18 Best Rainbow Dolphin Memes: Templates and Meaning

The Rainbow Dolphin meme, also known as the Hopecore or Symphony Dolphin, has become a viral sensation on platforms like TikTok. It features a vibrant illustration of a dolphin jumping out of water, whose style is strongly reminiscent of the colorful Lisa Frank artwork popular in the 1990s. Its rise to fame is deeply connected to a specific song and a unique, relatable style of emotional expression.

It first gained massive popularity in late August 2024. The dolphin image serves as a template for image macros, similar to the "How I See the World After X" phrasal template. In a typical use, the incredibly bright and optimistic image is paired with heartfelt confessions like "I'm so depressed" or ironic statements about personal struggles.

The euphoric, rainbow-colored dolphin and uplifting music create a jarring juxtaposition with the melancholic or cynical captions. This "hopecore" aesthetic makes the content highly relatable, especially for a generation that often uses irony to discuss mental health. It functions as a sort of digital sigh—a way to express negativity cloaked in a veil of visual hope.

To see the full range of this trend, we have gathered a collection of 18 related meme images that showcase its unique blend of hope and irony.