Solaire Of Astora

2011Character meme / catchphrase / gestureclassic

Also known as: Sunbro · Praise the Sun

Solaire of Astora is a 2011 Dark Souls NPC character meme centered on the "Praise the Sun" gesture and "jolly cooperation" catchphrase created by director Hidetaka Miyazaki.

Solaire of Astora is a beloved NPC from the 2011 action RPG *Dark Souls* who became one of gaming's most iconic meme figures. His signature "Praise the Sun" pose and cheerful personality spawned a massive fan following, with the phrases "praise the sun" and "jolly cooperation" becoming fixtures of internet culture. Created by director Hidetaka Miyazaki specifically to champion the gesture, Solaire turned into a symbol of camaraderie and optimism in a franchise known for punishing difficulty.

TL;DR

Solaire of Astora is a beloved NPC from the 2011 action RPG *Dark Souls* who became one of gaming's most iconic meme figures.

Overview

Solaire of Astora is a knight NPC the player encounters early in *Dark Souls*. He wears armor decorated with a hand-painted sun emblem, carries the Sunlight Straight Sword, and worships the sun with a single-minded devotion that borders on delusional3. His defining trait is his relentless friendliness in a world where nearly everything wants to kill you. He greets the player warmly, hands them a White Soapstone for cooperative play, and invites them to "engage in jolly cooperation"4.

The meme culture around Solaire centers on two pillars: the "Praise the Sun" gesture, where he spreads his arms wide and looks skyward, and his various quotable lines about sunlight and cooperation. Fans adopted his pose, his language, and his optimistic worldview as both sincere appreciation and ironic commentary on the brutal *Dark Souls* experience.

*Dark Souls* launched on September 22, 2011, developed by FromSoftware4. Solaire appears as one of the first friendly NPCs the player meets, standing on a sunlit bridge in the Undead Burg. His mission in the game is to "find his very own Sun," and he belongs to the Warriors of Sunlight covenant3.

The "Praise the Sun" gesture actually predates Solaire himself. It originated as a rare holy animation in *Demon's Souls* (2009), triggered by casting a miracle while wearing the "Ring of Sincere Prayer"3. Miyazaki secretly included the pose despite being told by the publisher that it wasn't "cool enough" after he physically demonstrated it3. The gesture became personally significant to him, and he built the entire character of Solaire around it for *Dark Souls*, positioning Solaire as "a champion who is the first truly helpful NPC that most players see in the game"3. Miyazaki also personally designed the sun emblem on Solaire's armor and called Solaire his favorite character3.

Origin & Background

Platform
*Dark Souls* (FromSoftware), gaming community (viral spread)
Key People
Hidetaka Miyazaki, Unknown
Date
2011
Year
2011

*Dark Souls* launched on September 22, 2011, developed by FromSoftware. Solaire appears as one of the first friendly NPCs the player meets, standing on a sunlit bridge in the Undead Burg. His mission in the game is to "find his very own Sun," and he belongs to the Warriors of Sunlight covenant.

The "Praise the Sun" gesture actually predates Solaire himself. It originated as a rare holy animation in *Demon's Souls* (2009), triggered by casting a miracle while wearing the "Ring of Sincere Prayer". Miyazaki secretly included the pose despite being told by the publisher that it wasn't "cool enough" after he physically demonstrated it. The gesture became personally significant to him, and he built the entire character of Solaire around it for *Dark Souls*, positioning Solaire as "a champion who is the first truly helpful NPC that most players see in the game". Miyazaki also personally designed the sun emblem on Solaire's armor and called Solaire his favorite character.

How It Spread

The fan community latched onto Solaire almost immediately after *Dark Souls* released. Players who joined the Warriors of Sunlight covenant started calling themselves "sunbros," and cooperative play became synonymous with Solaire's philosophy.

On August 8, 2012, the Facebook page WarriorOfSunlight launched, posting an image of Solaire with his quote "If only I could be so incandescent." By January 2018, the page had over 8,000 likes and followers. On Tumblr, several dedicated tags gained traction: sunbro, jollycooperation, solaireofastora, and praisethesun all became active community hubs. A dedicated Tumblr blog called "sunbro" launched on October 25, 2015, curating fan art of *Dark Souls* characters.

DeviantArt became a major repository for Solaire fan art. By January 2018, nearly 6,000 posts were tagged "solaire" on the platform. On May 5, 2015, DeviantArt user Emortal982 posted a moody illustration of a weary Solaire at nightfall, imagining that "a man so obsessed with the sun would be less than 'Jolly' come nightfall". The piece pulled in over 29,000 views within three years. A search for "solaire" on DeviantArt still returns an extensive range of fan art from artists worldwide.

How to Use This Meme

Solaire memes typically fall into a few categories:

Praise the Sun: Post an image of Solaire's arms-wide gesture (or replicate it yourself in real life or in-game) to express joy, gratitude, or mock reverence. Often used as a reaction image when something goes right, especially in gaming contexts.

Jolly Cooperation: Use Solaire's quote or image when highlighting teamwork, co-op play, or any situation where people work together. The phrase works both sincerely and sarcastically, like when a group project falls apart.

"If only I could be so grossly incandescent": Drop this quote when admiring anything bright, impressive, or absurdly good. Works for sunsets, great plays, or just a really nice lamp.

The memes generally play on the contrast between Solaire's sunny optimism and the grim, death-filled world of *Dark Souls*. That gap between his attitude and his surroundings is what makes the humor work.

Cultural Impact

Solaire's influence spread well beyond *Dark Souls* fan communities. Destructoid named him one of their favorite new video game characters of 2011, calling him "the embodiment of selfless camaraderie and generosity" and "bat-shit crazy". Eurogamer called him "a total badass," while GamesRadar+ listed the quest to save Solaire as one of the 20 most unique sidequests in video game history, saying "if there ever was an NPC worth saving, it would be him". Den of Geek ranked him the third best video game NPC.

James Davenport of PC Gamer praised Solaire as "a human-shaped reminder that other people are all we have," pushing back against the "get good" mentality that some *Dark Souls* players cling to.

An official Solaire Amiibo was released alongside the Nintendo Switch version of *Dark Souls: Remastered* in 2018. The figurine lets the player's character perform the Praise the Sun gesture when tapped, but its GameStop exclusivity caused heavy supply shortages and made it rarer than most Amiibos.

Fun Facts

Miyazaki was told the Praise the Sun pose wasn't cool enough by the publisher of *Demon's Souls* after he physically acted it out in person. He kept it in the game anyway.

If the player opens a specific shortcut and kills a Sunlight Maggot before Solaire finds it, they can save his sanity. According to Miyazaki, the "happy ending" is Solaire linking the flame in his own world, dying by "becoming the Sun".

Solaire's Sunlight Straight Sword is described in-game as "unlikely to live up to its grandiose name," a winking acknowledgment of the character's over-the-top sun worship.

DeviantArt user Emortal982's fan art of a melancholy Solaire at nighttime imagined him as "less than Jolly come nightfall," flipping the character's signature cheerfulness.

Derivatives & Variations

Knight Solitaire (Borderlands 2):

An Easter egg NPC referencing Solaire appears in Gearbox's looter-shooter, bearing a similar name and sun motif[3].

Soulare of Andorhal (World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor):

Blizzard added a follower NPC paying homage to Solaire, complete with a sun-themed design[3].

Praise the Sun emote (Destiny):

Bungie included a gesture directly inspired by Solaire's iconic pose as an in-game emote[3].

Darkest Dungeon mod:

A fan modded Solaire into *Darkest Dungeon* as a playable character, which PC Gamer called a "fantastic mixup" of the two games[3].

Frequently Asked Questions

Solaire Of Astora

2011Character meme / catchphrase / gestureclassic

Also known as: Sunbro · Praise the Sun

Solaire of Astora is a 2011 Dark Souls NPC character meme centered on the "Praise the Sun" gesture and "jolly cooperation" catchphrase created by director Hidetaka Miyazaki.

Solaire of Astora is a beloved NPC from the 2011 action RPG *Dark Souls* who became one of gaming's most iconic meme figures. His signature "Praise the Sun" pose and cheerful personality spawned a massive fan following, with the phrases "praise the sun" and "jolly cooperation" becoming fixtures of internet culture. Created by director Hidetaka Miyazaki specifically to champion the gesture, Solaire turned into a symbol of camaraderie and optimism in a franchise known for punishing difficulty.

TL;DR

Solaire of Astora is a beloved NPC from the 2011 action RPG *Dark Souls* who became one of gaming's most iconic meme figures.

Overview

Solaire of Astora is a knight NPC the player encounters early in *Dark Souls*. He wears armor decorated with a hand-painted sun emblem, carries the Sunlight Straight Sword, and worships the sun with a single-minded devotion that borders on delusional. His defining trait is his relentless friendliness in a world where nearly everything wants to kill you. He greets the player warmly, hands them a White Soapstone for cooperative play, and invites them to "engage in jolly cooperation".

The meme culture around Solaire centers on two pillars: the "Praise the Sun" gesture, where he spreads his arms wide and looks skyward, and his various quotable lines about sunlight and cooperation. Fans adopted his pose, his language, and his optimistic worldview as both sincere appreciation and ironic commentary on the brutal *Dark Souls* experience.

*Dark Souls* launched on September 22, 2011, developed by FromSoftware. Solaire appears as one of the first friendly NPCs the player meets, standing on a sunlit bridge in the Undead Burg. His mission in the game is to "find his very own Sun," and he belongs to the Warriors of Sunlight covenant.

The "Praise the Sun" gesture actually predates Solaire himself. It originated as a rare holy animation in *Demon's Souls* (2009), triggered by casting a miracle while wearing the "Ring of Sincere Prayer". Miyazaki secretly included the pose despite being told by the publisher that it wasn't "cool enough" after he physically demonstrated it. The gesture became personally significant to him, and he built the entire character of Solaire around it for *Dark Souls*, positioning Solaire as "a champion who is the first truly helpful NPC that most players see in the game". Miyazaki also personally designed the sun emblem on Solaire's armor and called Solaire his favorite character.

Origin & Background

Platform
*Dark Souls* (FromSoftware), gaming community (viral spread)
Key People
Hidetaka Miyazaki, Unknown
Date
2011
Year
2011

*Dark Souls* launched on September 22, 2011, developed by FromSoftware. Solaire appears as one of the first friendly NPCs the player meets, standing on a sunlit bridge in the Undead Burg. His mission in the game is to "find his very own Sun," and he belongs to the Warriors of Sunlight covenant.

The "Praise the Sun" gesture actually predates Solaire himself. It originated as a rare holy animation in *Demon's Souls* (2009), triggered by casting a miracle while wearing the "Ring of Sincere Prayer". Miyazaki secretly included the pose despite being told by the publisher that it wasn't "cool enough" after he physically demonstrated it. The gesture became personally significant to him, and he built the entire character of Solaire around it for *Dark Souls*, positioning Solaire as "a champion who is the first truly helpful NPC that most players see in the game". Miyazaki also personally designed the sun emblem on Solaire's armor and called Solaire his favorite character.

How It Spread

The fan community latched onto Solaire almost immediately after *Dark Souls* released. Players who joined the Warriors of Sunlight covenant started calling themselves "sunbros," and cooperative play became synonymous with Solaire's philosophy.

On August 8, 2012, the Facebook page WarriorOfSunlight launched, posting an image of Solaire with his quote "If only I could be so incandescent." By January 2018, the page had over 8,000 likes and followers. On Tumblr, several dedicated tags gained traction: sunbro, jollycooperation, solaireofastora, and praisethesun all became active community hubs. A dedicated Tumblr blog called "sunbro" launched on October 25, 2015, curating fan art of *Dark Souls* characters.

DeviantArt became a major repository for Solaire fan art. By January 2018, nearly 6,000 posts were tagged "solaire" on the platform. On May 5, 2015, DeviantArt user Emortal982 posted a moody illustration of a weary Solaire at nightfall, imagining that "a man so obsessed with the sun would be less than 'Jolly' come nightfall". The piece pulled in over 29,000 views within three years. A search for "solaire" on DeviantArt still returns an extensive range of fan art from artists worldwide.

How to Use This Meme

Solaire memes typically fall into a few categories:

Praise the Sun: Post an image of Solaire's arms-wide gesture (or replicate it yourself in real life or in-game) to express joy, gratitude, or mock reverence. Often used as a reaction image when something goes right, especially in gaming contexts.

Jolly Cooperation: Use Solaire's quote or image when highlighting teamwork, co-op play, or any situation where people work together. The phrase works both sincerely and sarcastically, like when a group project falls apart.

"If only I could be so grossly incandescent": Drop this quote when admiring anything bright, impressive, or absurdly good. Works for sunsets, great plays, or just a really nice lamp.

The memes generally play on the contrast between Solaire's sunny optimism and the grim, death-filled world of *Dark Souls*. That gap between his attitude and his surroundings is what makes the humor work.

Cultural Impact

Solaire's influence spread well beyond *Dark Souls* fan communities. Destructoid named him one of their favorite new video game characters of 2011, calling him "the embodiment of selfless camaraderie and generosity" and "bat-shit crazy". Eurogamer called him "a total badass," while GamesRadar+ listed the quest to save Solaire as one of the 20 most unique sidequests in video game history, saying "if there ever was an NPC worth saving, it would be him". Den of Geek ranked him the third best video game NPC.

James Davenport of PC Gamer praised Solaire as "a human-shaped reminder that other people are all we have," pushing back against the "get good" mentality that some *Dark Souls* players cling to.

An official Solaire Amiibo was released alongside the Nintendo Switch version of *Dark Souls: Remastered* in 2018. The figurine lets the player's character perform the Praise the Sun gesture when tapped, but its GameStop exclusivity caused heavy supply shortages and made it rarer than most Amiibos.

Fun Facts

Miyazaki was told the Praise the Sun pose wasn't cool enough by the publisher of *Demon's Souls* after he physically acted it out in person. He kept it in the game anyway.

If the player opens a specific shortcut and kills a Sunlight Maggot before Solaire finds it, they can save his sanity. According to Miyazaki, the "happy ending" is Solaire linking the flame in his own world, dying by "becoming the Sun".

Solaire's Sunlight Straight Sword is described in-game as "unlikely to live up to its grandiose name," a winking acknowledgment of the character's over-the-top sun worship.

DeviantArt user Emortal982's fan art of a melancholy Solaire at nighttime imagined him as "less than Jolly come nightfall," flipping the character's signature cheerfulness.

Derivatives & Variations

Knight Solitaire (Borderlands 2):

An Easter egg NPC referencing Solaire appears in Gearbox's looter-shooter, bearing a similar name and sun motif[3].

Soulare of Andorhal (World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor):

Blizzard added a follower NPC paying homage to Solaire, complete with a sun-themed design[3].

Praise the Sun emote (Destiny):

Bungie included a gesture directly inspired by Solaire's iconic pose as an in-game emote[3].

Darkest Dungeon mod:

A fan modded Solaire into *Darkest Dungeon* as a playable character, which PC Gamer called a "fantastic mixup" of the two games[3].

Frequently Asked Questions