The Toneys 2024
Welcome to the first Toneys, Halftone’s year-end awards! To ring in 2024, our three editors, Sophia, Adam, and Dillon, have each nominated one item for our 5 categories. Below, they’ve written out their reasonings for their choices. And the Toney goes to…
Best Video Games:
Dillon: Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut
This might be cheating a bit, since the base game came out in 2023, but the Pristine Cut adds so much that I’d be remiss not to include it. It adds new routes for some of the Princesses, which means new art, voice lines, and music. Some of the best routes in this game are in the Pristine Cut, and they’re accompanied by what I’d consider Abby Howard’s best art. It adds a lot more quality of life features absent in the original game, like the gallery, where you can see all the different Princesses and the drawings present in their routes. Of course, since most of the game is the same, all my previous praise for it holds up. It offers one of the most interesting visual novel concepts I’ve experienced in recent history, accompanied by two very amazing central characters. I almost replaced this with Metaphor ReFantazio, but then I heard the Narrator chastising me in my head and knew I had to change my pick.
Adam: Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
I am a hypocrite. In my Game Awards article, I complained that “Final Fantasy: Rebirth winning Game of the Year is the gaming equivalent of Green Book (2021) or Oppenheimer (2023) winning Best Picture.” I stand by this—however—Rebirth is one of the few new games I played this year. This and Balatro were jockeying for my top spot, but while Balatro was easy for me to put down, this game had its hooks in me for weeks. I still prefer the more focussed narrative and level design of FF7: Remake (2020), but Rebirth makes up for it with expansive biomes, build diversity, and role playing mechanics. Not to mention that it’s drop-dead gorgeous. While I don’t like the idea of nominating a remake, I can hardly call this and the original game the same experience. Rebirth is everything you want in a game: a gripping story, amazing combat, and a world you can truly lose yourself in.
(Sophia didn’t have a video game pick, so Dillon and I agreed to nominate a game the both of use played for our third slot).
Dillon (Again): Persona 3 Reload
After years of fans clamoring for a remake, we finally got Persona 3 Reload this past February. While not a perfect game by any means, it’s an amazing remake and one that preserves the emotions of the original while giving it a new coat of paint in both style and substance. The new music tracks and the remade old ones are awesome, and the voice cast fit their roles so well. Tartarus, while not nearly as fun as Palaces or Mementos in Persona 5 (2016), never felt like a slog and the changing scenery kept it intriguing and fresh all throughout the game. The ending was poignant, emotional, and stuck with me for a few days. I don’t think it surpasses Persona 5 Royal (2020) in any area, but it’s a testament to Atlus’s love for the series and the characters fans have spent decades loving.
Best Songs:
Sophia: “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
Chappel Roan really took everyone by storm this year. Hits like “Hot to Go!,” “Pink Pony Club,” and “Feminomenon” are personal favorites of mine. However, the only song she officially released this year was “Good Luck, Babe!” and honestly, it’s so iconic. Roan truly is for the girls and the gays, and this song embodies that (it is about a girl denying her romantic feelings for Roan after all). With amazing instrumental, catchy lyrics that are still pretty deep, and outstanding vocals, this song just proves how powerful of an artist Roan is. As someone who was a fan before she was popular (although I’m not as much of an og as my sister is), I’m glad to see her get the recognition she deserves, and I can’t wait to see where she goes from here.
Adam: “Galina” by Allie X
Okay, this one is just for me. “Galina” sounds like the name of a beautiful Greek heroine cast in tragedy, but it actually refers to Allie X’s Russian naturopath, who supplied her with miracle eczema cream until her retirement, after which she would not share the recipe. The song she’s named after, at its heart, is about the absence of someone you used to rely on and the pain of being left behind. Galina herself is both devil and angel, and her complex relationship to the singer is the engine the track runs on. Groovy and moody, this song is a cry of pure outsider anguish. The plucky, video game-y synths that begin the song eventually give way to ice cold, nocturnal notes that wrap the listener in the night itself. X’s vocals, the pain she’s channeling, makes the song rewarding to come back to time after time.
Dillon: “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts
Although I wasn’t impressed by Creepy Nuts’ other anime opening, “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,” their new song for the Dandadan anime is absolutely a banger. Even though it was released in October, it still managed to creep up to fourth place in my Spotify Wrapped. It’s upbeat, funky, weird, and I dig it so much. I don’t know if this is proof, but I’m not super into the mainstream music scene. I mostly listen to songs as they come my way, and rarely do I listen to new drops unless I already know the artist. In this case, I’d had a bad impression of Creepy Nuts and when I heard they were making the opening to an anime I was going to watch, I was a bit let down. Boy was I wrong. It’s super catchy, and I know I won’t stop listening to it for the foreseeable future.
Best Albums:
Sophia: Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
I’ve been a casual fan of Sabrina Carpenter for years, but my love for her skyrocketed with her newest, and by far most popular, album. This is truly a no-skip record. From the lyricism, to the vocals, to the instrumental, everything about Short n’ Sweet makes it an amazing listen. We’ve got hits like “Espresso,” “Please Please Please,” and “Taste,” all of which have made their impact on pop culture. Even though it only came out in August, a majority of those songs made it into my top 100 songs of the year for my Spotify Wrapped. I cannot stress enough how good this album is, and I’m glad Carpenter is finally getting the love she deserves.
Adam: Brat and it’s completely different but its still brat by CharliXCX
Surprising no one, I have nominated Brat. This album was a full-blown sensation from the way the album looks; with its fuzzy font and trademark green, the lyrics becoming memes, (“bumpin’ that,” “work it out on the remix,” etc.), and the deluxe release prolonging the rollout even after “brat summer” became “brat autumn.” It was hard for me to nominate any other pop album over Brat because of the fact that it simply sparked the most joy from me. The album, which does dive into some somber, introspective topics, is a celebration of electronic and dance music as well as the people who make it. It’s a moment for the artists and producers who have been influencing the music of the 21st century—their victory lap—and we’re all lucky to have been part of it.
Dillon: Set Yourself On Fire (20th Anniversary Edition)
The original album by the Canadian rock band Stars has a special place in my heart. I had no idea they were re-releasing these songs this year for the 20th anniversary, but when I heard they were, I knew I had a way to get a Stars album on this list. This might be me cheating a bit again, but I just can’t stress it enough: this album is great. Amy Milan’s vocals are angelic and ethereal and they make me feel nostalgic for a time period I was never around for. The first song, “Set Yourself on Fire,” really helps set the tone for the rest of the album and the final song, “Calender Girl,” wraps it all up beautifully. There’s a clear reason why Porter Robinson, one of the most successful in his field, cited Stars as one of his major inspirations. They never fail to cook, and this album is proof of that.
Best TV Shows:
Sophia: Heartstopper
It’s always a hit-or-miss when a book or graphic novel gets a film or tv adaptation. However, Alice Oseman has once again brought her graphic novel series Heartstopper to life with the show’s third season. I would even go so far as to say that the show may be even better than the original graphic novels, as we’re able to get into such interesting storylines due to being able to focus on the other characters. This season got more serious due to the focus on Charlie’s mental health and eating disorder, but the show handles it in such a caring and respectful way. Everyone’s acting is top-tier, especially Kit Connor and Joe Locke’s as they navigate this new era of Nick and Charlie’s relationship. The show will truly tug at your heartstrings, and if it doesn’t get renewed for one last season to cover the last graphic novel, I will be suing (Netflix if you’re reading this that was a joke).
Adam: Shōgun
2024 has been a great year for television, and my pick for best show of the year started it off strong. If you have a Game of Thrones (2011) shaped hole in your heart, this show about politicking in Sengoku period Japan might help. Shōgun is the complete package: gripping dialogue, blistering performances, beautiful cinematography, tense action, and jaw dropping twists that make you want to rewatch the entire series over again. I remember summer nights turning into summer mornings as I muttered “one more episode” in pre-dawn delirium. That’s why it ranks higher than other shows I watched this year. I want to rush to the aid of The Acolyte, or profess my love once more for X-Men ‘97, but none of them had the addictive quality that Shōgun does. Once you start, you won’t want to stop. Without doubt, it’s the best show of 2024.
Dillon: Arcane
Big surprise that the animation nerd chooses the biggest animated show of the year for his end-of-year pick. I know it might be a bit expected, but this show really is a marvel. While I don’t think the second season is perfect, I think it’s a love letter to the animation industry and even the gaming industry. I’ve never played a second of League of Leagends (2015) in my life, but even I know this is the best way to experience the world of Runeterra. The music was all great, the animation never fell off in terms of quality, and the voice work this season was spectacular. I found myself getting emotional on two occasions, and I don’t think that’s something I can say for a lot of shows. I have my nitpicks with certain writing choices and I don’t exactly love the ending we got for all the characters, but I still think there’s no show quite like Arcane.
Best Films:
Sophia: Wicked
I may have already written an article about how good this movie is, but I’m gonna keep talking about it anyway. Wicked is possibly the best movie musical adaptation I’ve ever seen. The cast is perfect, with everyone fully embodying their characters. The cinematography, the sets, and the special effects make everything look absolutely stunning. Then of course there’s the music; with outstanding vocals (which were live by the way) and instrumental, Wicked truly is able to bring you to a magical place. It’s safe to say that I cannot wait for Part 2 to finally drop next year.
Adam: Challengers
There’s no movie released this year that stands nearly as tall as Challengers does. Every aspect of it—the cinematography, the soundtrack, the wardrobe, the performances—are all sharpened to a knife’s point. The non-linear structure of the story isn’t just a gimmick; it drives the tension by constantly recontextualizing information, and most importantly, the character’s relationships. The music by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails perfectly captures the machine-like nature of these athletes with its industrial techno sound. Challengers is a film that never fails to have both style and substance. (I mean, the tennis ball POV shot?) Every frame of this movie has hidden depths that rewards analysis. This is the kind of movie that makes you love film simply because of how expertly executed every aspect of it is.
Dillon: Look Back
This might be the choice I’m most confident in. Look Back was originally a one-shot manga written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the author of Chainsaw Man (2018) and Goodbye Eri (2022). If you know anything about Chainsaw Man, you might be surprised to hear that Look Back is an emotional, grounded work about the creative process. Anyone that’s ever made anything can connect with its message, and I found myself fighting back tears by the end of it. It’s animated beautifully and the soundtrack by Haruka Nakamura is poignant and charming. The fact that it’s made by a new studio and new voice actors is insane to me due to the finished product being so professional. It’s a once in a blue moon experience and I think everyone should watch it, especially if you’re an artist of any sort.