Best Mystery Anime of 2002

In the near future, humanity has reached a point where complete body replacements from organic flesh to mechanical parts are possible. This advancement greatly enhances both physical and cybernetic abilities, blurring the line between the two realms. However, criminals also take full advantage of such technology, resulting in new and often highly dangerous forms of crime. To address these innovative threats, the Japanese government establishes Section 9, an independently operating police unit that handles such sensitive criminal cases. Led by Daisuke Aramaki and Motoko Kusanagi, Section 9 deals with these crimes across the entire social spectrum, usually achieving success. Yet, when faced with a new elite hacker nicknamed "The Laughing Man," the team is drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, following the hacker's trail as it leaves its mark on Japan.

A young Haibane—a being with a halo and small gray wings—emerges from a cocoon in the village of Old Home, awakening to a world she cannot comprehend, carrying no memories of her past. She is given the name Rakka after the dream of falling she experienced inside the cocoon, and gradually grows accustomed to life in this strange town. Yet the Haibane must follow strict rules: they are forbidden from leaving the village or approaching the walls that enclose it. These rules, along with the mysterious disappearances of their kind on their "Day of Flight," start to disturb Rakka and the others, as they know almost nothing about their own existence. Living without any recollection of the past, Rakka and the other Haibane seek to free themselves from their former suffering and ultimately find redemption.

A young wavemaster known only by the alias Tsukasa wakes up inside the MMORPG The World with partial amnesia. He has no memory of what he did before regaining consciousness. In The World, the Crimson Knights suspect him of being a hacker because he was seen accompanying an altered cat-shaped character. Unable to log out from the game, he wanders in search of answers while evading the knights and other players he meets along the way. As Tsukasa explores The World, he comes across a magical item that manifests as a "guardian," which vows to protect him from all harm. Subaru, the leader of the Crimson Knights, along with several other players who have become acquainted with Tsukasa, sets out to investigate why he cannot log out and attempts to get to the bottom of the situation before it spirals out of control.

Within a living fairy tale, the clumsy, kind-hearted Ahiru appears an unlikely heroine. But Ahiru is just as magical as the talking cats and crocodiles around her—she is actually a duck! Transformed into a human girl by the enigmatic Drosselmeyer, Ahiru soon discovers her true purpose. Using a magical egg-shaped pendant, she can become Princess Tutu, a graceful ballet dancer whose performances soothe the sorrows in others' hearts. With this power, Ahiru takes on the quest to gather the lost fragments of her prince's heart, which he shattered long ago to imprison an evil raven for eternity. Princess Tutu is a story of heroes defying destiny. Their beliefs, emotions, and choices will decide whether this fairy tale can achieve its "happily ever after."

Although they stay hidden from the public eye, Witches—individuals with supernatural abilities—have existed throughout human history. Neither especially numerous nor inherently malicious, these Witches can still cause chaos when they misuse their powers for criminal activities. Solving such supernatural crimes is beyond the scope of ordinary law enforcement and is instead managed by the Solomon organization. After completing her training in Italy, Robin Sena is assigned to Solomon's local Japanese branch, STNJ. As a Witch herself with powerful pyrokinetic abilities, she finds herself at odds with STNJ's methods for handling rogue Witches. Specifically, Robin objects to the use of a potion called Orbo, which can weaken or completely neutralize a Witch's powers. To establish her place within the organization, Robin must navigate Solomon's internal politics while dealing with the threat of hostile Witches—both of which pose dangers for entirely different reasons.

Ayato Kamina's peaceful life as a high school student is thrown into turmoil when futuristic fighter jets suddenly attack Tokyo. In the chaos, he meets a woman named Haruka Shitow, who claims to be from a government organization called TERRA. She reveals that Ayato has been living inside a time bubble called Tokyo Jupiter, created by the Mulians—humanoids from another dimension—to isolate and conquer Tokyo. TERRA has been trying to break through the city's barrier ever since. Overwhelmed by this revelation, Ayato panics and flees. He runs into his classmate Reika Mishima, who leads him to the Shrine of Xephon, where a large egg slumbers. She begins to sing, and an unknown power awakens within Ayato, connecting him to a being called RahXephon that breaks out of the egg. Haruka soon finds him again and urges him to join her cause of fighting the Mulians. Caught between the crosshairs of the Mulians and TERRA, Ayato begins to question his purpose, grappling with altered memories and ultimately his very identity in this chaotic new world.

Mido Ban and Amano Ginji are the Get Backers, retrieval specialists with a flawless success rate. No matter what is missing or stolen, they can retrieve it without fail. In spite of their skills and high spirits, Ban and Ginji are perpetually broke because very few people actually want to hire them. Consequently, the pair often take on risky jobs, which frequently result in unwanted run-ins with their old—and dangerous—acquaintances.

Ayumu Narumi has always existed in the shadow of his renowned detective brother, Kiyotaka. When Kiyotaka vanished two years ago, he left behind his wife, Madoka, Ayumu, and a puzzling reference to the "Blade Children." The situation escalates when a female student at Ayumu’s school dies; while initially appearing to be a suicide, it is revealed to be a murder that frames Ayumu as the primary suspect. As he investigates to clear his name, Ayumu uncovers the involvement of the enigmatic Blade Children, who seem to have a personal connection to Kiyotaka. He soon realizes the extreme danger these individuals pose and discovers that his bond with his brother is far deeper and more complex than he ever imagined.

A vessel carrying wealthy international business figures has been seized by terrorists. Rescue efforts fall to a Japanese operative called Japa, who must assemble a team of seven allies to form the Wild Seven. Their mission unfolds against the backdrop of the waters surrounding the Nicaragua Canal.