Best anime of 2002 — top 24 ranked

The best anime that premiered in 2002, ranked by MyAnimeList user score. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex leads with a score of 8.42, followed by Hunter x Hunter: Original Video Animation and Case Closed Movie 06: The Phantom of Baker Street. The 24 titles below average 7.89/10 and are drawn from MyAnimeList's top 2,000.

Filter & explore this listAll lists
  1. 1 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex poster

    Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

    Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex
    TV · 26 eps · Fall 2002 · Production I.G
    Adult CastAward WinningDetectiveMechaMilitary
    ★ 8.42
    431.7K members
    #216 on MAL
  2. 2 Hunter x Hunter: Original Video Animation poster

    Hunter x Hunter: Original Video Animation

    OVA · 8 eps · Winter 2002 · Nippon Animation
    ActionAdventureFantasyShounen
    ★ 8.32
    138.8K members
    #307 on MAL
  3. 3 Case Closed Movie 06: The Phantom of Baker Street poster

    Case Closed Movie 06: The Phantom of Baker Street

    Meitantei Conan Movie 06: Baker Street no Bourei
    Movie · 1 ep · Spring 2002 · TMS Entertainment
    AdventureDetectiveMysteryShounenVideo Game
    ★ 8.30
    86.8K members
    #332 on MAL
  4. 4 Millennium Actress poster

    Millennium Actress

    Sennen Joyuu
    Movie · 1 ep · Summer 2002 · Madhouse
    ActionAdult CastAdventureAward WinningDrama
    ★ 8.25
    216.1K members
    #400 on MAL
  5. 5 Princess Tutu poster

    Princess Tutu

    TV · 38 eps · Summer 2002 · HAL Film Maker
    AnthropomorphicDramaLove PolygonMahou ShoujoMystery
    ★ 8.15
    188.9K members
    #534 on MAL
  6. 6 Azumanga Daioh: The Animation poster

    Azumanga Daioh: The Animation

    Azumanga Daiou The Animation
    TV · 26 eps · Spring 2002 · J.C.Staff
    CGDCTComedyGag HumorSchool
    ★ 8.08
    441K members
    #627 on MAL
  7. 7 Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Sanctuary poster

    Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Sanctuary

    Saint Seiya: Meiou Hades Juuni Kyuu-hen
    OVA · 13 eps · Fall 2002 · Toei Animation
    ActionAdventureFantasyMythologySci-Fi
    ★ 8.07
    64.1K members
    #663 on MAL
  8. 8 Hanada Shounen-shi poster

    Hanada Shounen-shi

    TV · 25 eps · Fall 2002 · Madhouse
    ComedyDramaSeinenSupernatural
    ★ 8.05
    19.2K members
    #684 on MAL
  9. 9 Naruto poster

    Naruto

    TV · 220 eps · Fall 2002 · Studio Pierrot
    ActionAdventureFantasyMartial ArtsShounen
    ★ 8.03
    3.2M members
    #726 on MAL
  10. 10 Haibane Renmei poster

    Haibane Renmei

    TV · 13 eps · Fall 2002 · Radix
    DramaFantasyMysteryPsychological
    ★ 8.01
    349.8K members
    #754 on MAL
  11. 11 The Twelve Kingdoms poster

    The Twelve Kingdoms

    Juuni Kokuki
    TV · 45 eps · Spring 2002 · Studio Pierrot
    ActionAdventureFantasyIsekai
    ★ 8.01
    177.9K members
    #755 on MAL
  12. 12 Looking for the Full Moon poster

    Looking for the Full Moon

    Full Moon wo Sagashite
    TV · 52 eps · Spring 2002 · Studio Deen
    ComedyDramaMusicRomanceShoujo
    ★ 7.95
    119.4K members
    #849 on MAL
  13. 13 Ojamajo Doremi Dokkaan! poster

    Ojamajo Doremi Dokkaan!

    TV · 51 eps · Winter 2002 · Toei Animation
    ComedyMahou Shoujo
    ★ 7.82
    19.9K members
    #1,146 on MAL
  14. 14 Haré+Guu Deluxe poster

    Haré+Guu Deluxe

    Jungle wa Itsumo Hare nochi Guu Deluxe
    OVA · 6 eps · Summer 2002 · Shin-Ei Animation
    ComedyGag HumorShounen
    ★ 7.81
    14.4K members
    #1,160 on MAL
  15. 15 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED poster

    Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

    Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED
    TV · 50 eps · Fall 2002 · Sunrise
    Award WinningDramaMechaMilitaryRomance
    ★ 7.74
    188.2K members
    #1,360 on MAL
  16. 16 The Cat Returns poster

    The Cat Returns

    Neko no Ongaeshi
    Movie · 1 ep · Summer 2002 · Studio Ghibli
    AdventureAnthropomorphicAward WinningDramaFantasy
    ★ 7.72
    311K members
    #1,421 on MAL
  17. 17 InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass poster

    InuYasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass

    InuYasha Movie 2: Kagami no Naka no Mugenjou
    Movie · 1 ep · Fall 2002 · Sunrise
    ActionAdventureFantasyHistoricalMythology
    ★ 7.67
    112.6K members
    #1,555 on MAL
  18. 18 Initial D Battle Stage poster

    Initial D Battle Stage

    OVA · 1 ep · Spring 2002 · Pastel
    ActionDramaRacingSeinen
    ★ 7.59
    43.7K members
    #1,835 on MAL
  19. 19 Full Metal Panic! poster

    Full Metal Panic!

    TV · 24 eps · Winter 2002 · Gonzo
    ComedyMechaMilitary
    ★ 7.58
    540.8K members
    #1,870 on MAL
  20. 20 Secret of Cerulean Sand poster

    Secret of Cerulean Sand

    Patapata Hikousen no Bouken
    TV · 26 eps · Winter 2002 · Telecom Animation Film
    AdventureSci-Fi
    ★ 7.58
    9.9K members
    #1,888 on MAL
  21. 21 Crayon Shin-chan Movie 10: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen poster

    Crayon Shin-chan Movie 10: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen

    Movie · 1 ep · Spring 2002 · Shin-Ei Animation
    Award WinningDramaHistoricalRomanceSamurai
    ★ 7.57
    7K members
    #1,916 on MAL
  22. 22 Getbackers poster

    Getbackers

    GetBackers
    TV · 49 eps · Fall 2002 · Studio Deen
    ActionMysteryShounenSuper PowerSupernatural
    ★ 7.57
    130.2K members
    #1,921 on MAL
  23. 23 Hungry Heart: Wild Striker poster

    Hungry Heart: Wild Striker

    TV · 52 eps · Fall 2002 · Nippon Animation
    ShounenSportsTeam Sports
    ★ 7.57
    27K members
    #1,924 on MAL
  24. 24 Lupin III Episode 0: The First Contact poster

    Lupin III Episode 0: The First Contact

    Lupin III: Episode 0 "First Contact"
    TV Special · 1 ep · Summer 2002 · TMS Entertainment
    ActionAdult CastAdventureComedyMystery
    ★ 7.56
    12.8K members
    #1,959 on MAL

Related lists

All-time top 100MoviesTV seriesHidden gemsMost popularMost favoritedAiring nowShort seriesLong seriesWeb anime (ONA)OVAs20262025202420232022