Despite its challenges, 2021 has delivered an astonishing amount of pop culture highlights across film, TV, gaming, anime and so much more. Narrowing down a ‘best of’ list might be near impossible at this point, so we asked a few members of the Supanova team what kept them entertained over the past 12 months and what they’re most looking forward to next year.

Without further ado, let’s ring in the new year with Supanova’s Top Picks of 2021!

GABBY (CONTRIBUTING WRITER)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

Life is Strange: True Colors. It brought a compelling continuation to the Life is Strange series. It was absolutely visually stunning, the characters were loveable, and Alex’s powers were fun to play with. It very quickly became my new comfort game!

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One). Into the Spider-Verse quickly became a fan favourite upon its release, and Across the Spider-Verse promises the same amazing visuals and a story continuation that will match up to its predecessor. Plus Miguel is going to be amazing for sure!

JAY (CONTRIBUTING WRITER)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

WandaVision, because it provided an interesting, fresh approach to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It challenged some of the traditional storytelling elements while also paying homage to television of the past, and created my most memorable release of 2021.

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One). I’m excited to see how this movie can build on the first Spider-Verse movie. The teaser has recently been released and the art and animation are looking incredible so I’m hoping for big things.

MADDIE (COMMUNICATIONS)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

Read on for my number one, possibly-of-all-time release, but spot two is jointly occupied by New Pokémon Snap and the recent Animal Crossing: New Horizons expansion, Happy Home Paradise.

For someone who doesn’t generally play many video games, these took up a disgusting amount of my time. The original Snap was my favourite Poké game, so to have it so perfectly realised with modern tech was such a blessing. HHP also reinvigorated my love for the island, which was a really pleasant surprise after my interest started to wane a little. I know Nintendo said no more major updates moving forward but…. what if they did it anyway, please?

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

This is tough, as there’s already so much on the horizon to choose from. Tentatively, I’m going to go with Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming crack at Pinocchio. Set to be a darker reimagining of the classic tale (which makes sense given his back catalogue. Have you seen Pan’s Labyrinth? Grim stuff), the cast is looking STACKED, featuring monarchs Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, Obi-Wan Kenobi… so many.

How did your most anticipated 2021 release stack up?

Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time was my most anticipated film two years running, and I’m kind of in disbelief that I’ve finally seen it; however, I’m thrilled to report that it was, in fact, ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE WAIT.

Thrice Upon a Time is easily one of the strongest offerings of the entire franchise. It somehow managed to navigate the pitfalls of nostalgia bait whilst breaking new ground on an “ending” we’ve experienced in various iterations several times before. I was actually lucky enough to catch up with the English voices behind Asuka, Rei and Shinji earlier in the year, and that in and of itself was a 2021 highlight for me.

JASON (CONTRIBUTING WRITER)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

Resident Evil Village. Few zombie games can be as consistently impressive and inventive as the Resident Evil series, and Capcom have once again proved themselves as the kings of survival horror with the latest entry that is Resident Evil Village.

Tense and frantic moment-by-moment gameplay, satisfying and rewarding puzzles and crafting, and a setting drenched in mystery and intrigue as horrors lie around every corner. From werewolves, killer puppets, and a particularly tall, dark and scary vampire lady that caused an internet meltdown; this eighth entry is a delightful welcome into the most unwelcoming of villages that will leave residents with the most intense memories of their stay… for better or for worse.

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As a massive childhood fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, I was quite disappointed by the first live-adaption film of the blue speedster; even after they correctly fixed the original monstrosity that was the hedgehog with human teeth.

I am, however, cautiously optimistic about the upcoming release that trailers have shown to be leaning harder on what few strengths did work in the previous film, as well as promising elements that are more faithful to the source material. Jim Carrey’s MVP performance as Dr. Robotnik is delightfully back with a far more respectful moustache, Tails (and his plane!) finally appears to everyone’s glee and Knuckles makes his presence known as an equal antagonist; matching Sonic’s speed with his sheer power. There’s also a Choas Emerald, ahh! My inner child is so ready!

KRISTY (CONTRIBUTING WRITER)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

WandaVision was my favourite 2021 release because it was so unique, and I’ve always been a fan of the Scarlet Witch.

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, pretty much for the same reasons as WandaVision. I love the Scarlet Witch!

How did your most anticipated 2021 release stack up?

After the wait caused by COVID, WandaVision lived up to and surpassed my expectations.

TC (CONTRIBUTING WRITER)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

Shadow and Bone. There was so much good stuff to come out of this year it’s hard to pick, but I think Shadow and Bone sort of came out of nowhere for me and just blew me away. Plus getting the chance to speak with the cast before its release was just super cool.

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

The Batman. Everything for this one just looks amazing. I’m looking forward to a violent and gritty Batman which holds no punches.

How did your most anticipated 2021 release stack up?

The Suicide Squad was my pick for last year, and it was also high on my list of favourites. James Gunn is a genius, and it was great to see what he could do without family-friendly constraints holding him back. Hand! 🦈

CRISTIAN (CONTRIBUTING WRITER)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

Zack Snyder’s Justice League. In an overcrowded marketplace of comic book movies, only auteur Zack Snyder’s mythical trilogy of *epics* (in the actual sense of the word, not the Reddit meaning), Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, and Justice League, have stood out. This movie, nay, film (Editor’s Note: “motion picture”, “talkie”?), was such a legendary event, it had to have the director’s name in the title to fully convey the gravitas of the occasion. To finally see this extremely ambitious vision completed is a catharsis, and it might be the best superhero movie ever made, perhaps the only good one.

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

Across the Spider-Verse. Into the Spider-Verse is the best Spider-Man film (yes, it’s better), and it’s just a great superhero movie, and a perfect showcase of the amazing storytelling power of animation, so naturally I’m hyped for more.

POKE (AV/TECH DEPARTMENT)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

PowerWash Simulator. All of the zen of cleaning buildings and cars with a pressure washer, but none of the ‘being outside in the heat all day’ nonsense.

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War. The final arc of the Bleach manga is finally getting animated after the series was cancelled nearly 10 years ago, and my inner weeb has been waiting forever.

How did your most anticipated 2021 release stack up?

I said that Phase 4 of the MCU was my most anticipated thing of 2021 and, oh boy, did it deliver on that and then some. With the Disney+ shows coming one after the other, after the other during the year (despite some of them being pushed into 2022), and the return to the cinemas with Black Widow, Shang-Chi, Eternals (and Spider-Man omg), this year has been truly blessed by superheroes.

DAN (MANAGING EDITOR/LOCAL SCREEN OUTREACH)

What was your favourite release of 2021?

Money Heist’s epic final chapter delivered. It’s just a show that never disappoints and it stuck the landing. The Professor, played by Álvaro Morte, will go down in history as one of the greatest characters of all time.

What release are you most excited for in 2022?

I’ve been saying this since 2018: Nirvanna the Band the Show season three. Can a network please strike a deal so it can be released?!

What about you, Supa-Fans? What were your top picks of the year that was? Let us know on Facebook and/or Twitter!

Lead Image: ‘Life is Strange: True Colors’, ‘PowerWash Simulator’, ‘WandaVision’, ‘The Suicide Squad’, ‘New Pokémon Snap’ and ‘Resident Evil Village’.