Blob Emoji ๐ซ โ Google's Beloved Retired Emoji, Full History & AI Art
From 2012 to 2017, Google's blobby teardrop emoji were unlike anything else on the internet. This is their story โ why they were retired, why fans still love them, and how to create new blob-style AI art.
The History of Google Blob Emoji
2012
Blobs debut on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Google's blob emoji first appeared as part of Android's emoji set โ designed by designers at Google as a unique, distinctive alternative to Apple's more humanoid emoji style.
2013โ2016
Blobs become beloved
The blob set grows across Android versions. Their distinctive rounded, blobby body โ no hands, teardrop shape โ becomes iconic. A dedicated fanbase emerges on Tumblr and early Twitter.
2017
Google retires blobs (Android 8.0 Oreo)
Google replaces the entire blob set with rounded human-like emoji to better conform to Unicode/cross-platform standards. The internet is NOT happy. Thousands of tweets, petitions, and memes mourn the blobs.
2017โpresent
Blob nostalgia intensifies
The blobs are available as sticker packs on Telegram and as open-source assets. Discord servers use blob emoji extensively. The community keeps them alive through custom emoji packs.
2022
Blobs influence new emoji design
๐ซ (Melting Face), ๐ซก (Saluting Face), and other new emoji with expressive, blobby characteristics echo the blob aesthetic. Some argue the blobs never died.
Why Did Everyone Love the Blob Emoji?
They looked like nothing else
Every other platform's emoji looked like round yellow circles with faces. Google's blobs had a distinctive blobby teardrop shape โ they were immediately recognizable and unique.
Their expressions felt more honest
The blob faces captured nuanced emotions better. The triumphant steam-from-nose face (๐ค blob version) looked triumphant, not angry. The crying blob was full ugly-cry, not a polite tear.
They had personality without hands
No hands, no legs โ just a floating blobby body and a big expressive face. This constraint made them feel more iconic and distilled. Pure emotion, no body language noise.
They built community
Android users bonded over blob emoji. When Google retired them, the shared grief unified the community and kept the blobs alive in fan content, Telegram sticker packs, and Discord servers.
The Most Iconic Blobs
Blob Smile
Pure, simple happiness โ the original good vibes blob
Blob LOL
The blob laughing face โ predecessor to Gen Z ๐ culture
Blob Cry
Full ugly-cry energy โ dramatically emotional
Blob Heart Eyes
So in love it hurts โ the most iconic love emoji
Blob Triumphant
Not angry โ triumphant. Steam from nose = winning.
Blob Upside Down
Everything is fine (it is not fine)
Blob Cool
Sunglasses on, cool
Blob Pleading
Puppy eyes โ the cuteness is doing a lot of work here
These are the standard emoji equivalents โ the original blob designs had the same expressions but in Google's unique blobby teardrop shape.
AI Blob-Style Combo Ideas
Use ๐ซ (the spiritual successor to blob aesthetic) to generate new blob-style AI art.
Melting Cloud
Floating away in a dreamy haze โ blob dissolve energy
Sparkle Melt
Glam dissolution โ too much beauty to handle
Blob Wave
Melting into the ocean โ pure surrender
Ice Cream Blob
Melting sweetness โ soft, round, irresistible
Blossom Melt
Spring dissolution โ gentle and pink
Fire Melt
melting from heat โ dramatic, intense
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are blob emoji?
- Blob emoji were Google's original emoji design from 2012 to 2017 โ distinctively shaped like rounded teardrops or blobs, with no hands or legs, just big expressive faces. They were unique to Android devices using Google's emoji font. In 2017, Google replaced them with rounder human-like emoji to standardize with other platforms. The originals are still beloved and available as Telegram sticker packs.
- Why did Google retire the blob emoji?
- Google retired blobs in 2017 with Android 8.0 (Oreo) to align with the rest of the industry. Unicode emoji are supposed to look similar across platforms so communication stays consistent โ a ๐ should feel the same whether you're on iOS or Android. The blob design, while beloved, was too distinctive and often looked quite different from what recipients saw on Apple devices. Standardization won over personality.
- Can I still use blob emoji?
- Yes! The original Google blob emoji are available as open-source assets (Unicode/Noto Emoji). They're widely distributed as Telegram sticker packs, Discord custom emoji packs, and downloadable PNG sets. Search for "blob emoji Telegram" or "noto emoji blob" to find current packs.
- What is ๐ซ melting face emoji?
- ๐ซ (Melting Face) was added in Unicode 14.0 (2021) and is considered a spiritual successor to the blob aesthetic. It means: everything is too much, I am dissolving from stress/cringe/heat/overwhelm. Gen Z uses it heavily alongside ๐ญ and ๐. It captures the blob spirit of extreme, honest emotional expression.
- Where can I get blob emoji stickers?
- The best sources: (1) Telegram โ search "blob emoji" in sticker packs, there are many high-quality community packs; (2) Discord โ download blob PNG packs and upload as custom server emoji; (3) GitHub โ search "noto-emoji blob" for the original Google open-source files; (4) Forgemoji โ create your own AI-generated blob-style fusion character with ๐ซ + any other emoji.
- Can I create new blob emoji art?
- Yes. While the original Google blobs are a fixed set, you can create original blob-style AI art with Forgemoji. Use ๐ซ (Melting Face) as one emoji and combine it with any other โ โ๏ธ, โจ, ๐ธ, ๐ฆ โ to generate a unique illustrated blob fusion character. Download as transparent PNG for Discord custom emoji or Telegram stickers.
Pixie Wong, Visual design lead
Reviewed June 5, 2026
How we wrote this: The blob emoji rendering comparison comes from the Noto Emoji open-source archive and the Unicode standard. I also checked the Telegram sticker pack distributions to confirm the originals are still findable as community assets.
Sources: Noto Emoji open-source archive, Unicode emoji standard, Telegram blob emoji sticker packs.