Hold on to your butts for the world’s most animated Year End list. That’s right, it’s the top GIFs of 2017 as brought to you by your trusted internet companions and visual vocabulary tutors, GIPHY. 300 million of you share over 2 Billion GIFs EVERY DAY — and we’ve compiled your favorites.
This year we saw a wide array of popular content rise to the top; from original GIF artist work to meme remixes, from music to TV to movies — and we’ve got all the heavy hitters for you. Analyzing the 2017 view counts of content through our extensive distribution platform (+ viral and high velocity indicators), here are the loops that shaped 2017.
#1: Love Gnome by Anna Hrachovec, 340MM views.
Former Brooklyn/now Chicago based Artist Anna Hrachovec (MochiMochiLand) has a motto — “Let’s Make Happy” — and her knitted stop motion GIFs do not disappoint. 2017’s biggest GIF was uploaded at the very end of last year as the artist’s reaction to the election results. However, 2017 saw it accrue a staggering 340 million views on it’s way to #1. Not only was it used commonly for everyday affection, but it became a reactive message of love in response to the spurious news cycles of this past year.
#2: White Guy Blinking, 226MM views.
One of the top meme’s of the year was the resurgence of this 2015 GIF that caught fire on Twitter in Feb 2017! “White Guy Blinking” generated 226 Million views and it’s easy to see why. It’s the perfect reaction GIF for when you’ve just been insulted and you weren’t expecting it.
#3: DNCE’s Waving Pug, 215MM views.
No GIF list is complete without cute animals. This behind-the-scenes GIF from DNCE’s “Kissing Strangers” music video perfectly combines form (a cute pug) with function (is there any better way to say ‘hello’?). Users agreed — to the tune of 215MM views.
#4: The Fall Out Boy Llama, 197MM views.
When Fall Out Boy came in to do their Reaction Pack at GIPHY, they brought their infamous llama friend with them. And it’s a good thing they did — the dance moves of the “The Last of the Real Ones” video star resonated with fans, driving 197MM views.
#5: Excited NFL Celebration, 180MM views.
Junior Gallette gives us the perfect excited GIF following a sack against division rivals, the NY Giants. The GIF generated over 180MM views and showcases the amazing NFL moments that happen outside of the whistles. Whether you’re a Washington fan celebrating the play or looking for a way to express that you’re ‘excited for Friday’… little gems like these pop up all the time during the season.
#6: Good Morning GIF, 175MM views.
It seems the best part of waking up these days…..are GIFs in your cup. We all know that greetings and salutations are some of the most frequently used GIFs in messaging, and this original GIF from GIPHY Studios (combining unbridled enthusiasm with a caffeine fix) nailed it 175MM times.
#7: G.S. Warriors Happy Fan Dance, 165MM views.
Deep in the playoff run… everyone is watching, everything is super intense on the court, sometimes you have to turn to the fans for a little comic relief. Is there anything more fun than middle aged women dancing? This official NBA GIF caught fire during the Warrior’s championship run, getting viewed 165MM times.
#8: “Nope” Rat, 154MM views.
Another win for GIPHY Studios! Sometimes, the simpler some GIFs are, the better — especially when they have a relatable attitude. This rat character was created by our in-house artist Josh Freydkis and the simplicity of this reaction GIF is really what makes it pop. But you can’t shake your finger at the 154MM views this got.
#9: Bryan Cranston F-Bomb, 138MM views.
A perfect and relatable moment from Bryan Cranston in Why Him? that not only got traction as a reaction GIF, but also blew up based on its use within political commentary on Reddit — helping it generate 138MM views.
#10: Wonder Woman Happy Dance, 135MM views.
As one of the biggest movies of 2017 with breakout star Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman had a huge year. This infectious GIF got 135MM views & you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing it. The movie went on to become the top superhero movie of all time, as well as being the first one with a female director to surpass $100 million in the box office.
And now, the rest of your top GIFs from 2017…
#11: Haters Gonna Hate, 134MM views. This GIF is from an educational video called “Let’s Be Good Citizens At School” — it’s a great example of archival content being remixed into a relevant meme/GIF with modern slang.
#12: Flirty Banana, 132MM views. This cheeky, flirty banana gif is part of Swedish Artist Jonas Mosesson’s wonderful food GIF series.
#13: Baby Crying, 132MM views. From Lifetime’s show “Little Women LA,” the best GIF to send when you’re stressed/upset/sad/tired or ALL OF THE ABOVE.
#14 : Happy Drone, 126MM views. This GIPHY Studios GIF by Domitille Collardey for April Fool’s day became an instant hit.
#15: Robert Redford Smile, 121MM views. From the western film “Jeremiah Johnson” (and NOT Nick Offerman or Zach Galifianakis), this GIF is a classic but shows how older GIFs make it back into the zeitgeist in a big way.
#16: Twin Peaks’ Carl Rodd, 119MM views. A poignant moment from Harry Dean Stanton in Showtime’s “Twin Peaks: The Return” that saw a spike after the beloved actor’s passing.
#17: THINK, 114MM views. This GIF from Kayode Ewumi’s role in the BBC’s #HoodDocumentary became the go-to way to punctuate tweets in 2017.
#18: Stranger Things Dance, 114MM views. One of the most watched shows of 2017, this GIF is a must for TV bingers everywhere. Feel that 80’s vibe.
#19: T-Swift Kick, 110MM views. The fastest growing moment on this list, this GIF was tied to the launch of her new album on Nov. 10th. Taylor Swift also kicked in 2017 as the highest selling artist.
#20: Rafael Nadal, 109MM views. The iconic moment where Nadal, at the age of 31, after coming back from injuries, wins his 3rd US Open championship. Legend.
#21: Madelaine Petsch, 106MM views. Just a perfect GIF for flirting, especially for all you Tinder folk! Make this “Riverdale” star your icebreaker!
#22: Trump + Eclipse, 76MM views. An unforgettable moment, as president Donald Trump takes in the solar eclipse.
#23 : Maxine Waters, 73MM views. “Reclaiming my time” became a huge catchphrase in 2017 and Maxine Waters held her throne as a reigning GIF queen.
#24: Gaga’s SB Jump, 47MM views. The most talked about moment from the Super Bowl halftime show….and the game itself.
#25: Nicole Kidman Clapping, 32MM views. An applause-worthy demonstration of….well….applause.
