Spongegar:

This meme, comprised of the iconic Spongebob character with a large brown muzzle, fangs, and a vexed expression, is often used to express disappointment or anger. For example, the Spongegar picture is typically photoshopped into a school setting, accompanied by a caption along the lines of “when the teacher gives a pop quiz.” While most of the cartoons we avidly watched as children have faded into oblivion, Spongegar remains relevant and #relatable to this day.

Pepe:

While this beloved frog has been around since the dawn of time, a spot in the list of 2016’s dankest memes is reserved for him as a farewell due to his new classification as a “hate symbol” by the Anti-Defamation League. Rest in peace, cherished idol – saying goodbye really feelsbadman.

Harambe:

Originally a majestic gorilla living peacefully at the Cincinnati zoo, Harambe was catapulted into stratospheric meme status after a child was dropped into his enclosure. He was unjustly sacrificed by zookeepers, and #Justiceforharambe began trending on Twitter shortly after. Harambe was a national treasure, our lord, our savior.