The year in review from GIPHY has a top ten that runs the emotional gamut from a celebratory Grogu from Star Wars: The Mandalorian to a downcast Pikachu from the Pokémon franchise.
In its annual wrap-up of the year's most popular GIFs, the popular platform GIPHY has selected a wide range of animated images that capture the highs and lows of 2021. Television moments are the most popular, with nine of the ten selections coming from shows both live-action and animated. Along with The Mandalorian and a scene from the Pokémon cartoon are captures from Bridgerton, WandaVision, The Great British Bake Off and The Office. The one holdout is by an artist who goes by foodie_g, and it's an adorable one.
At number 10 is the celebratory Baby Yoda that has become synonymous with joy. Grogu captured the hearts of many in the first two seasons of The Mandalorian, so his spot comes as no surprise. Season 3 is believed to have a late 2022 release, with stars such as Bill Burr more than happy to return if asked.
Bridgerton's Daphne checks in at #8 with a laugh that seems to take her by surprise. The second season of the hit Netflix show is set to premiere in 2022 after significant delays due to COVID-19 restrictions on filming.
The now-classic Agatha wink from WandaVision grabs the 5th spot, which naturally has a multitude of uses. Kathryn Hahn has been in the news quite a bit recently, as promotion for the Agatha: House of Harkness series begins to ramp up. No premiere date has been announced yet.
Sad Pikachu comes in at #4, perfectly summing up disappointment. The whole Pokémon franchise has enjoyed a renewed popularity during long lockdowns associated with the pandemic, with changes to Pokémon GO and dedicated card collectors keeping things fresh and engaging.
HBO Max's trove of Looney Tunes has brought the classic animated characters back into the conversation, so a sleepy Tom from Tom & Jerry gets second place. Hulu has a two-season Animaniacs revival and Space Jam: A New Legacy debuted in theaters and streaming over the summer.
The top spot went to Stanley Hudson from The Office, looking totally bored out of his mind! This is a mood relatable to everyone at one point or another this year, no doubt. While the US version of the show has been off the air since 2013, endless reruns have created a dedicated fan base that often indulge in Office fan theories.
Source: GIPHY