What a yr 2024 has been! Full of untamed information and ups and downs, we’ve been glad to be guided by it with a little bit assist from our fictional pals throughout the realms of style movie, TV, comics, and video games. Right here’s our rundown of our favourite characters of the yr, for whom we’ll at all times be grateful.
Taash, Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The solid of Dragon Age: The Veilguard are all a enjoyable bunch, however Taash is among the many recreation’s greatest companions. Whereas they initially appear blunt and form of imply, additional time with them reveals they’re extra unsure of their place on the planet than it appears, partly as a result of they simply aren’t as worldly as the opposite characters. Once they aren’t being unintentionally hilarious, Taash proves to be a captivating addition who simply desires to determine the place they belong and knock some dragons round occasionally. Who can’t relate to that? – Justin Carter
Makoto Yuki, Persona 3 Reload
From the second you load up Persona 3, you’re always reminded of memento mori: the inevitability of dying. Relying on whether or not you clued your self in early or not, its blue-haired protagonist was by no means going to make it out of Persona 3‘s grim narrative with out some sacrifice, permitting you to reckon with what it means to play a protagonist destined to die. That reckoning is spent making probably the most out of the time you do have, making pals and creating connections to the neighborhood round you. After which, when your perspective shifts from the protagonist to his android ally Aigis within the epilogue DLC, The Reply, that reckoning is with how one can transfer on from grief, with these connections as a reminiscence and luxury. Makoto’s journey in Persona 3 was simply as potent and touching in 2006 because it was experiencing it in opposition to in 2024, and Reload made each second bittersweetly value it as I navigated my very own grieving journey this yr. – James Whitbrook
Lila Calderu, Agatha All Alongside
You don’t solid a musical theater legend in your musical TV collection with out making use of her skills, and Marvel understood the task, giving Patti LuPone’s Lila Calderu possibilities to indicate off these award-winning pipes. However the witchy Agatha All Alongside additionally made house for Lila—a tarot-reading time-shifter—to really feel like an actual particular person amid all of the flashy costumes and magic tips, with a heroic sacrifice making her exit further bittersweet. – Cheryl Eddy
Roz and Brightbill, The Wild Robotic
Few issues are as common because the love of a mum or dad or the love of a kid and that’s why The Wild Robotic is so good. Yeah, it’s a film a few robotic and a bunch of animals, however at its coronary heart it’s a few mom robotic named Roz, her gosling named Brightbill, and the love between the 2. It reminds us simply precisely what it means to like and be liked. – Germain Lussier
Ichiban Kasuga, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth
This yr was particularly tough for me having been laid off from my earlier video games journalist job. For some time, I struggled to seek out the spark to benefit from the interest anymore once I was tasked with reviewing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth—a recreation collection I cherish, and at all times envisioned being my first to overview, below completely different circumstances. To my shock, the opening minutes see hero Ichiban Kasuga expertise being laid off in his personal proper (albeit by arguably extra nefarious means). Quite than wallow in experiencing the phenomenon twice, Ichiban’s sprawling journey offered me illustration and luxury in spades as his indomitable spirit pressed on to do one of the best he may to assist others out once they wanted it most. Dude isn’t referred to as one of the best for nothing, and seeing the world by his optimistic eyes helped me get out of my very own funk and proceed to struggle for my desires. – Isaiah Colbert
Persephone and Hera, Lore Olympus
These main girls took management of their narrative in Rachel Smythe’s fascinating romantic Webtoon comedian that accomplished its run earlier this yr. From reclaiming their energy to discovering the love they deserve by the hit retelling of their myths, these characterizations gave a brand new perspective of the lore we thought we knew by the feminine lens. Their arcs coming to a detailed felt so fulfilling after just a few years of weekly do-not-miss appointments of tantalizing and terrific soapy episode drops. Personally, they made my yr: seeing that these highly effective goddesses may course of the tales advised about them, flip them on their heads, and nonetheless come out on prime. And seeing Persephone start the household she needed and foresaw along with her daughter Melinoe impressed my very own daughter’s center identify. – Sabina Graves
Gambit, X-Males ’97
Gambit wasn’t only a spotlight of Deadpool & Wolverine, he was additionally a standout a part of X-Males ‘97, too. Whereas he wasn’t across the complete time, it was nice seeing him bounce between being adorably down unhealthy for Rogue or flinging playing cards and spinning his employees just like the hero he’s. No matter else you possibly can say about Gambit, he’ll at all times stand out in a approach that makes you keep in mind him. – Justin Carter
Wuk Lamat, Last Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
An at-times controversial main protagonist of Last Fantasy XIV‘s newest growth, Wuk Lamat spends a lot of Dawntrail‘s first half as a lens into the tradition of her homelands, and the peoples that inhabit it, as you assist her in her quest to change into its subsequent chief. However as Dawntrail shifts scopes in its again half to sort out a risk far better and existential than rites of inheritance, Wuk Lamat stays at its story’s heart, constructing on the teachings realized and inspiration she has gained beside your aspect to flourish right into a hero in her personal proper. It’s uncommon in XIV to see a personality be capable to step out of the Warrior of Mild’s shadow, particularly at this level within the recreation’s life, and tackle a equally heroic position, however attending to be Wuk Lamat’s mentor and buddy was each bit as satisfying as saving the day ourselves was. – James Whitbrook
Dogpool, Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine was full of comic-book characters, particularly Deadpools. However a very powerful variant wasn’t performed by Ryan Reynolds—it was Deadpool’s scruffly pup, Dogpool, who introduced “ugly-cute” to a wholly new degree. Her lovely presence was additionally a reminder to followers that the R-rated blockbuster did certainly have a coronary heart, lurking beneath all these snarky swears and self-congratulatory vibes. – Cheryl Eddy
Gambit, Blade, and Elektra, Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine was stuffed with surprises, however seeing an outdated relic of the Fox universe, an outdated relic of his personal universe, and a personality that by no means fairly received to be, all come collectively, was perfection. It labored if you happen to knew all of the backstories, it labored if you happen to similar to big-time celebrities, and it actually labored if you happen to understood what Channing Tatum was saying in that Cajun accent. – Germain Lussier
Gallica, Metaphor: ReFantazio
Regardless of what many a gamer chud might need initially thought, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a political recreation. One would possibly even enterprise to say it is likely one of the wokest award-winning video games this yr. You play as a darker skinned protagonist who’s on the brunt of each racial stereotype the second they set foot in any village. Individuals speak crap behind your again, retailer clerks uncharge you and shoo you away from their companies—the sport isn’t refined in any respect about what it’s an allegory for. In a change of tempo from Atlus’ mascot characters who’ve been extra grating than endearing to me, Gallica is by far probably the most outwardly type. Certainly one of her first bits of characterization is checking in on you to ask the way you’re managing with all of the macro and micro aggressions you’ve endured in your first day of taking part in, and he or she outright calls out the bigotry of their fantasy world. There may be extra outwardly cool characters in Metaphor, however Gallica is an actual one. – Isaiah Colbert
Lydia, Delia, and Astrid Deetz, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
The Deetz ladies returning for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice made the film. Regardless of the film being self-aware in its unseriousness, the generational dynamics between Delia, Lydia, and Astrid felt relatable. I liked seeing Lydia work to be a greater mom and Delia ending up not being half unhealthy at it along with her after the occasions of the primary movie. I can’t wait to see extra of them in one other installment regardless of that particular plot twist. The one mom lacking was Barbara Maitland, who additionally raised Lydia and I hope there’s some form of presence from her character within the subsequent movie. – Sabina Graves
Noa, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes doesn’t strive constructing its hero Noa to the identical stature as Caesar from the earlier trilogy, however he turns into compelling in his personal proper. As he ventures to save lots of his kidnapped clan, Noa’s confronted with the legendary ape’s legacy and the way it may have an effect on him and his folks. By the movie’s finish, he’s gone from a struggling falconer to the chief his Eagle Clan wants, and one other ape purchased in on what Caesar stood far. – Justin Carter
Cassie Webb, Madame Internet
Few superhero movies have ever had a protagonist as fascinatingly bizarre as Dakota Johnson’s camp tour de drive as Madame Internet‘s main girl. A personality so totally perplexed at their existence within the narrative, one utterly missing within the social graces of a number one hero, and but one who’s simply additionally form of weirdly, goofily charming in that mishmash of oddities, whether or not for causes good or unhealthy we couldn’t take our eyes off of Cassie Webb. We’re simply glad to be in her net that connects all of it. – James Whitbrook
Sister Andrea, Evil
A nun who can see demons is a priceless asset on the subject of preventing the forces of darkness—and even when Evil’s Catholic Church bigwigs didn’t at all times see her worth, the present’s core characters, and the viewers, definitely did. Performed by comedy legend Andrea Martin, Sister Andrea may take down a satan with a pointy stick or a human with a withering comment, each with equally lethal intention. – Cheryl Eddy
Dementus, Furiosa
Positive, the character of Furiosa is superior. However we’d met her earlier than. We’d by no means met the person who made her, Dementus, and boy are we glad we did. Dementus was a really vile human being, in fact, however he was additionally a freaking genius. His tactical smarts coupled together with his evil tendencies made him a kind of unhealthy guys we like to hate. And his final destiny? Wow. Savage. – Germain Lussier
Kyomoto, Look Again
Whereas it may be straightforward to stroll away from a movie like Look Again and see your self in a personality who robs her satisfaction by evaluating herself to others like Ayumu Fujino, Kyomoto’s journey of self discovery and standing on her personal two toes was actually inspiring. Seeing her go from being a shut-in who may have simply coasted off of taking part in assistant to her bestie, to declaring that she’s going to go to school to be taught extra about artwork and sort out her fears of socialization was some soul stirring stuff. Particularly with how she did so regardless of Fujino’s barbs harping on her insecurities. Though issues don’t go properly for anybody within the quick time period (it’s a Tatsuki Fujimoto work in any case), the general theme of why artists persevere in pursuit of their craft is sufficient to make anybody wish to stand up and proceed making no matter fulfills them as a creator. And for that, I’m grateful. – Isaiah Colbert
Chili and Brandi Heeler, Bluey
I might not have been prepared for motherhood this yr if not for Chili Heeler. She is the blueprint of the mum or dad I hope to be. The way in which she was there for her sister Brandy who struggled with infertility felt like she reached out to me by the display screen to offer me an enormous hug. It was actually emotional to see the season finale with the reveal Brandi was pregnant stuffed my coronary heart with pleasure whereas I used to be lastly anticipating. – Sabina Graves
Ekko, Arcane
He could not have as a lot display screen time as the opposite mains, however man, Ekko simply guidelines. Watching him come into his time-travel expertise was extraordinarily satisfying, and it was equally pleasing to see him get to have the peace in an alternate timeline with Powder that he unfairly misplaced in his personal actuality. He’s the Boy Savior, each within the present and for Arcane’s ultimate, in the end flawed season. – Justin Carter
Feyd Rautha, Dune: Half Twp
When Austin Butler performed Elvis, you can clearly see the man was extremely proficient. However what he did with the enduring position of Feyd Rautha was merely breathtaking. Chilly. Terrifying. But in addition simply charismatic sufficient which you could’t get sufficient of him. Not many actors may step into a task made well-known by Sting, and possibly outshine the legend, however Butler did. – Germain Lussier
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