What a year 2024 has been! Full of wild news and ups and downs, we’ve been glad to be guided through it with a little help from our fictional friends across the realms of genre film, TV, comics, and games. Here’s our rundown of our favorite characters of the year, for whom we’ll always be thankful.
Taash, Dragon Age: The Veilguard
The cast of Dragon Age: The Veilguard are all a fun bunch, but Taash is among the game’s best companions. While they initially seem blunt and kind of mean, further time with them reveals they’re more uncertain of their place in the world than it seems, in part because they just aren’t as worldly as the other characters. When they aren’t being unintentionally hilarious, Taash proves to be a charming addition who just wants to figure out where they belong and knock some dragons around from time to time. Who can’t relate to that? – Justin Carter
Makoto Yuki, Persona 3 Reload
From the moment you load up Persona 3, you are constantly reminded of memento mori: the inevitability of death. Depending on whether you clued yourself in early or not, its blue-haired protagonist was never going to make it out of Persona 3‘s grim narrative without some sacrifice, allowing you to reckon with what it means to play a protagonist destined to die. That reckoning is spent making the most out of the time you do have, making friends and developing connections to the community around you. And then, when your perspective shifts from the protagonist to his android ally Aigis in the epilogue DLC, The Answer, that reckoning is with how to move on from grief, with those connections as a memory and comfort. Makoto’s journey in Persona 3 was just as potent and touching in 2006 as it was experiencing it against in 2024, and Reload made every moment bittersweetly worth it as I navigated my own grieving journey this year. – James Whitbrook
Lila Calderu, Agatha All Along
You don’t cast a musical theater legend in your musical TV series without making use of her talents, and Marvel understood the assignment, giving Patti LuPone’s Lila Calderu chances to show off those award-winning pipes. But the witchy Agatha All Along also made space for Lila—a tarot-reading time-shifter—to feel like a real person amid all the flashy costumes and magic tricks, with a heroic sacrifice making her exit extra bittersweet. – Cheryl Eddy
Roz and Brightbill, The Wild Robot
Few things are as universal as the love of a parent or the love of a child and that’s why The Wild Robot is so good. Yeah, it’s a movie about a robot and a bunch of animals, but at its heart it’s about a mother robot named Roz, her gosling named Brightbill, and the love between the two. It reminds us just exactly what it means to love and be loved. – Germain Lussier
Ichiban Kasuga, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth
This year was especially rough for me having been laid off from my previous games journalist job. For a while, I struggled to find the spark to enjoy the hobby anymore when I was tasked with reviewing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth—a game series I cherish, and always envisioned being my first to review, under different circumstances. To my surprise, the opening minutes see hero Ichiban Kasuga experience being laid off in his own right (albeit through arguably more nefarious means). Rather than wallow in experiencing the phenomenon twice, Ichiban’s sprawling adventure provided me representation and comfort in spades as his indomitable spirit pressed on to do the best he could to help others out when they needed it most. Dude isn’t called the best for nothing, and seeing the world through his optimistic eyes helped me get out of my own funk and continue to fight for my dreams. – Isaiah Colbert
Persephone and Hera, Lore Olympus
These leading ladies took control of their narrative in Rachel Smythe’s captivating romantic Webtoon comic that completed its run earlier this year. From reclaiming their power to finding the love they deserve through the hit retelling of their myths, these characterizations gave a new perspective of the lore we thought we knew through the female lens. Their arcs coming to a close felt so fulfilling after a few years of weekly do-not-miss appointments of tantalizing and terrific soapy episode drops. Personally, they made my year: seeing that these powerful goddesses could process the stories told about them, turn them on their heads, and still come out on top. And seeing Persephone begin the family she wanted and foresaw with her daughter Melinoe inspired my own daughter’s middle name. – Sabina Graves
Gambit, X-Men ’97
Gambit wasn’t just a highlight of Deadpool & Wolverine, he was also a standout part of X-Men ‘97, too. While he wasn’t around the entire time, it was great seeing him bounce between being adorably down bad for Rogue or flinging cards and spinning his staff like the hero he is. Whatever else you can say about Gambit, he will always stand out in a way that makes you remember him. – Justin Carter
Wuk Lamat, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
An at-times controversial major protagonist of Final Fantasy XIV‘s latest expansion, Wuk Lamat spends much of Dawntrail‘s first half as a lens into the culture of her homelands, and the peoples that inhabit it, as you aid her in her quest to become its next leader. But as Dawntrail shifts scopes in its back half to tackle a threat far greater and existential than rites of inheritance, Wuk Lamat remains at its story’s center, building on the lessons learned and inspiration she has gained beside your side to flourish into a hero in her own right. It’s rare in XIV to see a character be able to step out of the Warrior of Light’s shadow, especially at this point in the game’s life, and take on a similarly heroic role, but getting to be Wuk Lamat’s mentor and friend was every bit as satisfying as saving the day ourselves was. – James Whitbrook
Dogpool, Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine was stuffed with comic-book characters, especially Deadpools. But the most important variant wasn’t played by Ryan Reynolds—it was Deadpool’s scruffly pup, Dogpool, who brought “ugly-cute” to an entirely new level. Her adorable presence was also a reminder to fans that the R-rated blockbuster did indeed have a heart, lurking beneath all those snarky swears and self-congratulatory vibes. – Cheryl Eddy
Gambit, Blade, and Elektra, Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine was full of surprises, but seeing an old relic of the Fox universe, an old relic of his own universe, and a character that never quite got to be, all come together, was perfection. It worked if you knew all the backstories, it worked if you just like big-time celebrities, and it really worked if you understood what Channing Tatum was saying in that Cajun accent. – Germain Lussier
Gallica, Metaphor: ReFantazio
Despite what many a gamer chud might have initially thought, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a political game. One might even venture to say it is one of the wokest award-winning games this year. You play as a darker skinned protagonist who is at the brunt of every racial stereotype the moment they set foot in any village. People talk crap behind your back, store clerks uncharge you and shoo you away from their businesses—the game isn’t subtle at all about what it’s an allegory for. In a change of pace from Atlus’ mascot characters who have been more grating than endearing to me, Gallica is by far the most outwardly kind. One of her first bits of characterization is checking in on you to ask how you’re managing with all the macro and micro aggressions you’ve endured in your first day of playing, and she outright calls out the bigotry in their fantasy world. There might be more outwardly cool characters in Metaphor, but Gallica is a real one. – Isaiah Colbert
Lydia, Delia, and Astrid Deetz, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
The Deetz women returning for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice made the movie. Despite the movie being self-aware in its unseriousness, the generational dynamics between Delia, Lydia, and Astrid felt relatable. I loved seeing Lydia work to be a better mother and Delia ending up not being half bad at it with her after the events of the first film. I can’t wait to see more of them in another installment despite that specific plot twist. The only mother missing was Barbara Maitland, who also raised Lydia and I hope there’s some sort of presence from her character in the next film. – Sabina Graves
Noa, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes doesn’t try building its hero Noa to the same stature as Caesar from the previous trilogy, but he becomes compelling in his own right. As he ventures to save his kidnapped clan, Noa’s confronted with the legendary ape’s legacy and how it could affect him and his people. By the film’s end, he’s gone from a struggling falconer to the leader his Eagle Clan needs, and another ape bought in on what Caesar stood far. – Justin Carter
Cassie Webb, Madame Web
Few superhero films have ever had a protagonist as fascinatingly weird as Dakota Johnson’s camp tour de force as Madame Web‘s leading lady. A character so utterly perplexed at their existence in the narrative, one completely lacking in the social graces of a leading hero, and yet one who’s just also kind of weirdly, goofily charming in that mishmash of oddities, whether for reasons good or bad we couldn’t take our eyes off of Cassie Webb. We’re just glad to be in her web that connects it all. – James Whitbrook
Sister Andrea, Evil
A nun who can see demons is a valuable asset when it comes to fighting the forces of darkness—and even if Evil’s Catholic Church bigwigs didn’t always see her value, the show’s core characters, and the audience, certainly did. Played by comedy legend Andrea Martin, Sister Andrea could take down a devil with a sharp stick or a human with a withering remark, both with equally deadly aim. – Cheryl Eddy
Dementus, Furiosa
Sure, the character of Furiosa is awesome. But we’d met her before. We’d never met the man who made her, Dementus, and boy are we glad we did. Dementus was a truly vile human being, of course, but he was also a freaking genius. His tactical smarts coupled with his evil tendencies made him one of those bad guys we love to hate. And his ultimate fate? Wow. Savage. – Germain Lussier
Kyomoto, Look Back
While it might be easy to walk away from a film like Look Back and see yourself in a character who robs her pride by comparing herself to others like Ayumu Fujino, Kyomoto’s journey of self discovery and standing on her own two feet was truly inspiring. Seeing her go from being a shut-in who could have easily coasted off of playing assistant to her bestie, to declaring that she’s going to go to university to learn more about art and tackle her fears of socialization was some soul stirring stuff. Especially with how she did so despite Fujino’s barbs harping on her insecurities. Although things don’t go well for anyone in the short term (it is a Tatsuki Fujimoto work after all), the overall theme of why artists persevere in pursuit of their craft is enough to make anyone want to get up and continue making whatever fulfills them as a creator. And for that, I’m grateful. – Isaiah Colbert
Chili and Brandi Heeler, Bluey
I would not have been ready for motherhood this year if not for Chili Heeler. She is the blueprint of the parent I hope to be. The way she was there for her sister Brandy who struggled with infertility felt like she reached out to me through the screen to give me a big hug. It was truly emotional to see the season finale with the reveal Brandi was pregnant filled my heart with joy while I was finally expecting. – Sabina Graves
Ekko, Arcane
He may not have as much screen time as the other mains, but man, Ekko just rules. Watching him come into his time-travel skills was extremely satisfying, and it was equally pleasing to see him get to have the peace in an alternate timeline with Powder that he unfairly lost in his own reality. He is the Boy Savior, both in the show and for Arcane’s final, ultimately flawed season. – Justin Carter
Feyd Rautha, Dune: Part Twp
When Austin Butler played Elvis, you could clearly see the guy was incredibly talented. But what he did with the iconic role of Feyd Rautha was simply breathtaking. Cold. Terrifying. But also just charismatic enough that you can’t get enough of him. Not many actors could step into a role made famous by Sting, and maybe outshine the legend, but Butler did. – Germain Lussier
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