Summer 2002 Anime

High school student Haru Yoshioka is living an ordinary life until she saves Prince Lune of the Cat Kingdom from being hit by a truck. The Cat King, grateful for her act, showers Haru with gifts and proposes that she marry his son. Due to a misunderstanding in communication, the cats believe Haru has accepted the offer. Desperate to clear up the confusion, Haru follows the advice of a mysterious voice and goes to seek out the Cat Bureau. Upon arriving, she is suddenly kidnapped along with one of its employees. Worried for their safety, the bureau's owner, Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, sets off to rescue them. As Haru becomes more involved in the affairs of the Cat Kingdom, she starts to take on more feline traits. Alarmed by this transformation, she realizes that unless she discovers her true self, she will permanently become a cat. Her adventures in the cat realm lead her on a journey of self-discovery, empowering her to return home with newfound confidence.

At the dawn of a new millennium, Ginei Studio—once a proud pillar of the film world—now stands decrepit and awaits demolition. Former employee and filmmaker Genya Tachibana decides to honor this moment by creating a documentary on Chiyoko Fujiwara, the legendary but reclusive star of Shouwa-era cinema. After securing a permit to interview the retired actress, the devoted Genya recruits his skeptical cameraman Kyouji Ida to travel to her secluded mountain home. There, hidden away, lies a lifetime containing a thousand years of history, waiting to be revealed. Chiyoko's memories lead them on a magical journey through the annals of Japanese cinema, where reality and fiction blend together; her personal experiences merge with her on-screen roles, and the people she knew blur into the characters she portrayed, weaving together past and present. Though she left the spotlight at the peak of her fame some thirty years ago, the final chapter of her life's dramatic story remains unwritten.

In a realm where fairy tales become reality, a duck named Ahiru—clumsy but kindhearted—is transformed into a human girl by the enigmatic Drosselmeyer. Armed with a magic egg-shaped pendant, she can become Princess Tutu, a ballet dancer whose performances can heal others. Her quest is to gather the shattered fragments of her prince's heart, which he broke to seal an evil raven away forever. _Princess Tutu_ is a story about challenging destiny through the power of one's beliefs and actions. The characters' journey toward a "happily ever after" hinges on their own convictions, emotions, and choices.

Despite remaining concealed from general knowledge, Witches—humans endowed with supernatural talents—have coexisted alongside humanity for centuries. Though not particularly numerous or innately evil, these Witches can still disrupt society if they abuse their powers for illegal purposes. Such supernatural offenses fall outside the purview of regular policing and are handled by the Solomon organization. Upon finishing her education in Italy, Robin Sena joins Solomon’s regional office in Japan, known as STNJ. Possessing formidable pyrokinetic powers herself, Robin is a Witch who disagrees with STNJ’s approach to combating rogue Witches. Her main issue lies with a potion named Orbo, which has the capability to diminish or nullify a Witch’s abilities. To prove her worth within the organization, Robin must maneuver through Solomon's intricate internal politics while also confronting the peril posed by antagonistic Witches, each presenting distinct challenges.

Ages ago, on the island of Altomare, an elderly couple discovered two injured children washed up on the shore. They took the youngsters in, nursed them back to health, and the pair soon recovered. Not long after, however, monsters attacked the island, and it quickly fell to their fury. Then, before the old man and woman's eyes, the children they had cared for revealed their true forms as the Eon Pokemon Latios and Latias. Summoning their kin from the sky, the family arrived bearing a stone containing the power to drive the monsters away. That gem became known as the Soul Dew, and peace was restored to Altomare. In the present day, the criminal duo Zannâ and Rion seek out Latios and Latias to seize control of the Soul Dew. While taking a break in Altomare, Satoshi befriends Latias and gets pulled into the conflict, helping to prevent the island from being engulfed in destruction once more.

Chise is an ordinary, unremarkable schoolgirl living in a small military town in Hokkaido. She is small, somewhat frail, and not particularly intelligent. Her life centers around her growing feelings for Shuuji, her classmate and childhood friend. Their daily routine involves dealing with the typical challenges of high school and the infamous "Hell Hill" climb to school every morning. One day, while Shuuji and his friends are in Sapporo buying gifts for their girlfriends, a devastating aerial attack destroys the city, killing many, including one of Shuuji's friends. This marks the beginning of a full-scale war. In the chaos, Shuuji discovers Chise, who has been transformed—now equipped with metallic wings and a massive gun replacing her right arm, turning her into an unstoppable cyborg weapon. As the conflict reaches their hometown, the strain on Chise and Shuuji's relationship grows due to her drastic change, leaving them unsure if she is still human at all.

In the mist-laden battleground of Sekigahara in 1600, two renowned swordsmen engaged in a fierce showdown. On one side was Kyoushirou Mibu, a warrior blessed with the distinctive powers of the Mibu Clan. Opposing him was Kyou, dubbed "Demon Eyes," known for his crimson hair and reputation as a slayer of a thousand men. Their intense clash was cut short when a meteorite struck the battlefield, leading to their sudden disappearance. Four years after this event, the tale resumes with Yuya Shiina, a bounty hunter skilled with firearms. Her mission leads her to track down Kyoushirou, who has transformed into a lecherous roving medicine peddler mired in considerable debt. During an attempt to apprehend him, they encounter a monstrous beast intent on consuming Kyoushirou. This confrontation awakens "Demon Eyes" Kyou, whose spirit had been dormant within Kyoushirou ever since the meteor strike. This development propels a grand saga delving into the enigmas surrounding these celebrated warriors.

While playing the newly released MMORPG 'The World', Minase Mai and Tomonari Kasumi collapse in the real world and are rushed to the hospital after hearing a strange sound. Mai is the only one to recover—Kasumi slips into a mysterious coma. Mai is later approached by the creator of 'The World', Tokuoka Junichiro, who tells her that, like her friend, six other players across the country have also fallen into comas while playing the game. What exactly is 'The World', what is the strange sound that Mai keeps hearing, and why are players ending up in comas? Minase, Junichiro, and their companions set out to uncover the truth before anyone else suffers harm.

In Dragon Drive, Reiji Ozora is known for quickly losing interest in anything he starts. That changes when his best friend Maiko introduces him to a new virtual reality game called Dragon Drive. In this game, each player is paired with a dragon that matches their personality and strength. Reiji dreams of controlling a huge, intimidating dragon but ends up with Chibi, a tiny, cute dragon that only comes up to his knee. Though disappointed at first, Reiji soon discovers that Chibi is actually one of the most uncommon dragons. This realization drives him to train hard with his new companion. His efforts prove essential when evil forces with malicious plans for Dragon Drive threaten the entire world.

UFO Princess Warukyure, also known as UFO Princess Walkyrie, follows a princess from outer space who accidentally crash-lands on Earth. There, she encounters Kazuto, who is desperately trying to keep his grandfather's public bathhouse running. Due to unusual circumstances, Kazuto ends up holding a portion of Princess Walkyrie's soul, which compels her to remain with him. However, that is not the only issue; because her soul has lost its strength, the princess undergoes both a mental and physical transformation, turning into a little child.

In "Digimon Frontier: Island of Lost Digimon," the five DigiDestined discover an ancient island home to two feuding Digimon groups: the Beast types and the Human types. Their outlook changes upon witnessing a young Beast Digimon and a Humanoid Digimon forging a friendship, which inspires them to intervene and bring an end to the long-standing conflict between the factions.

Thirty-three years have passed since the alien entity JAM invaded Earth through a hyperspace tunnel above Antarctica. Humanity successfully repelled the assault and pushed the conflict back to JAM's home world, Fairy. While most of Earth's population has forgotten the ongoing war, the United Nations maintains five bases and a technologically advanced military presence on Fairy, including the Fairy Air Force (FAF). Lieutenant Rei Fukai serves as a pilot in the FAF Special Air Force's Boomerang reconnaissance unit. He flies a Super Sylph fighter jet named "Yukikaze," which is tasked with observing aerial combat from high altitudes to collect vital intelligence on JAM tactics. Despite his exceptional flying ability, Lt. Fukai depends heavily on the aircraft's advanced weaponry and its nearly sentient AI system. His fellow FAF members often keep their distance due to his detached and unsociable demeanor, yet Lt. Fukai continues to carry out his duties alongside Yukikaze. During one intense engagement, however, he is taken by surprise when another Super Sylph jet appears, behaving erratically and with hostile intent.

Pikachu and some of the other pokemon camp out in the woods and help the Pichu brothers get on the train.

In "Nurse Witch Komugi," Ungrar, the Virus King, breaks free from his imprisonment in Vaccine World. To stop him, Maya, the goddess of Vaccine World, sends Mugimaru to Earth to locate a human who can harness the realm's power as a Magical Nurse. Mugimaru chooses Komugi Nakahara, the only person willing to take on the role. Komugi is an ordinary teen known for her playful, lazy, and easily distracted personality, aspiring to become a cosplay idol. Juggling her job at Kiri-Pro Promotion Company and fighting against Ungrar's loyal follower, the Magical Maid Koyori, Komugi brings humor and excitement to this parody anime series.

In the time following their initial encounter, Naomi Armitage and Ross Syllabus have built a life together as a family, preserving an ordinary existence while concealing their genuine Robot natures because of social convictions that Robots do not deserve parity with humans. Ross is presented with a chance to change these perspectives through a ballot on Earth, yet secret groups are maneuvering to obstruct this advancement.

After the events in the city, Haré and his family return to the Jungle. But peace never lasts for Haré, as he first has to deal with an unstable substitute teacher, then with major news: Weda is pregnant. The answer to how and who will change his family forever. Poor Haré now has to cope with a father in addition to his drunk mother and Guu, and soon a sibling too.

The Bladebreakers are enjoying a well-earned rest. However, their downtime is shattered by the loud and energetic Daichi, who keeps demanding a rematch with Tyson after his defeat at the Beyblade World Championships. Their quiet retreat takes a dark turn when they come across mysterious Beybladers who call themselves the Dark Spirits, once sealed away in a sinister temple. With Daichi now under their influence, these Shadow Bladers intend to cause chaos worldwide using their Dark BitBeasts. Tyson, Max, Ray, and Kai must join forces to rescue Daichi and stop a global catastrophe.

First Contact explores the beginnings of the Lupin crew. In this look back at the past, Lupin pursues the single most valuable possession of American mafia boss Galvez: a treasure hidden inside another treasure. Jigen works as Galvez's gun for hire; he fails to eliminate cat-burglar Lupin during his first attempt on the prize and now wants revenge. Fujiko is the romantic partner of Brad, Lupin's rival. Zenigata comes from Japan to America hunting for Fujiko in order to arrest her. Goemon is searching for the ultimate blade that can cut through steel, the Zantetsuken. That sword has a mysterious link to the treasure inside Galvez's vault. Through a chain of surprising events, these total strangers get to know each other in their "First Contact," an unforgettable adventure.

In Demon Lord Dante, Ryo Utsugi has a frightening dream where monsters attack him. Shortly after, he discovers a strange power that lets him hear voices and see visions of girls in danger. One night, he hears the same voice from his visions again.

Since childhood, Tadahiro Amatsu has had eyes of two different colors—one brown and the other light hazel. Yet a dark secret concealed within his left eye has made him a target of the masked sorcerer Ayatara Miramune and his demon followers. To fight the demons appearing throughout the town, Yuzu Hieda, a priestess in training, brings together four other girls from her high school. Under the guidance of Yuzu's older sister Kurako, the five young priestesses must spend months training to master their abilities.

In "Ground Defense Force! Mao-chan," Mao Onigawara is a lively eight-year-old elementary school student and the granddaughter of the Ground Defense Force Chief of Staff. She possesses a clover-shaped badge that allows her to transform, though it grants no actual superpowers. Along with her closest friends—the granddaughters of the Air Defense Force and Marine Defense Force Chiefs of Staff—Mao works to protect Japan from an invasion of "cute aliens." These extraterrestrial intruders are so adorable that conventional military strategies are useless against them.

In the OVA "Ultra Maniac," Ayu Tateishi is a second-year middle school student with a calm outward personality who wants to catch the attention of her crush, Tetsushi Kaji. She juggles her studies, tennis practice, and opportunities to run into Tetsushi, but her life changes dramatically after she discovers a mini-computer under a bench. When she returns the device to its owner, Nina Sakura, Ayu learns about Nina's hidden secrets. Tensions arise between the school's tennis teams over sharing the courts, leading to Ayu being forced into a match against Hiroki Tsujiai, the boys' team captain and Tetsushi's best friend. Frightened of losing, Ayu receives surprising assistance from Nina, who reveals she is actually a witch from the Magic Kingdom who failed to pass middle school. Nina enchants a piece of chocolate, hoping to give Ayu an edge to win the match.

At Saint Hoshikawa School, a covert team known as the G-On Riders exists. Students with exceptional strength and skill are selected for this group, created to defend Earth from alien invasions. However, many of the challenges the members encounter stem from their own internal conflicts, and the same applies to the invaders. Meanwhile, another student at the school, Ichiro, struggles desperately to confess his love to Yuki, one of the Riders.

This production showcases multiple Macross variable fighters—such as the VF-1 Valkyrie, YF-19, and YF-21—participating in dynamic combat sequences, all carefully rendered in 3D by Gonzo.

A 15-minute, 100% CG animation from "buildup," a studio behind numerous Japanese CG movies, including Godzilla vs Biollante, Stray Dog - Kerberos Panzer Cops, Godzilla vs King Ghidora, Kappa, Gundam Mission To The Rise, and D. Set in the future—the year 2119—the story sees a hazardous container secretly loaded aboard a medical transport ship bound for earth orbit, since storing such dangerous cargo on earth is forbidden. The mission is so highly classified that none of the ship's crew members are informed of the container's contents or the potential hazards it may pose. In reality, the container holds a dangerous living organism—something like a liquid or worm—capable of reading the DNA information of other living beings and transforming itself into an exact copy of them. Of course, the original object is then killed in the process.

This theatrical anime is a fully digital (3-D) action/horror film adapted from a manga by Tamaki Hisao, best known to Western fans for his manga adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope. Character designs were handled by Yasushi Nirasawa, a highly acclaimed maker of creature action figures. Monkey Punch, creator of Lupin III, served as the film's script supervisor. Set in the year 2088, it portrays a dark future where humans have been transformed into creatures called "Guilstein," beings with no human souls remaining.

Mantarou (Kid Muscle) and his companions set out to locate a rare ginseng to save a princess, and Kevin Mask later joins their quest.

A French Bulldog adopted from the Happy Kennel by a girl named Ai is given the name Alex. Ai tells him stories and reads to him from a book called The Adventures of Freddy, which follows a dog who leaves home to find the Fortune Tree. Alex becomes separated from Ai when he mistakenly follows a girl wearing the same clothes as Ai onto a bus. Taking the name Freddy, after the hero in Ai's storybook, he begins his quest to return to her. However, before he can get back to his owner, Freddy and his new friends must discover the Fortune Tree and prevent it from withering—otherwise, all humans in the world will lose their kindness and stop caring for their pets.

A reimagining created by Toei Animation and Content Japan using Adobe Flash technology, made available for a charge via internet distribution.

Short DVD extras that feature Megu in various costumes and poses.

The first Gear ever created in the world has been stolen. This Gear, named Kaiservern, defeats the prize winners from the Australia Convention in rapid succession. Kouya and Manganji, who both won prizes at the Asia Convention, also become targets. When the mysterious Gear fighter controlling Kaiservern appears before Kouya and Manganji, the two boys choose to join forces and fight together to secure victory against their opponent.

Umigame to Shounen is the first installment in Shin-Ei's annual series of World War II-themed anime TV specials for children, a collection known as "Sensou Douwa" (war story).

In the year 2150 AD, space pilot Takeru and human computer Martha discover a massive vessel housing two mechanical entities named Sara and Ru Mi. These beings alert Takeru and Martha about the Gump, an alien species advancing toward Earth with the intent to conquer the planet. With just forty minutes left before the invasion begins, Takeru boards the Solvalou, a combat aircraft, and sets course for the Gump's stronghold on the planet Andoa. This story is based on Namco's classic 1980s video game of the same name.

14th Anpanman movie.

A pseudo-historical film that tracks a present-day elementary school student who is sent back in time to witness Aterui, an actual chieftain of the Emishi who resisted the Imperial Yamato Court.

At the annual mushroom festival, Baikinman and Dokin-chan crash the event and kidnap Kinoko, Kamameshidon's cherished companion. A fairy from the nearby lake grants power to Kamameshidon, transforming him into Super Gold Kamameshidon. Together with the Donburiman-Trio, he sets out to rescue Kinoko. However, they wind up in Mushroom Valley, where hazardous mushrooms affect them. Luckily, Maki-chan the sushi-roll arrives to lend a hand.

One day, a bizarre monkey wearing a golden helmet drains another monkey by kissing it, extracting its innards. Hikaru, the brother of Spike, sets off on a quest to find this peculiar monkey. He quickly makes friends with the monkeys and charges ahead, but obstacles arise as every boss from the previous games tries to block his path... This film premiered in theaters alongside Beyblade the Movie: Decisive Battle! Takao VS Daichi.

Tochi and Milo journey globally searching for new Chaechaepong Kimchi Pong, hoping to rescue their dwellings and reveal the mysteries hidden within those entities.

The Grand Evil lies imprisoned inside a cave behind an energized shield. However, a thousand years have passed, and he is on the verge of regaining his former strength to break free from the barrier. To prevent this catastrophe, the Elders of Fantasia must take action to maintain the radioactive power within the shield. They dispatch nymph warriors to locate and retrieve the hidden Ki-fighter cocoons scattered across the world. During their mission, the nymphs encounter TaeRang, the Ki-Fighter—a heroic young boy. He proves to be the one with the power to defeat the Grand Evil. TaeRang sets off on his journey to find other weak creatures and their villages threatened by the unjust evil force. TaeRang is the wise and brave child destined to bring justice to all.