Memes move fast. One minute you’re laughing at a baby hippo biting a zookeeper’s leg, and the next, your entire feed is a brown dog in a grey sweater. If you spent any time on TikTok or X during the final weeks of December, you saw him. He was everywhere. He was "Just a Chill Guy."
The last meme of 2024 wasn't just a funny image; it was a vibe shift. After a year of "Brat" summers and "Demure" autumns, the internet collectively decided to stop trying so hard. We ended the year by embracing a MS-Paint-style dog who literally does not care about your drama.
Why Chill Guy Became the Last Meme of 2024
Let’s be real for a second. By December, everyone is burnt out. 2024 was a heavy year—politically, economically, and socially. We had the "Kamala is Brat" wave, the Kendrick vs. Drake feud, and the absolute chaos of the Hawk Tuah girl. Honestly, we were exhausted.
Enter the Chill Guy.
The character, originally created by artist Phillip Banks back in 2023, didn't actually explode until late 2024. He’s an anthropomorphic dog wearing a grey crewneck, blue jeans, and red sneakers. His hands are in his pockets. He has this slight, knowing smirk. The caption that started it all? "My new character. his whole deal is he's a chill guy that lowkey doesn't give a f***."
It’s simple. It’s low-stakes. It’s the perfect antidote to a year that felt like a 12-month-long panic attack.
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The Anatomy of a Year-End Viral Hit
What makes a meme "the last" of its kind for a specific year? Usually, it's a mix of timing and relatability.
In late November and throughout December 2024, Chill Guy transitioned from a niche drawing to a universal template. People used him to describe surviving holiday travel, ignoring work emails during "the skip" (that weird week between Christmas and New Year’s), and generally opting out of societal expectations.
- Low Barrier to Entry: You don't need to be a video editor to make a Chill Guy meme. You just need the cutout of the dog and a relatable caption about being unbothered.
- The Soundtrack: Most of these TikToks were set to the song "Hinoki Wood" by Gia Margaret. It’s a soft, instrumental track that feels like a warm blanket.
- The Counter-Culture: While other memes in 2024 were loud and aggressive (think "Just Give Me My Money" pranks), Chill Guy was quiet.
The Competition: What Else Was Bubbling Under?
While Chill Guy definitely took the crown for the final weeks, 2024 didn’t go out without a fight. There were a few other contenders for the last meme of 2024 title that you probably saw while doomscrolling by the fireplace.
Wicked: "Holding Space"
When the Wicked movie press tour hit its peak in late November, a clip of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande talking about "holding space" for each other went viral. People started parodying the overly earnest, theater-kid energy. It was funny, sure, but it felt a bit too "industry." It didn't have the grassroots soul of a true internet meme.
The "Pepe – Like a Prayer" Carousels
This one was weird. People used a horrified-looking Muppet (Pepe the King Prawn) and the choir version of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer" to tell absolutely traumatic life stories in TikTok carousels. It peaked in early December. It was dark, chaotic, and very "2024 brain rot."
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Moo Deng’s Long Tail
The baby pygmy hippo from Thailand, Moo Deng, was arguably the biggest meme of the whole year. By December, she was still around, but she had transitioned into her "legacy" phase. She wasn't the new kid on the block anymore; she was the established queen.
The "Chill Guy" Controversy You Missed
Nothing on the internet stays pure for long. As Chill Guy became the last meme of 2024, he also became a target for the crypto world. A "$CHILLGUY" memecoin launched on the Solana blockchain and skyrocketed to a market cap of nearly $500 million in a matter of days.
The creator of the character, Phillip Banks, wasn't thrilled. He actually took to X to announce that he would be issuing takedown notices for commercial uses of his art, especially regarding crypto.
"I'm not gonna lie, the chill guy thing has reached a point where I'm just tired of it," Banks essentially shared (paraphrased) as the meme hit its peak.
This is a classic meme lifecycle. A creator makes something for fun, the internet turns it into a god, then brands and crypto bros try to monetize it until the "chill" is officially gone.
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How to Spot the Next "Chill Guy" in 2025
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you have to look at the patterns of the last meme of 2024. Memes are moving away from high-production value. We’re tired of filtered influencers and polished "Get Ready With Me" videos.
The future of memes is "Lo-Fi." We want things that look like they were drawn in a notebook during a boring math class. We want characters that represent how we actually feel: slightly tired, mostly unbothered, and just trying to get through the week.
Lessons from the 2024 Meme Cycle
- Authenticity over Polish: Chill Guy won because he looked "real" in his ugliness.
- Audio is 50% of the Battle: Without that specific Gia Margaret song, the meme wouldn't have had the same emotional resonance.
- Adaptability is King: A meme has to be a "vessel" for the user's own story. If people can't put themselves into the meme, it dies in three days.
Honestly, looking back at the last meme of 2024, it’s kind of poetic. We started the year with the nightmare fuel of the "Willy Wonka Experience" in Glasgow—a total scam that left kids crying. We ended it with a dog who just wants to hang out. It’s a nice progression, right?
If you’re looking to participate in the next wave, don't overthink it. The internet has a "cringe" radar that is more sensitive than ever. The moment you try to force a meme, it's over. Just be a chill guy. Or girl. Or hippo.
Actionable Next Steps for 2025 Culture
- Audit your "Brain Rot": If you find yourself using terms like "Aura points" or "Skibidi" unironically in professional emails, it’s time to touch grass.
- Support Original Creators: Before you buy a memecoin or a bootleg t-shirt, check if the artist (like Phillip Banks) is actually seeing a dime of that money.
- Watch the "Lo-Fi" Trend: Keep an eye out for MS-Paint style illustrations on your feed; this aesthetic is set to dominate the first quarter of 2025 as a rejection of AI-generated "perfection."