 3 | Xebec | Yoshiaki Iwasaki | Rabu hina agein | |
| Gakuen Senki Muryou Special | 1 | Madhouse | Yorinuki muryō-san Girls serekushon ~ gakuensenki muryō tokubetsu-hen ~ | |||
| – | Shootfighter Tekken | 3 | AIC | Yukio Nishimoto | Kōkō tekken-den tafu | |
| Voices of a Distant Star | 1 | CoMix Wave Films | Makoto Shinkai | Hoshi no koe | ||
| – | Arcade Gamer Fubuki | 4 | Shaft | Yuuji Muto | Ākēdo gēmā fubuki | |
| – | 4 | Madhouse | Katsuhito IshiiTakeshi Koike | TRAVA FIST PLANET | ||
| – | Sweat Punch | 5 | Studio 4°C | Kazuto Nakazawa | Suuetto panchi | |
| Canary | 1 | Soeishinsha | Keitaro Motonaga | Kanaria | ||
| – | Otogi Story Tenshi no Shippo Specials | 2 | Tokyo Kids | Kazuhiro Ochi | O togi sutōrī tenshinoshippo | |
| – | In a Distant Time | 2 | Zexcs | Iku Suzuki | Harukanaru jikū no naka de 〜 ajisaiyumekatari 〜 | |
| – | Angelique: Twin Collection | 8 | Yumeta Company | Anjerīku Twin korekushon | ||
| – | Araiso Private High School Student Council Executive Committee | 2 | Nippon Animation | Shinji Sato | Shiritsu araiso kōtō gakkō seito-kai shikkō-bu | |
| Lupin III: Return of Pycal | 1 | TMS Entertainment | Mamoru Hamatsu | Lupin III: Ikiteita Majutsushi | ||
| She and Her Cat Their Standing Points | 1 | CoMix Wave Films | Makoto Shinkai | Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko | ||
| – | Gate Keepers 21 | 6 | Gonzo | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Gēto kīpāzu 21 | |
| 3 | Garerianzu: Rion | |||||
| Galaxy Angel Music Collection: Shouen to Shien no Cassoulet | 1 | Madhouse | Morio AsakaYoshimitsu Oohashi | Gyarakushī enjeru myūjikku korekushon shōen to shien no kasure | ||
| – | Cosplay Complex | 3 | TNK | Shinichiro Kimura | Kosupure konpurekkusu | |
| Megami Kouhosei Special Curriculum | 1 | Xebec | Shinichi Yamaoka | Megami kōhosei supesharu karikyuramu | ||
| Mahou no Star Magical Emi: Kumo Hikaru | 1 | Ajia-do | Takashi Anno | Mahō no sutā majikaru emi kumo hikaru | ||
| – | .hack//Liminality | 4 | Bee Train | Koichi Mashimo | .hack//LIMINALITY | |
| – | Futari Ecchi | 4 | Chaos Project | Yuuji Moriyama | Futari etchi | |
| Ultra Maniac | 1 | Ashi Productions | Shinichi MasakiNanako Shimazaki | Urutora maniakku | ||
| – | Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte | 5 | Kyoto AnimationTatsunoko Production | Yasuhiro Takemoto | Nāsuu~itchi komugi-chan majikarute | |
| – | Yukikaze | 5 | Gonzo | Masahiko Ookura | Sentō yōsei yukikaze | |
| – | Haré+Guu Deluxe | 6 | Shin-Ei Animation | Tsutomu Mizushima | Janguru haitsu moharenochiguu derakkusu | |
| Saiyuki Interactive | 1 | Pierrot | Gensōmadensaiyūki – kibō no zaika - | |||
| Mega Man Wishing upon a Star | 3 | Ashi Productions | Katsumi Minoguchi | Rokku man hoshininegaiwo | ||
| Ichi The Killer: Episode 0 | 1 | AIC | Shinji Ishihira | Koroshi-ya 1 THE animēshon EPISODE 0 | ||
| Please Teacher! Secret Couple | 1 | Daume | Onegai ☆ tīchā himitsunafutari | |||
| Vandread Gekitou-hen | 1 | Gonzo | Shinji Higuchi | Vuandoreddo gekitō-hen | ||
| – | Saint Seiya The Hades Chapter – Sanctuary | 13 | Toei Animation | Shigeyasu Yamauchi | Seitō shiseiya meiō hādesu jūnikyū-hen | |
| – | I''s | 2 | PierrotArms | Shigenori Kageyama | Furomuaizu ~ mō hitotsu no natsu no monogatari ~ | |
| – | Happy World! | 3 | Zexcs | Takashi Ikehata | Happy World! | |
| Sakura Taisen: Sumire | 1 | Radix | Hitoyuki Matsui | “Sakura taisen”~ kanzaki sumire intai kinen ~`su mi re | ||
| – | I'll/CKBC | 2 | M.S.C | Itsuro Kawasaki | I'll/CKBC | |
| Green Green | 1 | Media Factory | Gurīn gurīn | |||
| – | 13 | Madhouse | Rintaro | SPACE PIRATE CAPTAIN HERLOCK OUTSIDE LEGEND ~The Endless Odyssey~ | ||
| – | Macross Zero | 5 | Satelight | Shoji Kawamori | Makurosu zero | |
| 1 | Ajia-do | Sata | Wind -a breath of heart- | |||
| Kojin Taxi | 5 | |||||
| Shokuzai no Kyoushitsu | 2 | |||||
| 4 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
| D+vine Luv | 4 | |||||
| Little Monica Monogatari | 2 |