Best Comedy Anime of 2002

Mithril, a covert military organization employing cutting-edge technology to counter terrorist threats, dispatches a specialized team for a delicate mission. Under the command of superior officer Melissa Mao, sergeants Sousuke Sagara and Kurz Weber are tasked with secretly protecting Kaname Chidori—a teenage girl who unknowingly possesses groundbreaking scientific knowledge and is classified as a "Whispered"—from intelligence agencies and other groups seeking to exploit her abilities. While Kurz and Melissa provide remote support, Sousuke enrolls at Kaname's high school as a classmate to maintain close surveillance. However, his militaristic upbringing and lack of social skills make civilian life difficult to navigate. Not only does he draw unwanted attention, but his actions frequently arouse Kaname's suspicion. Despite his earnest efforts to carry out the mission, a terrorist ambush further complicates Sousuke's task. Recognizing the vicious mastermind behind the assault, Sousuke disregards his orders to ensure Kaname's safety.

When computers begin to resemble humans, does the concept of love remain unchanged? Hideki Motosuwa is a young boy from the countryside working hard to pass his college entrance exams. Coming from a poor family, he can barely afford his everyday expenses, let alone the latest trend: Persocoms—personal computers that look exactly like human beings. One evening on his way home, he stumbles upon an abandoned Persocom. After taking her home and successfully turning her on, she appears to be faulty, able to say only one word: "Chii," which becomes her name. Unlike other Persocoms, Chii cannot download data onto her hard drive, forcing Hideki to teach her about the world the old-fashioned way while simultaneously studying for his college exams. Together with his friends, Hideki attempts to solve the mystery behind Chii, who might be a "Chobit"—an urban legend about special units capable of genuine human emotions and thoughts, along with love for their owner. But can a romance truly develop between a Persocom and a human?

Chiyo Mihama starts high school as one of the most unusual first-year students around—a tiny ten-year-old genius who loves stuffed animals and home-cooked meals. However, her homeroom teacher Yukari Tanizaki is the type to steal a student's bicycle to avoid being late, so "unusual" is a flexible concept. There is no shortage of eccentric girls in Yukari-sensei's class either. Alongside Chiyo are students like Tomo Takino, a hyperactive tomboy with more energy than intelligence; Koyomi Mizuhara, Tomo's best friend whose temper is shorter than Chiyo's height; and Sakaki, a tall, athletic beauty whose fierce appearance conceals a gentle nature and a painful obsession with cats. Transfer student Ayumu Kasuga, a girl with her head perpetually in the clouds, fits in perfectly with the rest of the group—and she has some peculiar ideas about Chiyo's pigtails! Together, this endearing group of girls navigates the highs and lows of school life, their countless adventures filled with nonstop laughter, surreal absurdity, and occasionally even poignant reflections on the fleeting, bittersweet nature of high school.

After competing in the Johto League, Satoshi decides to start fresh on a new adventure—this time traveling alone with Pikachu through the Houen region. However, he doesn't stay solo for long. Ten-year-old Haruka, who dislikes Pokémon but wants to see the world, ends up accompanying him after Pikachu destroys her bicycle. Satoshi also reunites with his old friend Takeshi, and meets Haruka's younger brother, Masato. Together, the group journeys across Houen, taking on Gym Leaders, participating in contests, and experiencing various events along the road to the Houen League.

Five new children embark on a fresh mission in the Digital World in Digimon Frontier, delivering the same thrilling action and adventure as the previous three seasons. Takuya, Kouji, Izumi, Junpei, and Tomoki encounter each other on a train that transports them to the Digital World, where a conflict against evil is underway. The Angel digimon Cherubimon, one of the three angels dispatched to rescue the world from the power-hungry Lucemon, has fallen to the dark side, placing the entire Digital World in jeopardy. To confront this great battle, the five CHOSEN ONES must locate the Densetsu no Spirit (Legendary Spirit).

Two years prior, Mitsuki Kouyama's childhood friend Eichi Sakurai moved to America before she could confess her feelings to him. Although she cannot contact him, they made a promise to pursue their dreams: Mitsuki aims to become a professional singer, while Eichi wants to be an astronomer. She hopes that one day her music will reach him across the world, shining as brilliantly as the full moon. However, there is a complication: Mitsuki has throat cancer, which leaves her voice quiet and makes singing difficult. Her grandmother despises music and insists Mitsuki undergo surgery to remove the cancer, but Mitsuki refuses because it risks losing her voice entirely. One day, two shinigami—Meroko Yui and Takuto Kira—appear and inform her that she has only one year left to live. This shocking news spurs Mitsuki into action, and she decides that with Meroko and Takuto's assistance, she will become a professional singer within the time she has remaining. Full Moon wo Sagashite follows the emotional journey of Mitsuki and her shinigami companions as they learn what it truly means to sing—and ultimately, what it means to live.

Kaoru Hanabishi, a college student living by himself, encountered a lovely yet confused girl in a kimono at a train station. He offered to help her find the address she was looking for, which turned out to be near his own place, but the location was an empty lot. Unsure of what to do next, Kaoru brought the distressed girl to his apartment and asked for more clues about her destination. She showed him a photograph of two children, which Kaoru immediately recognized as himself and his childhood friend Aoi Sakuraba. It became clear that the girl before him was indeed Aoi Sakuraba, his betrothed fiancée who had traveled to Tokyo to marry him. This revelation not only shocked him but also stirred deep memories of why he had left the Hanabishi family in the first place.

Satoshi "Sasshi" Imamiya feels his world has collapsed, a despair fitting for a twelve-year-old. His troubles deepen when his prized card collection is lost and he discovers his childhood friend, Arumi Asahina, is moving away. Their personal crises are suddenly overshadowed by surreal events as they are whisked through bizarre dimensions of science fiction, magic, and warfare. Every effort to flee merely launches them into yet another strange realm. They soon realize these alternate worlds are distorted reflections of their hometown, populated by two mysterious figures: the curvaceous Mune-mune and the elusive blue-haired Eutus, who may hold the secret to their escape. In Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai, Sasshi and Arumi embark on a comedic journey to get back home. Yet, as they uncover a story that spans generations, they begin to suspect the root of their plight is deeply personal, forcing them to question whether returning to their original life is truly what they want.

The Bladebreakers must reunite after being defeated by a mysterious group led by Oozuma, though he is not the true antagonist. The actual danger comes from a faction that employs cyber-BitBeasts to capture the original BitBeasts belonging to the Bladebreakers.

At the fog-shrouded battlefield of Sekigahara in 1600, two legendary swordsmen clashed fiercely. One was Kyoushirou Mibu, a noble warrior endowed with the unique abilities of the Mibu Clan. The other was Kyou, known as "Demon Eyes" due to his blood-red hair and gaze, and infamous as the thousand-man slayer. Their epic duel was abruptly ended when a meteor crashed onto the field, causing both fighters to disappear. The story picks up four years later, following Yuya Shiina, a bounty hunter who carries a gun. She tracks down Kyoushirou, who has become a lecherous traveling medicine man burdened by significant debt. While attempting to capture him for the bounty, they are ambushed by a monstrous creature intent on devouring Kyoushirou. This attack triggers the awakening of "Demon Eyes" Kyou, whose consciousness had been confined within Kyoushirou’s body since that fateful day. This sets in motion a grand narrative exploring the mysteries of these two legendary warriors.

In the year 20XX, a boy named Netto Hikari starts fifth grade and receives a special present: his own customized Net Navi, Rockman! Although Rockman is small and has a much more serious personality, the two quickly become close friends. A Net Navi guides its operator from inside their Personal Terminal, known as a PET. People of all ages take part in friendly Net Battles, where they pit their Navis against each other to show their skill.

Despite looking like a young boy, Jing is a highly skilled thief whose abilities make him one of the most feared criminals globally. He roams from town to town alongside his feathered companion Kir, pilfering valuable items without regard for the security in place. When cornered, Jing relies on a secret technique: Kir merges with his right arm to unleash the lethal "Kir Royale" strike. This reputation has earned him the notorious title of "King of Bandits."

As Mahoro, Suguru, and his classmates deepen their bonds, another android girl appears and grows attached to Mahoro. Meanwhile, the days remaining before Mahoro is scheduled to shut down continue to dwindle.

Seina Yamada's streak of misfortune—wrecking his bike, tumbling into lakes—seems unbreakable. That luck shifts when he gets drafted into the Galaxy Police against his will and proceeds to arrest more pirates than any other officer on the force. Now the former unlucky Earth boy has become a name pirates dread. Yet for all his fearsome reputation, Seina remains the same accident-prone fellow. At least he has Amane Kaunaq, an ex-model, and Kiriko Masaki, his longtime friend, to help hold him together. With their support, Seina embarks on a journey toward his goal of becoming a fine Galaxy Police Officer.

Hitotose Chitose had always been solitary and wary of others, but when five female teachers moved into his family home and began living with him as his mothers, his life started to shift and liven up. Alongside Hazuki-nee and Minazuki, his two sisters, every day offers a new lesson.

Megumi-chan carries a hidden history: once a boy, they encountered someone they believed to be a magic user. That individual gave them a mysterious book—when blood touches it, a genie emerges to fulfill one wish. Megumi wished to become a man in a man's body, but the genie works in reverse, transforming nine-year-old Megumi-kun into Megumi-chan. Years later, Megumi enters high school and immediately defeats the school bully, who, of course, falls in love with her. Now she searches for the book again, hoping to undo the spell.

Iwaki Tomonori is an ordinary 15-year-old boy with a preference for older women. He harbors a crush on his teacher, only to discover she has just become engaged. Heartbroken, he returns home and finds a 12-year-old girl named Rizel waiting for him. He soon learns that the Japanese government has forcibly married him to her against his will. Moreover, Rizel is no ordinary girl—she is a biochemically engineered human. Her creators, referred to as her "papa"s, promise to cover several of Iwaki's parents' bills in exchange for allowing them to stay at the house. Thus, Iwaki's life with Rizel begins.

Kotarou is an ordinary boy who worries about school pressures and enjoys a simple life with his friends. To his dismay, one day the overly cheerful Misha appears at his door, wanting to be friends out of the blue. Even more surprising is that Misha is an apprentice angel, yet she causes more harm than good. Along with Kotarou's schoolmates Takashi and Koboshi, and the so-called devil Shia (who likewise does more good than bad), the group of friends spend their days getting into all sorts of adventures and troubles.

The realm of Duel Masters consists of five great civilizations. By playing a card game, duelists can bring these worlds to life, turning what was once an idea into reality. Such skilled individuals are called Kaijudo masters. Shobu Kirifuda is the strongest player at his neighborhood playground and aims to become a top-tier master like his father. His first move toward that goal is winning a local tournament—or at least it should have been, but he is crushed by Knight, the world's greatest Kaijudo master. Shobu loses, yet after recalling the wise lessons his father left with him, he chooses to keep moving forward as a duelist who can appreciate the game for what it truly is. Thus begins his path to triumph—and as everyone knows, the journey itself is what matters most!

The story follows a princess from outer space who accidentally crash-lands on Earth, where Kazuto is desperately trying to keep his grandfather's public bathhouse running. Due to a twist of fate, Kazuto receives a portion of Princess Walkyrie's soul, forcing her to remain there with him. That is not the only problem, however—because her soul has lost strength, the princess transforms both mentally and physically into a little child.

Kaede, an upbeat eighth-grader, is completely timid when it comes to romance. After purchasing a vibrant cocoa mug at a strange shop, she finds an inscription revealing that reading a wish aloud while adding hot cocoa summons a love fairy, or muglox, to fulfill desires. Skeptical yet intrigued, Kaede wishes to date Yuuki, the popular boy at school, and the tiny blue Mirumo instantly appears. However, Mirumo is more interested in eating sweets and causing chaos than helping her. As the prince of the muglox world, Mirumo fled his realm to avoid an arranged marriage with Princess Rirumu. Now, Rirumu, bounty hunter Yashichi, and a chaotic army of muglox are in pursuit, turning Kaede’s everyday school life into a whirlwind of adorable trouble.

Hana-chan has unexpectedly joined the ranks of the Ojamajo. As the spirit of Majo Tourbillion begins to spiral out of control and create further chaos in the Witch World, Doremi and her friends are assigned to permanently break her curse. With assistance from the special elephant Pao-chan, Doremi, Hana, and the rest of the Ojamajo must figure out how to halt the curse and liberate Majo Tourbillion from her torment.

Set years after the original Kinnikuman, Kinnikuman II Sei follows Mantarou Kinniku, the 59th prince of Planet Kinniku and son of the legendary wrestler King Suguru. Lazy, cowardly, and immature, Mantarou seems nothing like his heroic father. When a dangerous group known as the dMP threatens Earth, only a fighter on Kinnikuman's level can stop them. With the King's whereabouts unknown, plans are made for Mantarou to take his place. Reluctant to fight super villains, Mantarou initially flees his duty and escapes to Earth, where he meets Meat, his father's old trainer. Despite Mantarou's flaws, Meat sees King Suguru in him and believes he can guide the prince onto the right path. Thus begins Mantarou's journey to improve himself and save the world.

Ichiro Hanada is a hyperactive boy living with his family in the countryside. He is prone to mischief, often teasing his sister or insulting neighbors, which leads to constant scolding from his mother and complaints from the community about his rowdiness. After a severe prank, Ichiro steals a bicycle and flees, only to be struck by a truck. He survives the accident, though he requires stitches and loses his hair during recovery. The incident grants him the ability to see spirits, which becomes an unwanted burden. Because he is the only one who can interact with them, recently deceased ghosts approach him to resolve their lingering attachments. Through these encounters, the curious boy learns valuable life lessons that gradually contribute to his personal growth.

Although she recently turned 17, Yucie remains an average girl with the appearance of a child. Her growth stopped at age 10, and she longs to finally develop an adult physique. One day, she is picked as a contender for the “Platinum Princess” title—a honor bestowed once every thousand years upon whoever proves worthy of the Eternal Tiara, a legendary crown that can fulfill any desire. She is not the only candidate, as four other girls also compete to see their own wishes granted by the crown. Thus, Yucie enters the nearby Princess Academy, aiming to cultivate her inner self and become eligible for the Eternal Tiara. With support from her family, her rivals, and even the academy’s principal, will Yucie’s deeply held wish eventually come to pass?

It is the year 2041 AD. A new foe called Zeravire abruptly emerges in the solar system, destroying every military installation it encounters. However, the wealthy Klein Sandman has long been aware of this planned invasion and has secretly been preparing his forces for battle. His ultimate weapon is Gravion, a giant robot powered by gravity. Meanwhile, a young man named Eiji infiltrates Sandman's base in search of his missing sister. There he meets another young man named Toga. Together with four other individuals, these two must now fight aboard the super robot Gravion to defend against the Zeravire threat.

Ai Shiomi, burdened by self-doubt, enrolls at the prestigious Psychic Academy—a school for students with psychic powers—hoping to live up to the legacy of his legendary older brother.

In the distant future, humanity expanded into space and flourished. However, a sudden Jikushin (space-time earthquake) severed all networks, resetting civilization entirely. Humanity gradually revived and entered a second age of prosperity under the Transvaal imperial country, which rose to power at the center of the galaxy. The science and technology from before the civilization reset—known as "Lost Technology"—came to be seen as the work of gods and was worshipped by priests called "Tsuki no miko." Meanwhile, a certain guard fleet was stationed on the frontier of the galaxy. Though it appeared to be a perfectly ordinary military unit, it contained a team composed entirely of women known as the "Angel Corps." They piloted the "Angel Frame," a spaceship that was a relic of Lost Technology, and their duties involved collecting and managing such lost technologies using their craft. The Angel Corps were not elite pilots; rather, they were a group of eccentrics. Among them were arms maniac Forte, costume player Mint, taciturn Vanilla, showy Ranpha, and cooking enthusiast Milfeulle. Every time, they caused major trouble on their missions.

The Galaxy Angels—Milfeulle, Forte, Ranpha, Mint, and Vanilla—are back for another round of comedy. Their official duty is to search for and recover mysterious Lost Technology, but these girls rarely follow the plan. They have sworn to safeguard the galaxy one planet at a time, yet with the newly established Twin Star Brigade as competition, they keep ending up at the heart of chaos—though usually they're the ones who started it.

Tadahiro Amatsu has had one brown eye and one light hazel eye since childhood. However, a hidden secret tied to his left eye has made him the prey of the masked sorcerer Ayatara Miramune and his demon followers. To fight the demons cropping up across town, trainee priestess Yuzu Hieda brings together four other girls from her high school. Under the guidance of Yuzu's older sister Kurako, these five young shrine maidens must train for months to develop their skills.

On the final Valentine's Day before her high school entrance exams, Nana Suzuki struggles to muster the courage to confess her feelings to her longtime crush. When her chocolates are accidentally destroyed, she dashes home to make more—unaware that her grandfather has turned the microwave into a peculiar invention. Suddenly, six extra versions of Nana appear, each with their own extreme personality and a crystal that gives them magical powers! With her original plan ruined, Nana vows to confess to her crush during her first year of high school. The catch is that her crush is top student Yuuichi Kamichika, and following him to his elite high school means she must study hard. With six new allies by her side, Nana gets ready to face anything the exam season might throw at her.

Deijiko is the princess of the planet Di Gi Charat. Inspired by a book, she becomes determined to bring happiness to everyone. Leaving the castle, she poses as an ordinary girl and takes on various jobs around town in her quest to make people happy, forming many new friendships—and, inevitably, making some enemies along the way.

Absurd misadventures of a near-average family consisting of a mother, her husband, and their two children Yuzuhiko and Mikan. Wild comedy centered on this peculiar family's everyday life.

Mao Onigawara is a cheerful eight-year-old elementary school student and the granddaughter of the Ground Defense Force Chief of Staff. Armed with a cloverleaf-shaped badge that allows her to transform (though it grants no actual special abilities), Mao and her closest friends—who are, respectively, the granddaughters of the Air Defense Force and Marine Defense Force Chiefs of Staff—must protect Japan from an invasion by "cute aliens," who are far too adorable for conventional military forces to handle.

Saint Hoshikawa School harbors a clandestine unit known as the G-On Riders, composed of students selected for their exceptional physical prowess and skills to defend Earth from extraterrestrial threats. Yet, the internal conflicts among the Riders prove just as challenging as the battles against the invaders. Meanwhile, fellow student Ichiro makes fervent attempts to confess his romantic feelings for Yuki, a member of the group.

Zen, an 11-year-old boy, joins forces with his younger sister Karen and a gluttonous young boy named Pitan to fight an evil empire using their Foodons—bizarre monsters created from different foods.

Deep Space, diverse cultures coexist on the planet Jet. To preserve harmony, an organization called the Jetters is established. This space police force combats villains known as the "Hige hige dan," ensuring the universe's safety. The Jetters' leader, Mighty, is a powerful Bomberman admired and respected by all. His brother, Shirobon, is a lazy, crude slacker. After Mighty suddenly vanishes, Shiro finds himself thrust into a new situation. He steps up and matures into a responsible Bomberman, and with the new friends he makes among the Jetters, he might become the next leader of the team.

In a world four years removed from the present, balance has been shattered. A massive expanse of ten thousand meters of forest has vanished, rendering the land uninhabitable for humans and allowing a desert to expand without limit. Consequently, people are forced to migrate into the realm of Meshichi, where they must coexist with the Anbots. Fate brings Sanzou and Gokyuu together. Sanzou is a mysterious young man, while Gokyuu is regarded as the most formidable and dangerous Anbot. They are joined by Tongoh, an Anbot who enjoys drinking; Jou, a skilled mechanic; Suuji, a female Anbot thief; and Mioto. Thus, their expedition commences toward the limitless East, seeking the land where the sun originated.

Koron Nemuta is a girl who yawns whenever she feels embarrassed. One day, while lost, she discovers a vase. Whenever she yawns, the genie Akubi emerges from the vase, but yawning again causes Akubi to return inside it.

Amika is an elementary school student with aspirations of becoming an idol. Her grandmother, a strict but wealthy woman, resides on her own remote island. After her grandmother passes away, subtle changes begin to appear in Amika's life. Shortly following the death, Amika's mother gives birth to a baby girl. Ironically, Amika's new little sister looks and behaves exactly like their late grandmother.

Hamazaki Densuke, known as Hama-chan, is a white-collar worker without greed or ambition for career advancement or self-preservation. Despite angering his boss and upsetting his wife, Hama-chan goes at his own pace and chooses to go fishing. He believes life holds more important things than work and savors simple pleasures like fishing.

The monkeys are causing trouble again, but this time they are on the side of the "heroes." They perform mischievous magic shows, use a ninja Jutsu to clone themselves, and fill UFO catchers with their own kind—these are just a few of their antics as they also try to adapt to human life.

A girl named Niu sets out to find the Papo Spring in order to save her tribe, which has fallen into a deep sleep due to the black magic of the wizard Ferrox. Together with Imp and Zar, she travels to each dinosaur tribe to collect relics of water, fire, wood, gold (iron), and earth. However, the constant interference from Ferox and his gang eventually leads to the great war that will decide the fate of the Continent of Gondua.