PRI #294 Background: Emoji Glyph/Annotation Recommendations

Last updated: 2015-03-31

The following is a list of proposed Unicode chart glyph and/or annotations changes for many emoji characters​, to promote better interchange across platforms.

Emoji characters provided on platforms do not have to look identical to the Unicode charts, but the charts, names, and annotations do provide guidance in producing images that work across different platforms. While the formal Unicode character name cannot be changed, name annotations can be used to provide a more accurate description of the character. For more information, see Design Guidelines.

The annotations would be targeted at Unicode 8.0, but the chart glyph changes may come afterwards. The annotations are given as a bulleted phrase. The 7.0 Chart Glyph is the one that would be changed to the Proposed Chart Glyph: the Apple, Android, and Windows chart glyphs are purely for comparison.

The draft list of recommendations is presented here for public feedback to the Unicode Consortium. We are interested in feedback either in favor of proposed changes or against them. Please use the Online contact form to supply feedback, and be sure to include the Code for each character referred to. You may also suggest changes for other emoji from the full-emoji-list. The Unicode emoji subcommittee may add further proposed changes.

In reviewing, it will be helpful to click on the Code to see the appearance on more platforms, including the original Japanese carriers (DCM, KDDI, SB). For example, the line for 1F46F (WOMAN WITH BUNNY EARS) shows how the appearance in the Japanese carrier images led to differences among the more recent platform images. You can also zoom in on the images below in your browser to see more details.

 

Code Name,
7.0 annotations
U7.0 Chart Glyph
Prop. Chart Glyph
Apple
Andr.
Wind.
Proposed annotation additions for 8.0
(unless otherwise noted)
Notes
1F62F HUSHED FACE
😯
no change
😯
😯
😯
β€’ should not have zipper mouth
β†’ 1F910 zipper-mouth face
Zipper-mouth face is a separate character in 8.0.
1F62A SLEEPY FACE
πŸ˜ͺ
πŸ˜ͺ
πŸ˜ͺ
πŸ˜ͺ
πŸ˜ͺ
β†’ 1F62B 😫 tired face
β†’ 1F634 😴 sleeping face
Propose changing the chart glyph to remove the nasal bubble, which is too specific to Japanese usage; make more like the Windows image. Consider whether this will change the interpretation in Japan.
1F60C RELIEVED FACE
😌
😌
😌
😌
😌
β€’ depicts relief, not sleeping
β†’ 1F62A πŸ˜ͺ sleepy face
β†’ 1F634 😴 sleeping face

Change the chart glyph to more clearly indicate relief, perhaps adding a hand wiping the brow.

1F624 FACE WITH LOOK OF TRIUMPH
😀
😀
😀
😀
😀
β€’ indicates triumph, not anger

Propose changing the chart glyph to remove the β€œsteam from nose”, to appear like it is winning, not angry / fed up. Consider whether this will change the interpretation in Japan.

1F626 FROWNING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH
😦
😦
😦
😦
😦
β€’ frowning, not shocked or surprised

Fix the chart glyph to appear less shocked, and more frowning.

A frown with an β€˜open mouth’ is difficult to achieve. Twitter achieves a clearer version of this than the chart glyph.

1F62C GRIMACING FACE
😬
😬
😬
😬
😬
β€’ indicates a grimace, either determination or in pain, not anger

Fix the chart glyph to not look angry. Should be more β€œgritting teeth”.

1F633 FLUSHED FACE
😳
😳
😳
😳
😳
β€’ embarrassed

Fix the chart glyph to appear with eyes open, and a straight mouth, to clarify embarrassment more clearly. Use 1F610 (Neutral Face) and add shading for red cheeks to achieve this.

This emoji is difficult to use at present due to the wide variety of implementations: Apple (alarmed), Google (resigned), or Microsoft (happy go lucky, but with sheepish eyes)

1F635 DIZZY FACE
😡
😡
😡
😡
😡

Fix the chart glyph to use β€œswirly” eyes, as on Android and Windows. It better represents β€œdizzy”, and less confusion with astonished face.

1F621 POUTING FACE
😑
😑
😑
😑
😑
β€’ intended to depict pouting rather than simply angry
β†’ 1F64E πŸ™Ž person with pouting face
β†’ 1F63E 😾 pouting cat face

Make the chart glyph more pouting.

1F47F IMP
πŸ‘Ώ
😑
πŸ‘Ώ
πŸ‘Ώ
πŸ‘Ώ
β€’ commonly depicted as a frowning/angry version of 1F608
β†’ 1F608 😈 smiling face with horns

Make the glyph be an a frowning/angry version of 1F608

1F608 SMILING FACE WITH HORNS
😈
no change
😈
😈
😈
β€’ commonly depicted as a (sinister) smiling version of 1F47F
β†’ 1F47F 😑 imp
1F477 CONSTRUCTION WORKER
πŸ‘·
no change
πŸ‘·
πŸ‘·
πŸ‘·
β€’ on the helmet some representations show a green cross, used as a safety reminder in Japan
β†’ 26D1 β›‘ helmet with white cross

Change the chart glyph to be not have a cross, so that it doesn't look like an EMT or other first-aid helmet.

1F46F WOMAN WITH BUNNY EARS
πŸ‘―
πŸ‘―
πŸ‘―
πŸ‘―
πŸ‘―
β€’ most popularly depicts two women dancing (unified with the Softbank emoji character)

Change the chart glyph to make it two women dancing, with smaller ears. People far prefer the two women dancing (meaning β€œparty”) rather than the Playboy Bunny appearance.

This character resulted from the unification of KDDI sjisF3AF β€œγƒγƒ‹γƒΌβ€=β€œbunny” i.e. Playboy Bunny (the chart glyph was a blonde female head with bunny ears) and Softbank sjisFB69 β€œγƒ©γ‚€γƒ³γƒ€γƒ³γ‚Ήβ€=β€œline dance” (animated image was two women seemingly dancing in a chorus line, with smaller catlike ears). These were already cross-mapped by those two vendors, with the idea that both conveyed the notion of β€œshowgirl”.

Notes from emojipedia: Also known as: Dancing Girls Emoji, Tap Dance Emoji, Ballet Emoji, …”

1F64E PERSON WITH POUTING FACE
πŸ™Ž
πŸ™Ž
πŸ™Ž
πŸ™Ž
πŸ™Ž
β€’ intended to depict pouting rather than simply angry
β†’ 1F621 😑 pouting face
β†’ 1F63E 😾 pouting cat face

Make the chart glyph more pouting. Note that what constitutes a β€œpouting” look is fairly culturally-specific and may be difficult to convey in a general way.

1F645 FACE WITH NO GOOD GESTURE
πŸ™…
πŸ™…
πŸ™…
πŸ™…
πŸ™…
β€’ the reverse of face with ok gesture, conveying β€œno deal”, or β€œnot ok”, not anger
Γ— 1F646 πŸ™† face with ok gesture

Change the chart glyph to show more of the face, and that it is not angry. Also misinterpreted frequently.

1F481 INFORMATION DESK PERSON
πŸ’
no change
πŸ’
πŸ’
πŸ’
β€’ often used to indicate β€œsassy” or β€œcarefree”
1F64F PERSON WITH FOLDED HANDS
β€’ can indicate sorrow or regret
β€’ can indicate pleading
πŸ™
no change
πŸ™
πŸ™
πŸ™
β€’ can also indicate praying, bowing, or thanking

Not a high-five.

1F483 DANCER
πŸ’ƒ
πŸ’ƒ
πŸ’ƒ
πŸ’ƒ
πŸ’ƒ
β€’ may be either gender; also used for β€œlet’s party”.

Fix the chart glyph to use a woman instead of a man dancing.

Apple’s dancing woman image has become very iconic, and seems to imply a different meaning than the disco-dancing man.

A gender-neutral image like Android or Windows might be a noble goal, but it removes some aspect of how this is used: generally as β€œlet’s party” or β€œlet’s forget our worries and have a good time”.

1F48F KISS
= two people kissing
πŸ’
πŸ’
πŸ’
πŸ’
πŸ’
β€’ most commonly shown as two heads with kiss-shaped mouths tilted towards each other, with a heart between
β†’ 1F491 πŸ’‘ couple with heart

Make the chart glyph be gender-neutral using smiley faces.

1F491 COUPLE WITH HEART
πŸ’‘
πŸ’‘
πŸ’‘
πŸ’‘
πŸ’‘
β€’ most commonly shown as two heads tilted towards each other, with a heart between
β†’ 1F48F πŸ’ kiss

Make the chart glyph be gender-neutral using smiley faces.

1F47B GHOST
πŸ‘»
πŸ‘»
πŸ‘»
πŸ‘»
πŸ‘»
β€’ most commonly shown with a larger, friendlier face

Fix the chart glyph to use an identifiable face on the ghost. Commonly used for Halloween, and light-hearted matters. the chart glyph at present is a scarier-looking ghost than most interpretations.

1F47E ALIEN MONSTER
πŸ‘Ύ
πŸ‘Ύ
πŸ‘Ύ
πŸ‘Ύ
πŸ‘Ύ
β†’ 1F916 robot face

Change the chart glyph to something like Windows or Android, instead.

1F4A9 PILE OF POO
= dog dirt
πŸ’©
πŸ’©
πŸ’©
πŸ’©
πŸ’©
β€’ most popularly depicted as a friendly face with eyes

Fix the chart glyph to have eyes, to match popular expectations.

1F63E POUTING CAT FACE
😾
😾
😾
😾
😾
β€’ intended to depict pouting rather than simply angry
β†’ 1F621 😑 pouting face
β†’ 1F64E πŸ™Ž person with pouting face

Make the chart glyph more pouting. Note that what constitutes a β€œpouting” look is fairly culturally-specific and may be difficult to convey in a general way.

1F640 WEARY CAT FACE
πŸ™€
πŸ™€
πŸ™€
πŸ™€
πŸ™€
β€’ indicates tired, not horrified
1F33B SUNFLOWER
🌻
🌻
🌻
🌻
🌻
β€’ most commonly shown with leaves and stem

Fix the chart glyph to include stem and leaves on the sunflower.

This is how sunflowers are generally drawn, the leaves being an important part of identification. Apple, Windows and Twitter are good examples.

1F335 CACTUS
β†’ 1F3DC 🏜 desert
🌡
🌡
🌡
🌡
🌡
β€’ most commonly shown as a three-prong saguaro cactus

Fix the chart glyph of cactus to use three-prong cactus (Saguaro), easily identifiable by more people.

All platforms already use this style. The character already has the annotation

1F35C STEAMING BOWL
= ramen noodles
🍜
🍜
🍜
🍜
🍜
β€’ commonly tilted to show that the contents are food, not beverage
β†’ 1F375 🍡 teacup without handle

Fix the chart glyph to tilt the bowl to show that the contents are food, and not beverage. Makes this distinct from 1F375 Teacup Without Handle.

1F364 FRIED SHRIMP
🍀
🍀
🍀
🍀
🍀

Change the chart glyph to look like a fried shrimp. More like Apple's, but B&W of course.

1F373 COOKING
= frying pan, cooking utensil
🍳
🍳
🍳
🍳
🍳
β€’ commonly tilted to show the contents

Fix the chart glyph to use tilted or top-down image of frypan with egg.

Current the chart glyph is difficult to see.

1F69C TRACTOR
🚜
🚜
🚜
🚜
🚜
β€’ commonly uses more modern image, showing cab but not driver

Fix the chart glyph to appear like a modern tractor, without a driver. See the vendor the chart glyphs from the link.​

1F4BA SEAT
πŸ’Ί
no change
πŸ’Ί
πŸ’Ί
πŸ’Ί
β€’ intended to denote reserved or ticketed seat as for an airplane, train, or theater

Not an arbitrary chair (like a kitchen chair or armchair).

1F387 FIREWORK SPARKLER
β€’ long, stick-like firework that looks like a burning incense stick
πŸŽ‡
no change
πŸŽ‡
πŸŽ‡
πŸŽ‡

Open issue: We’ve gotten complaints that a firework sparkler is β€œTypically a stick held in the hand, not something hanging down”. Fix the chart glyph or annotate the name, or do nothing?

1F3B1 BILLIARDS
🎱
🎱
🎱
🎱
🎱
β€’ commonly depicted using just an 8-ball

Change the chart glyph to show just an 8 ball. Lends itself to more usage.

1F3CD RACING MOTORCYCLE
🏍
no change
β€’ may be an ordinary motorcycle, especially in emoji presentation
1F4DE TELEPHONE RECEIVER
β†’ 1F57B 🏜 left hand telephone receiver
β†’ 1F57D πŸ•½ right hand telephone receiver
πŸ“ž
πŸ“ž
πŸ“ž
πŸ“ž
πŸ“ž
β€’ commonly faces towards the right, so that a face can be positioned afterwards

Fix the chart glyph to flip horizontal orientation of phone receiver. Receiver faces left at present, whereas all platforms except Android show this the opposite way.

Note: for historical reasons, there are 3 different receivers in Unicode. The other two have specific orientations.

1F4DC SCROLL
πŸ“œ
πŸ“œ
πŸ“œ
πŸ“œ
πŸ“œ

Fix the chart glyph to show as a traditional scroll with a roll at the top and bottom, like the Apple or Twitter images.

1F516 BOOKMARK
β†’ 1F3F7 🏷 label
πŸ”–
πŸ”–
πŸ”–
πŸ”–
πŸ”–
β€’ indicates a bookmark, not a price tag

Change the chart glyph to look less like a price tag, and more like a bookmark. Maybe two streamers or a tassel?

1F4B1 CURRENCY EXCHANGE
πŸ’±
πŸ’±
πŸ’±
πŸ’±
πŸ’±
β€’ typically shown with arrows indicating transfer between currencies

Fix the chart glyph to appear more similar to iOS, Windows, or Twitter versions with an arrow pointing between currencies. This shows an exchange, whereas the current the chart glyph looks like β€œmultiple currencies” or β€œmoney” without any indication of exchange.

1F4E7 E-MAIL SYMBOL
β€’ glyph may show an @-sign instead of an E
β†’ 1F584 πŸ–„ envelope with lightning
πŸ“§
πŸ“§
πŸ“§
πŸ“§
πŸ“§
[When the chart glyph is updated as proposed, the following informative note should replace the current note:]
β€’ glyph may show an E instead of an @-sign

Fix the chart glyph show an envelope with an @ symbol on it, instead of the letter E, like Android Windows. Few people would equate β€œE” with email more than the @ symbol, and the latter is also less language sensitive.