Best Supernatural Anime of 2002

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.

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.

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.

Seven years have passed since Yuuichi Aizawa last saw his aunt Akiko, but with his parents heading to Africa for their careers, he now returns to the small northern town. Yuuichi isn't thrilled about living there, as all his memories of the place and its inhabitants have mysteriously disappeared. Even his cousin Nayuki, with whom he used to play as a child, feels like a stranger. While unpacking on moving day, Yuuichi discovers a red headband that nobody seems to recognize. This becomes one of the first clues leading him to wander through the snow-covered town and begin recalling fragments of his past—broken promises and hidden secrets. Soon, Yuuichi realizes something supernatural is happening, and each of his new female acquaintances appears connected to his forgotten history.

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.

Takaya Ougi is an ordinary high school student who only wishes to protect his closest friend and live a quiet life. That changes when Nobutsuna Naoe, an older man, appears and tells Takaya that he is actually the reincarnation of Lord Kagetora. Naoe, himself a possessor, awakens Takaya's powers to drive out evil spirits and fight in the Feudal Underworld. While most possessors remember their previous lives before being reincarnated, Takaya does not. Naoe is relieved by this, considering the passionate and abusive history he had with his Lord Kagetora. As Takaya grows stronger, he starts to recall what Naoe did out of love for him. At the same time, the dark forces of the Hojo and Fuma clans begin their attack as the Feudal Underworld descends upon the living 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.

One night while asleep, Ryo Utsugi has a nightmare of monsters attacking him. Later, he discovers a strange ability that lets him hear voices and see visions of girls being killed, and then one night he hears that same voice again.

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.