| Years in anime: | 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 |
| Centuries: | 20th century · 21st century · 22nd century |
| Decades: | 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s |
| Years: | 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 |
The events of 2001 in anime.
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.
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.
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 | Notes | hideRef. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 13 | Initial D: Third Stage | Studio Deen | Shin Misawa | 105 | ||||
| February 21 | Cat Soup | J.C.Staff | Tatsuo Satō | 34 | Nekojiru-So
Nekojiru Grass |
Released direct-to-DVD.
Won an Excellence Prize (Animation Division) at the 2001 Japan Media Arts Festival. "Best Short Film" award at the 2001 Fantasia Festival. Silver Award for Animation 2003 New York Exposition of Short Film and Video. |
||
| September 1 | Cowboy Bebop: The Movie | Sunrise
Bones (animation production) |
Shinichirō Watanabe | 115 | Gekijōban Kaubōi Bibappu: Tengoku no Tobira
Cowboy Bebop: Heaven's Door Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door |
|||
| 2001 Limited release in Ghibli Museum only | Kujiratori | Studio Ghibli | Hayao Miyazaki | 16 | Whale Hunt | Won the Ōfuji Noburō Award at the 2001 Mainichi Film Awards.
Shown at the 2002 New York International Children's Film Festival. |
||
| May 26 | Metropolis | Madhouse | Rintaro | 113 | Metoroporisu | One of the first anime films to be submitted for consideration for Best Animated Film at the Academy Awards. | ||
| July 28 (Fantasia Film Festival) | Millennium Actress | Madhouse | Satoshi Kon | 87 | Sennen Joyū | Released September 14, 2002 in Japan.
Won the Ōfuji Noburō Award at the 2002 Mainichi Film Awards. |
||
| July 20 | Spirited Away | Studio Ghibli | Hayao Miyazaki | 125 | Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi
Sen and Chihiro's Spiriting Away |
Won the Animation Film Award at the Mainichi Film Awards. |
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 | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 3 | A Little Snow Fairy Sugar | Chitchana Yukitsukai Shugā | ||||
| April 1, 2001 – September 23, 2001 | Angelic Layer | Enjerikku Reiyā | ||||
| October 4 | Angel Tales | Otogi Story Tenshi no Shippo | ||||
| March 5, 2001 – February 25, 2002 | Ask Dr. Rin! | Dr. Rin ni Kiite Mite! | ||||
| January 9 | Baki the Grappler | Gurappurā Baki | ||||
| July 11 | Banner of the Stars II | Seikai no Senki | ||||
| January 8, 2001 – December 24, 2001 | Beyblade | Bakuten Shūto Beiburēdo | ||||
| April 1, 2001 – March 31, 2002 | Digimon Tamers | 51 | Dejimon Teimāzu | |||
| January 9 | Earth Maiden Arjuna | Chikyū Shōjo Arujuna | ||||
| October 2 | Final Fantasy: Unlimited | ~Fainaru Fantajī: Anrimiteddo~ | ||||
| July 5 | Fruits Basket | Furūtsu Basuketto | ||||
| April 3 | Haré+Guu | Janguru wa Itsumo Hare nochi Gū | ||||
| October 11 | Hellsing | Herushingu | ||||
| October 6 | Kirby: Right Back at Ya! | Hoshi no Kābī | ||||
| October 6 | Mahoromatic | Mahoromatikku | ||||
| April 6 | Noir | Nowāru | ||||
| April 14 | PaRappa the Rapper | PaRappa Rappā | ||||
| October 10 | Prince of Tennis | Tenisu no Ōjisama | ||||
| October 13 | Rave Master | Reivu | ||||
| July 4 | Shaman King | Shāman Kingu | ||||
| April 4 | SoulTaker | Za Sōru Teikā ~Tamashii Gari~ | ||||
| January 8 | Tales of Eternia | Teiruzu obu Etānia THE ANIMATION | ||||
| October 3 | X | Ekkusu | ||||
| January 6 | Zoids: New Century | Zoido Shinseiki Surasshu Zero | ||||
| April 7 | Zone of the Enders | Z.O.E. Dolores, I |
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 | Alternate Title | hideRef. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 7 | Puni Puni Poemy | Puni Puni ☆ Poemii | ||||
| May 23 | Read or Die | Rīdo oa Dai |