# 2001 in anime

The events of 2001 in anime.

## Accolades

At the Mainichi Film Awards, Spirited Away won the Animation Film Award and Kujira Tori won the Ōfuji Noburō Award. Internationally, Blood: The Last Vampire was nominated for the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature.

## Releases

This list contains numerous notable entries of anime which debuted in 2001. It is not a complete list and represents popular works that debuted as TV, OVA and Movie releases. Web content, DVD specials, TV specials are not on this list.

### Films

A list of anime that debuted in theaters between January 1 and December 31, 2001.
| Release Date | Title | Studio | Director | Running Time (minutes) | Alternate Title |
| January 13 | Initial D: Third Stage | Studio Deen | Shin Misawa | 105 | |
| March 3 | One Piece: Nejimaki-jima no Daibouken | Toei Animation | Junji Shimizu | 55 | One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure |
| March 10 | Doraemon: Nobita and the Winged Braves | Shin-Ei Animation | Tsutomu Shibayama | 91 | Doraemon: Nobita to Tsubasa no Yuusha-tachi |
| April 21 | Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Adult Empire Strikes Back | Shin-Ei Animation | Keiichi Hara | 89 | Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Mouretsu! Otona Teikoku no Gyakushuu |
| April 21 | Detective Conan: Countdown to Heaven | TMS Entertainment | Kenji Kodama | 100 | Meitantei Conan: Tengoku e no Countdown |
| May 26 | Metropolis | Madhouse | Rintaro | 113 | Metoroporisu |
| July 2 | Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within | Square Pictures | Hironobu Sakaguchi | 105 | Final Fantasy |
| July 7 | Pokémon 4Ever | OLM | Kunihiko Yuyama | 79 | Pokemon: Celebi Toki wo Koeta Deai |
| July 14 | Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers | Toei Animation | Tetsuo Imazawa | 50 | Digimon Tamers: Boukensha-tachi no Tatakai |
| July 20 | Spirited Away | Studio Ghibli | Hayao Miyazaki | 125 | Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi Sen and Chihiro's Spiriting Away |
| July 21 | Princess Arete | Studio 4°C | Sunao Katabuchi | 104 | Arete Hime |
| July 28 (Fantasia Film Festival) | Millennium Actress | Madhouse | Satoshi Kon | 87 | Sennen Joyū |
| August 18 | Saiyuki: Requiem | Pierrot | Hayato Date | 95 | Gensoumaden Saiyuuki: Requiem - Erabarezaru Mono e no Chinkonka |
| August 18 | Inochi no Chikyuu: Dioxin no Natsu | Magic Bus | Tetsu Dezaki | 82 | The Summer of Dioxin |
| September 1 | Cowboy Bebop: The Movie | Sunrise Bones (animation production) Bandai Visual | Shinichirō Watanabe | 115 | Gekijōban Kaubōi Bibappu: Tengoku no Tobira Cowboy Bebop: Heaven's Door Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door |
| December 22 | Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time | Sunrise | Toshiya Shinohara | 99 | InuYasha: Toki wo Koeru Omoi |
| December 22 | Sakura Wars: The Movie | Production I.G | Mitsuru Hongo | 85 | Sakura Taisen: Katsudou Shashin |

### Television series

A list of anime television series that debuted between January 1 and December 31, 2001.
| First run start and end dates | Title | Episodes (not including any OVAs) | Studio | Director | Alternate Title |
| January 6 – June 30 | Zoids: New Century | 26 | Xebec | Takao Kato | Zoido Shinseiki Surasshu Zero |
| January 8 – December 24 | Beyblade | 51 | Madhouse | Toshifumi Kawase | Bakuten Shūto Beiburēdo |
| January 8 – March 26 | Tales of Eternia The Animation | 13 | Xebec | Shigeru Ueda | Teiruzu obu etānia THE animēshon |
| January 9 – March 29 | The Daichis: Earth's Defense Family | 13 | Group TAC | Tetsu Kimura | Chikyuu Bouei Kazoku |
| January 9 – June 26 | Baki the Grappler | 24 | Group TAC | Hitoshi Nanba | Gurappurā Baki |
| January 9 – March 27 | Earth Maiden Arjuna | 13 | Satelight | Shouji Kawamori | Chikyū Shōjo Arujuna |
| January 17 – March 21 | Sadamitsu the Destroyer | 10 | Studio Deen | Kouichi Oohata | Hakaima Sadamitsu |
| February 4 – January 27, 2002 | Motto! Ojamajo Doremi | 50 | Toei Animation | Takuya Igarashi | More! Useless Witch Doremi |
| February 18 – March 18 | Salaryman Kintaro | 20 | JCF | Tomoharu Katsumata | Sararīman Kintarō |
| March 5 – February 25, 2002 | Dr. Rin ni Kiitemite! | 51 | Studio Comet | Shin Misawa | Ask Dr. Rin |
| April 1 – September 23 | Kidou Tenshi Angelic Layer | 26 | Bones | Hiroshi Nishikiori | Battle Doll Angelic Layer |
| April 1 – January 27, 2002 | Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san☆ | 43 | Nippon Animation | Mamoru Kanbe | Princess Comet |
| April 1 – March 31, 2002 | Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran | 52 | Pierrot | Tsuneo Kobayashi | Super GALS! |
| April 1 – March 31, 2002 | Digimon Tamers | 51 | Toei Animation | Yukio Kaizawa | Digimon: Digital Monsters 03 |
| April 2 – June 25 | Comic Party | 13 | OLM | Norihiko Sudo | Komikku pātī |
| April 3 – September 18 | Mahou Senshi Louie | 24 | J.C.Staff | Yoshitaka Koyama | Rune Soldier |
| April 3 – September 25 | Jungle wa Itsumo Hare nochi Guu | 26 | Shin-Ei Animation | Tsutomu Mizushima | Haré+Guu |
| April 3 – September 25 | Star Ocean EX | 26 | Studio Deen | Shunji Yoshida Hiroshi Watanabe | Sutā ōshan EX |
| April 4 – June 27 | Shin Shirayuki-hime Densetsu Prétear | 13 | HAL Film Maker | Junichi Sato Kiyoko Sayama | Prétear: The New Legend of Snow White |
| April 4 – July 4 | SoulTaker | 13 | Tatsunoko Production | Akiyuki Shinbo | Za Sōru Teikā ~Tamashii Gari~ |
| April 4 – September 26 | Sister Princess | 26 | Zexcs | Kiyotaka Ohata | Shisutā purinsesu |
| April 5 – June 28 | Geneshaft | 13 | Satelight Studio Gazelle | Kazuki Akane | Jīnshafuto |
| April 6 – July 6 | Haja Kyosei G Dangaiou | 13 | AIC | Toshiki Hirano | Great Dangaioh |
| April 6 – September 28 | Noir | 26 | Bee Train | Kouichi Mashimo Yuuki Arie (Co-director) | Nowāru |
| April 6 – March 23, 2002 | Dennou Boukenki Webdiver | 52 | Radix | Hiroshi Negishi Kunitoshi Okajima | Brain Adventure Record Webdiver |
| April 7 – March 30, 2002 | Gyoten Ningen Batseelor | 52 | Group TAC | Yoshihiro Takamoto | Captain Fatz and the Seamorphs |
| April 7 – September 29 | You're Under Arrest: Fast & Furious | 26 | Studio Deen | Shougo Koumoto | Taiho Shichau zo: Second Season |
| April 7 – September 29 | Zone of the Enders | 26 | Sunrise | Tetsuya Watanabe | Zone of the Enders: Dolores |
| April 7 – September 29 | Project ARMS | 26 | TMS Entertainment | Hajime Kamegaki Hirotoshi Takaya Junichi Takaoka | Purojekuto āmuzu |
| April 8 – September 30 | Galaxy Angel | 24 | Madhouse | Morio Asaka | Gyarakushī enjeru |
| April 11 – October 28, 2002 | Legend of the Condor Hero | 26 | Nippon Animation | Jun Takagi Keiji Hayakawa Masami Anno | Shin Chou Kyou Ryo: Condor Hero |
| April 12 – June 28 | Steel Angel Kurumi 2 | 12 | OLM | Naohito Takahashi Kouji Fukazawa (Co-director) | Koutetsu Tenshi Kurumi 2 |
| April 13 – June 29 | Hanaukyo Maid Team | 12 | Daume | Yasunori Ide | Hanaukyou Maid-tai |
| April 14 – March 30, 2002 | Go! Go! Itsutsugo Land | 50 | Magic Bus | Setsuko Shibuichi | Let's Go Quintuplets |
| April 14 – January 11, 2002 | PaRappa the Rapper | 30 | J.C.Staff Production I.G | Kazuya Tsurumaki Hiroaki Sakurai | PaRappa the Rapper |
| May 3 – November 15 | BASToF Syndrome | 26 | Dongwoo A&E | | Genei Toushi Bastof Lemon |
| May 8 – December 4 | Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars | 26 | Madhouse | Tatsuo Sato | Gakuen Senki Muryou |
| May 10 – January 31, 2002 | Offside | 39 | Ashi Productions | Seiji Okuda | Ofusaido |
| May 21 – August 27 | Chance Triangle Session | 13 | Madhouse | Susumu Kudo | Chance Pop Session |
| June 15 – December 7 | Uniminipet | 26 | Dongwoo A&E | | Uni Mini Pet |
| July 4 – September 26 | I My Me! Strawberry Eggs | 13 | TNK | Yuuji Yamaguchi | A ~ima~imyi! Sutoroberī eggu |
| July 4 – September 25, 2002 | Shaman King | 64 | Xebec | Seiji Mizushima | Shāman kingu |
| July 4 – December 26 | s.CRY.ed | 26 | Sunrise | Goro Taniguchi Rion Kujo | Scryed |
| July 5 – December 27 | Fruits Basket | 26 | Studio Deen | Akitaro Daichi | Furuba |
| July 5 – September 27 | Magical Nyan Nyan Taruto | 12 | Madhouse TNK | Sunaga Tsukasa | Magical Meow Meow Taruto |
| July 6 – September 28 | Cosmo Warrior Zero | 13 | Vega Entertainment | Kazuyoshi Yokota | Cosmowarrior Zero |
| July 7 – September 28, 2002 | Nono-chan | 61 | Toei Animation | Nobutaka Nishizawa | Nonoko |
| July 11 – September 26 | Seikai no Senki II | 10 | Sunrise | Yasuchika Nagaoka | Banner of the Stars II |
| July 24 – December 25 | Grappler Baki: Saidai Tournament-hen | 24 | Group TAC | Katsuyoshi Yatabe | Baki the Grappler: Saidai Tournament-hen |
| July 30 – October 22 | Samurai Girl Real Bout High School | 13 | Gonzo | Shinichi Tokairin | Samurai gāru riaru bauto haisu kūru |
| August 11 – April 26, 2004 | Cubix | 26 | Xebec | | Saiko Robot Kombock |
| August 13 – February 11, 2002 | Captain Kuppa | 26 | Bee Train | Kouichi Mashimo | Sabaku no Kaizoku! Captain Kuppa |
| October 2 – September 24, 2002 | Shiawase Sou no Okojo-san | 51 | Radix | Yuusuke Yamamoto | Shiawase Apartment's Okojo-san |
| October 2 – March 26, 2002 | Kaze no Yojimbo | 25 | Pierrot | Hayato Date | Bodyguard of the Wind |
| October 2 – March 26, 2002 | Final Fantasy: Unlimited | 25 | Gonzo | Mahiro Maeda | Fainaru fantajī: Anrimiteddo |
| October 3 – March 27, 2002 | Chicchana Yukitsukai Sugar | 24 | J.C.Staff | Shinichiro Kimura | A Little Snow Fairy Sugar |
| October 3 – March 27, 2002 | X | 24 | Madhouse | Yoshiaki Kawajiri | X the TV Series |
| October 4 – December 20 | Otogi Story Tenshi no Shippo | 12 | Tokyo Kids | Kazuhiro Ochi | Angel Tales |
| October 5 – January 18, 2002 | Vandread: The Second Stage | 13 | Gonzo | Takeshi Mori | Vuandoreddo the sekando stage |
| October 5 – December 28 | Babel II: Beyond Infinity | 13 | Vega Entertainment | | Babel Nisei (2001) |
| October 5 – December 27 | Najica Dengeki Sakusen | 12 | Studio Fantasia | Katsuhiko Nishijima | Najica Dengeki Sakusen |
| October 6 – March 30, 2002 | Geisters: Fractions of the Earth | 26 | Plum | Kouji Ito | Guystars: Fractions of the Earth |
| October 6 – September 27, 2003 | Kirby: Right Back at Ya! | 100 | Studio Sign | Souji Yoshikawa | Kirby of the Stars |
| October 6 – March 30, 2002 | Project ARMS: The 2nd Chapter | 26 | TMS Entertainment | | Project Arms 2 |
| October 6 – December 29 | Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden | 12 | Gainax Shaft | Hiroyuki Yamaga | Mahoromatikku |
| October 7 – January 26, 2003 | Gekitou! Crush Gear Turbo | 68 | Sunrise | Shuji Iuchi | Gekitō! Kurasshugia TURBO |
| October 7 – October 6, 2002 | Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 | 52 | Group TAC | Gisaburo Sugii Isamu Imakake | Captain Tsubasa |
| October 10 – March 26, 2003 | Hikaru no Go | 75 | Pierrot | Susumu Nishizawa Tetsuya Endo Jun Kamiya | Hikaru's Go |
| October 10 – March 23, 2005 | Tennis no Oujisama | 178 | Trans Arts | Takayuki Hamana | The Prince of Tennis |
| October 11 – January 17, 2002 | Hellsing | 13 | Gonzo | Umanosuke Iida Yasunori Urata | Herushingu |
| October 12 – February 17, 2002 | Kokoro Toshokan | 13 | Studio Deen | Koji Masunari | Kokoro Library |
| October 13 – April 6, 2002 | Kasumin | 26 | OLM | Mitsuru Hongo | Kasumin 1st Series |
| October 13 – March 30, 2002 | Vampiyan Kids | 23 | Production I.G | Masatsugu Arakawa | Nanchatte VAMPIYAN |
| October 13 – September 28, 2002 | Groove Adventure Rave | 51 | Studio Deen | Takashi Watanabe | Rave Master |
| October 14 – August 27, 2003 | Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier | 50 | Japan Vistec | Jun Kawagoe | Cyborg 009 |

### Original video animations

A list of original video animations that debuted between January 1 and December 31, 2001.
| First run start and end dates | Title | Episodes | Studio | Director(s) | Alternate Title |
| January 21 | Vandread: Taidou-hen | 1 | Gonzo | Shinji Higuchi Takeshi Mori | Vandread Integral Vandread The Movement Stage |
| January 25 – July 25 | Spirit of Wonder | 2 | Ajia-do | Takashi Anno | Spirit of Wonder: Scientific Boys Club |
| January 25 – June 27 | Angelique: Seichi yori Ai wo Komete | 3 | Yumeta Company | Akira Shimizu | Angelique: From the Sanctuary with Love |
| February 21 | Cat Soup | 1 | J.C.Staff | Tatsuo Satō | Nekojiru-So Nekojiru Grass |
| February 21 | Zone of the Enders: 2167 Idolo | 1 | Sunrise | Tetsuya Watanabe | Z.O.E. 2167 Idolo |
| March 7 – December 19 | Puni Puni Poemy | 2 | J.C.Staff | Shinichi Watanabe | Puni Puni ☆ Poemii |
| March 30 | Animation Runner Kuromi | 1 | Yumeta Company | Akitarou Daichi | Animation Seisaku Shinkou Kuromi-chan |
| April 27 – June 22 | Malice@Doll | 3 | Soeishinsha | Keitaro Motonaga | Marisu dōru |
| May 17 – January 26, 2007 | Gundam Evolve | 15 | Sunrise | Shuko Murase Yoshitomo Yonetani | Mobile Suit Gundam Evolve |
| May 23 – February 6, 2002 | Read or Die | 3 | Studio Deen | Koji Masunari | Rīdo oa Dai |
| June 25 – February 25, 2002 | Alien 9 | 4 | J.C.Staff | Yasuhiro Irie Jiro Fujimoto | Alien Nine |
| July 19 – May 23, 2003 | Happy Lesson | 5 | Studio Kyuuma Venet Chaos Project | Hideki Tonokatsu Takafumi Hoshikawa Takeshi Yamaguchi | Happy Lesson OVA |
| July 21 – June 25, 2003 | Bible Black | 6 | Studio Jam | Sho Hanebu Kazuyuki Honda | |
| August 2 | Good Morning Call | 1 | Production I.G | Takayuki Hamana | Guddo mōningu kōru |
| August 10 – May 24, 2002 | One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e | 4 | Arms | Shigenori Kageyama | One: To a Shining Season |
| August 24 – January 25, 2002 | 10 Tokyo Warriors | 3 | T.P.O | Noboru Ishiguro | Tokyo Juushouden: Fuuma Gogyou Denshou |
| August 25 | X | 1 | Madhouse | Yoshiaki Kawajiri | X: An Omen |
| September 25 – September 20, 2002 | Mazinkaiser | 7 | Brain's Base | Masahiko Murata | Majinkaizā |
| November 9 – April 26, 2002 | Usagi-chan de Cue!! | 3 | Chaos Project | Tooru Yoshida | Usagichan, It's my rabbit and it's Cue! |
| November 21 – March 6, 2002 | Memories Off | 3 | E&G Films | | Memorīzu ofu |
| December 19 | Kai Doh Maru | 1 | Production I.G | Kanji Wakabayashi | Kaidoumaru |
| December 19 – March 20, 2002 | Samurai X: Reflection | 2 | Studio Deen | Kazuhiro Furuhashi | Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Seisou-hen |
| December 22 | Kanzen Shouri Daiteiou | 1 | Sunrise | | Kanzen Shouri Daiteioh |
| | Soreyuke Marin-chan | 3 | | | |
| | Blood Shadow | 3 | | | |
| | Immoral Sisters | 3 | | | |
| | Moonlight Lady | 5 | | | |