2002

Events

 * Disney acquires Saban Entertainment during production of Saban's Power Rangers: Wild Force.
 * Lasse Åberg inaugurated the Åbergs Museum.

Theatrical releases

 * January 1 - Beauty and the Beast (IMAX Special Edition)
 * January 11 - The Shipping News (Miramax Films)
 * January 18 - Snow Dogs
 * January 25 - The Count of Monte Cristo (Touchstone Pictures)
 * February 1 - Birthday Girl (Miramax Films)
 * February 15 - Return to Never Land
 * March 22 - Sorority Boys (Touchstone Pictures)
 * March 29 - The Rookie
 * April 5 - Big Trouble (Touchstone Pictures)
 * April 26 - Frank McKlusky, C.I. (Touchstone Pictures)
 * May 17 - The Importance of Being Earnest
 * June 7 - Bad Company (Touchstone Pictures)
 * June 21 - Lilo & Stitch is released to positive reviews and commercial success.
 * July 12 - Reign of Fire (Touchstone Pictures)
 * July 26 - The Country Bears
 * August 2 - Signs (Touchstone Pictures)
 * August 7 - Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (Dimension Films)
 * August 23 - Undisputed (Miramax Films)
 * September 27 - Sweet Home Alabama (Touchstone Pictures)
 * October 4 - Moonlight Mile (Touchstone Pictures)
 * October 11 - Tuck Everlasting and Pokemon 4Ever (Miramax Films)
 * October 18 - Abandon (International Destribution)
 * November 1 - The Santa Clause 2
 * November 15 - Ararat (Miramax Films)
 * November 27 - Treasure Planet is released to positive reviews but commercial failure.
 * December 6 - Equilibrium (Dimension Films)
 * December 13 - The Hot Chick (Touchstone Pictures)
 * December 25 - The Lion King (IMAX Special Edition)
 * December 27 - Chicago (Miramax Films)

Television

 * January 12 - Teamo Supremo premieres on ABC.
 * June 7 - Kim Possible premieres on the Disney Channel.
 * August 18 - Kermit's Swamp Years premieres on Starz.
 * September 14 - Fillmore! premieres on ABC Kids.
 * September 21 - The Wiggles premieres on Playhouse Disney.
 * Fall - The Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney and Toon Disney receive a new on-air look simultaneously.
 * November 29 - It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie premieres on NBC.

Theme parks

 * March 16 - Walt Disney Studios Park, the second theme park at Disneyland Paris, opens.
 * June 2 - Journey into Imagination with Figment opens
 * October 7 - A Bug's Land opens at Disney's California Adventure

VHS and DVD releases

 * January 29 - Atlantis: The Lost Empire
 * February 12 - Peter Pan: Special Edition and American Legends
 * March 19 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
 * May 7 - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: 25th Anniversary Edition
 * May 14 - Snow Dogs
 * June 4 - Oliver and Company: Special Edition, Hocus Pocus, and Muppet Treasure Island
 * June 18 - Max Keeble's Big Move
 * July 23 - The Great Mouse Detective
 * August 13 - Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin
 * August 20 - Return to Never Land
 * August 27 - The Rookie
 * September 3 - Ernest Goes to Camp, [www.amazon.com/Best-Muppet-Show-Elton-Andrews/dp/B00006AULD Best of the Muppet Show Volume 1: Elton John, Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly], Ernest Saves Christmas, [www.amazon.com/Best-Muppet-Show-Hamili-Raquel/dp/B00006AULE Best of the Muppet Show Volume 2: Mark Hamili, Paul Simon and Gene Kelly], Ernest Goes to Jail, and Ernest Scared Stupid
 * September 17 - Monsters, Inc.
 * October 8 - Beauty and the Beast: Platinum Edition and The Muppet Christmas Carol
 * November 12 - Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas: Special Edition
 * December 3 - Lilo & Stitch and Walt Disney Treasures Wave 2
 * December 17 - The Country Bears

Direct-to-video releases

 * February 26 - Cinderella II: Dreams Come True
 * March 19 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
 * June 18 - Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch
 * July 23 - Tarzan & Jane
 * September 3 - Mickey's House of Villains, Kermit's Swamp Years
 * November 12 - Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year

Video games

 * March 29 - Disney's Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge for Windows (Europe only).
 * August 13 - Disney's Magical Mirror Starring Mickey Mouse for GameCube; Disney's Magical Quest Starring Mickey &amp; Minnie for Game Boy Advance.
 * September 17 - Kingdom Hearts for PlayStation 2.
 * November 5 - PK: Out of the Shadows for PlayStation 2 and GameCube; Disney Sports Football for Game Boy Advance.
 * November 11 - Disney Sports Soccer for Game Boy Advance.
 * November 15 - Kim Possible: Revenge of Monkey Fist for Game Boy Advance.
 * November 17 - Disney Sports Skateboarding for GameCube and Game Boy Advance; Disney Sports Soccer for GameCube.
 * November 23 - Disney Sports Basketball for Game Boy Advance.
 * December 8 - Disney Sports Football for GameCube.

Births

 * February 5 - Davis Cleveland (actor)
 * April 8 - Skai Jackson (actress)
 * April 29 - Grace Kaufman (actress and voice actress)
 * June 17 - Merit Leighton (actress and voice actress)
 * December 22 - G. Hannelius (actress and voice actress)

Deaths

 * January 7 - Avery Schreiber (comedian and actor)
 * January 17 - Queenie Leonard (actress and singer)
 * January 21 - Peggy Lee (actress and singer)
 * February 9 - Judson Pratt (actor)
 * February 22 - Chuck Jones (animator)
 * February 27 - Spike Milligan (actor and comedian)
 * March 14 - Gordon Gordon (author)
 * March 27 - Milton Berle (comedian and actor)
 * March 27 - Dudley Moore (actor, comedian, composer and musician)
 * May 6 - Bill Days (actor)
 * May 11 - Bill Peet (writer)
 * July 8 - Ward Kimball (animator)
 * July 23 - Leo McKern (actor)
 * July 26 - Buddy Baker (composer)
 * October 29 - Glenn McQueen (digital animation supervisor and Pixar supervising character animator)
 * November 3 - Jonathan Harris (actor)
 * November 18 - James Coburn (actor)
 * November 22 - Parley Baer (American radio, television and film actor)

Character debuts

 * January 12 - Captain Crandall, Rope Girl, Skate Lad, Governor Kevin, The Chief, Jean, Mrs. Woolingantz, Paulson, Samantha, Baron Blitz, Technor
 * January 19 - The Birthday Bandit
 * January 26 - Le Poodle, Madame Snake
 * February 16 - Helius Inflato
 * February 22 - Laser Pirate
 * June 7 - Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Rufus, Wade, Bonnie Rockwaller, Middleton High School Cheerleaders, Josh Mankey, Dr. Drakken, Shego, Gil Moss, Steve Barkin, Señor Senior, Senior, Señor Senior, Junior
 * June 21 - Stitch, Lilo Pelekai, Nani Pelekai, Dr. Jumba, Pleakley, Gantu, David Kawena, Cobra Bubbles, Grand Councilwoman, Mertle Edmonds, Elena, Teresa, and Yuki, DNAmy
 * July 12 - Duff Killigan
 * September 13 - Monkey Fist
 * September 14 - Cornelius Fillmore, Ingrid Third
 * November 27 - Jim Hawkins, John Silver, Dr. Delbert Doppler, Sarah Hawkins, B.E.N. Captain Amelia, Mr. Arrow, Captain Nathaniel Flint, Billy Bones, Scroop, Onus, Grewnge, Hands