Pictograms are a type of move in the franchise, and are featured in every Just Dance game. They show players how to execute the next move and come in a wide variety of colors.
History[]
Main series[]
Just Dance[]
In the original game, the pictograms were not very well detailed. They run quickly on an invisible line and disappear quickly on an intermittent triangle. Under them is a small white upside-down triangle. The arrows that sometimes appear with them are very narrow and monocolor. They had a 2D aspect.
Pictograms for Shake Moves have a colored cloud and various shaded shapes, resembling the arms that are shaking.
This is the only time, numbers appear before the song's pictograms appear on screen.
Just Dance 2[]
In the second game, the pictograms received major improvements, but are still not very detailed, and they still disappear quickly on the triangle. They're now based on a 3D model and no longer hand-drawn, a change which carries on into all the subsequent main series games, albeit with a few minor changes. The arrows are wider and of different colors. In Duets, they slide on different sides (from the left for P1 and from the right for P2). Some pictograms now have a circle symbol to represent the glove and avoid confusion between the two hands (mostly when they are crossing). A few songs have a symbol to indicate clapping, or a sudden hand movement such as striking the air, and very rarely have short curved lines to indicate shaking. These symbols are used more frequently in later games, including this game’s DLC.
Gold Moves, which make their first appearance in this game, are fully golden with a gold outline.
Just Dance 3[]
In the third game, the pictograms did not receive very big changes. In most songs, they had a thinner torso, longer legs, and a smaller head. Additionally, the triangle was rounded instead of pointed. On Xbox, they fade when they reach the triangle, but on Wii and PS3, they enlarge a bit and fade out. In Duets, both pictograms come from the right, while in Dance Crews they slide at a faster rate because the triangle is in the middle of the screen. From this game on, the Gold Move pictograms for multiplayer routines are not golden; instead, they keep their normal colors, and have a golden outline. Also, there are now dark shadows under the pictograms whenever the dancer(s) jump(s).
Just Dance 4[]
In the fourth game, the pictograms were a bit wider with a slightly bigger head and the triangle was replaced by a white line with an intermittent rectangle; when they reach the rectangle, they fade out while enlarging. Also, the end of the line is not in the middle anymore for Dance Crews. The arrows became thicker, the double headed arrows have been removed, and the jump shadows were updated; they are not as dark as in Just Dance 3.
Just Dance 2014[]
In the fifth game, the pictograms seemed to be smaller and improved. Also, the rectangle is placed more to the left for Duets, Trios, and Dance Crews. This feature would be present in every later main game. On the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the pictograms move slightly upwards when they fade.
Just Dance 2015[]
In the sixth game, the body of the pictograms was slightly wider than the former two games, and when they fade, they move upwards on all consoles.
Just Dance 2016[]
In the seventh game, the head of most pictograms had a bolder outline, in contrast with the body, which didn’t seem to have any.
Just Dance 2017[]
In the eighth game, the pictograms had a thinner head outline than the former game, and the body’s white outline is much more noticeable. The color gradients on the body also seemed to be smoother.
Just Dance 2018[]
In the ninth game, the pictograms slide has a different beat effect with no particles, and the pictograms pulse to the beat and have a little shadow behind them. These effects only appear on 8th-gen consoles and the Switch. Also, most of the Gold Move pictograms for Duets, Trios, and Dance Crews have thicker and darker outlines.
Just Dance 2019[]
In the tenth game, the pictograms are similar to Just Dance 2018 pictograms, along with the pictogram slide, but now most of the solo Gold Move pictograms have thicker and darker outlines. This still goes for Duets, Trios, and Dance Crews, just like in Just Dance 2018.
Just Dance 2020[]
In the eleventh game, the pictogram slide has been completely replaced. It is now a bar with rounded edges and a small triangle at the top. The bar pulses instead of flashing. The pictogram bar is the same color as the lyrics. The pictograms have a slightly more visible pulse. The solo Gold Move pictograms are slightly the same as Just Dance 2018.
Just Dance 2021[]
In the twelfth game, the bar is the same as Just Dance 2020 but with no gradients, the pictograms are slightly less detailed than Just Dance 2020.
Just Dance 2022[]
In the thirteenth game, the bar is the same as Just Dance 2021. The pictograms are slightly more detailed than Just Dance 2021.
Just Dance 2023 Edition, Just Dance 2024 Edition and Just Dance 2025 Edition[]
In the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth game, the pictogram bar is remodeled to lack a central arrow and is now white. The pictograms are slightly bigger and are slightly less detailed than Just Dance 2022.
Since the 1.0.4 update, the pictogram bar has a slightly different beat animation.
These are all labeled as Just Dance on consoles.
Walking on Sunshine is the only song in the series to not use them.
Japanese and Chinese series[]
Just Dance Wii[]
Just Dance Wii pictograms are based off Just Dance 2 pictograms.
Just Dance Wii 2[]
Just Dance Wii 2 pictograms are based off Just Dance 4 pictograms.
Just Dance Wii U[]
Just Dance Wii U pictograms are based off Just Dance 2014 pictograms.
舞力全开2015[]
Most of the pictograms in 舞力全开2015 are based off Just Dance 2016 pictograms (except for Dancing Diva, which has Just Dance 2015-styled pictograms).
Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version[]
Yo-kai Watch Dance pictograms are based off of Just Dance 2016 pictograms.
舞力全开:活力派[]
舞力全开:活力派’s pictograms are based off Just Dance 2017 pictograms, except the color gradients are more pixelated.
舞力全开2017[]
舞力全开2017’s pictograms are based off Just Dance 2018 pictograms, as seen in the Gold Move 3 pictogram of Tui Zhi Ge. The routines from the main series use their initial pictograms.
舞力全开[]
舞力全开's pictograms are based off Just Dance 2019 pictograms.
Kids series[]
Just Dance Kids[]
In this game, pictograms are mostly orange with a white orb on the right hand, and a slight 3D effect. They slide towards a triangle, like in the first games of the series; this feature is brought in all other games of the Kids series.
Just Dance Kids 2[]
Here, pictograms are mostly blue with a much more visible 3D effect. They look shorter and with a bigger head.
Just Dance: Disney Party[]
In this game, the pictograms are like Just Dance Kids 2 pictograms, but they have a sort of yellow bracelet on the right arm and they fade.
Just Dance Kids 2014[]
In this game, pictograms have thicker limbs and a 2D aspect, and their body fade from light blue to teal downwards. The props look different as well, and Duet pictograms slide from different sides.
Just Dance: Disney Party 2[]
Just Dance: Disney Party 2 pictograms are based off Just Dance 4 pictograms, but with more props. Additionally, they are all purple with white arrows and prop. They have a thin black outline as well. Gold move pictograms are indicated a glowing star behind them, and duet pictograms come from different directions, like in Just Dance 2.
Other spin-offs[]
ABBA: You Can Dance/Michael Jackson: The Experience[]
In both games, the pictograms are contained into a white circle. They appear as black 2D stylized bodies, with the right arm colored pink in ABBA: You Can Dance and blue in Michael Jackson: The Experience. They slide bottom up, and they disappear with a fading effect.
Michael Jackson: The Experience (Xbox 360)[]
They are all black and they are in a man shape. They appear on the right of the dancer(s). They are in a gray box. Each box contains one or two pictograms.
Dance on Broadway (Wii)[]
They look similar to the pictograms in Just Dance, but they're smaller and they are all black. They slide from different sides, like in Just Dance 2 duets.
Dance on Broadway (PS3)[]
They are in a boy shape. They are all gray with black arrows. The slide is similar to Michael Jackson: The Experience and ABBA: You Can Dance.
The Black Eyed Peas Experience (Wii)[]
They look similar to Just Dance pictograms; they're all orange with light blue arrows, and they have a clay texture. Their arms are not connected to their body.
The Black Eyed Peas Experience (Xbox)[]
In this game, pictograms are GIF files. They are a white shape, showing the moves over the camera square.
The Hip Hop Dance Experience[]
In this game, pictograms are GIF files. They are a dark blue boy shape, showing the moves under the camera square.
The Smurfs Dance Party[]
They are all orange with light blue arrows, and they're very small. They have a thick white outline, and they disappear immediately on a motionless white triangle.
Trivia[]
General[]
- Mashed Potato Time has the lowest pictogram count in the whole series, with 26 on Just Dance and 20 on Just Dance 3.
- By contrast, Without Me (Extreme Version) has the highest count: 323.
- The routine with the highest number of unique pictograms is currently Without Me (Extreme Version) (222).
- In terms of Duets, the record currently belongs to Swish Swish (World Cup Champion Version) (108).
- In terms of Trios, the record currently belongs to Say My Name (193).
- In terms of Quartets, the record currently belongs to How You Like That (163).
- The routine with the lowest number of unique pictograms is currently Happy Birthday (12).
- In terms of Duets, the record currently belongs to Girlfriend, which only has 13 unique pictograms.
- In terms of Trios, the record currently belongs to PoPiPo (26).
- In terms of Quartets, the record currently belongs to Dynamite (Taio Cruz) (21).
- The punch emblems are actually concaves.
- Many pictograms mention celebrities, films, and other elements of pop culture in their file names.
- It is also common to find typos and spelling mistakes in them.
- According to former Just Dance lore master Aurore Bury, in the official Just Dance canon, pictograms were created by the Flow before coaches and their respective Danceverses.[1]
- In Just Dance and Just Dance 2, pictograms originally had a neon outline (according to some promotional gameplay pictures).
- From the beginning until Just Dance 2, pictogram code names were in French; from Just Dance 2 onwards, instead, their code names are mostly in English.
- Starting from Just Dance 2 onwards, the color scheme of pictograms are as follows: the color of the pictogram body is the same color as the main/prominent color on the coach, and the arrows, punch effects, and shake lines are the same color as the glove.
- For Duets and higher, the arrows, punch effects, and shake lines are the same color as the pictogram.
- If all the coaches are the same color (as in No Control), the pictogram colors are the same color as the glove.
- From Just Dance 2 to Just Dance 4, several pictograms are off-centered. Starting from Just Dance 2014, this phenomenon happens less often.
- The default colors for the Just Dance pictograms (from Just Dance 2014 onwards) is listed below:
- Solo: Japanese Laurel
Arrows: Red - Duet: Japanese Laurel/Red Berry
Arrows: Green/Red - Trio: Japanese Laurel/Red Berry/Fresh Eggplant
Arrows: Green/Red/Purple Pizzazz - Dance Crew: Japanese Laurel/Red Berry/Fresh Eggplant/Navy Blue
Arrows: Green/Red/Purple Pizzazz/Blue - 6-Player Dance Crew: Japanese Laurel/Red Berry/Fresh Eggplant/Navy Blue/Pueblo/Surfie Green
Arrows: Green/Red/Purple Pizzazz/Blue/Rob Roy/Spray
- Solo: Japanese Laurel
- In post-Just Dance 2014 games, many routines have Just Dance 2014-styled Gold Move pictograms (with a white glow). Some routines have certain Gold Move pictograms in that style, while others have all of them in that style.
- In Just Dance 2015, some maps have pictograms in the style of Just Dance 2016; vice versa, some maps in Just Dance 2016 have pictograms in the style of Just Dance 2015.
- In more recent games, pictograms are often colored according to the coach’s bottomwear rather than their top (for example, those for Sweet Little Unforgettable Thing are cobalt blue to match her denim shorts rather than yellow-orange to match her top).
- In Just Dance 2020 and Just Dance 2021, since the pictogram bar color uses the same hexadecimal as the lyrics, the former is red if the song is an instrumental.
- However, Soul Bossa Nova and all Just Dance 2021 Kids Mode exclusives have their own hexadecimal, despite all these songs being instrumentals.
- In a tweet about the reveal of Walking on Sunshine, the pictogram model is referred to as "Pictoman".[2]
- The modern forwards and backwards arrows (used since Just Dance 2017's Just Dance Unlimited exclusives) originate from Just Dance: Disney Party 2.
- Pigstep (Just Dance x Minecraft Version) is the only song to feature a square head on the pictograms.
Just Dance 2[]
- In the Just Dance Now files of The Power and Soul Bossa Nova, some pictograms that look like those of the former game can be seen.
Just Dance 3[]
- In Just Dance 3, many songs have pictograms that are based off Just Dance 2’s, except more detailed and flexible.
- In Just Dance 3, most pictograms in Duets and Dance Crews are semi-transparent. This typically happens when one coach is dancing more forward than the others.
- Just Mario is the only song in said game to only have a hat on the pictograms. (Mario's hat)
Just Dance 2014[]
- On Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U, pictograms fade away with the same zooming out transition that was used in Just Dance 4, albeit slower; on all the other consoles, instead, the fading effect moves upwards.
- The former effect is reused in Just Dance Wii U and Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version, whereas the latter is reused in Just Dance 2015 and the 7th-Gen version of every following game until Just Dance 2020.
Just Dance Now[]
- Originally, pictogram sprites used to sort their pictograms in alphabetical order according to their code names; however, as of an unknown date, the pictograms started to be placed in order of creation.
- The Just Dance Now video file with pictograms for Chiwawa (Remastered Version, by Barbie) was used to test an early version of the Just Dance 2018 pictogram bar, where pictograms flashed white as soon as they reached the end of the bar, and Gold Move pictograms had an animated glow behind them.
- A similar version (without the white flash at the end and the golden glow) was used in the video files of other maps, such as Don’t Let Me Down, HandClap, and How Deep Is Your Love.
- All songs from Just Dance 2020 onwards (except 7 rings, Bangarang, and I Am the Best) use the Just Dance 2018 and Just Dance 2019 pictogram bar. This also applies to Just Dance Unlimited exclusives and pre-Just Dance 2016 maps that were released in Just Dance Unlimited from Just Dance 2020’s era onwards (such as Here Comes the Hotstepper and Satellite).
- Só Depois do Carnaval also had the Just Dance 2020 pictogram bar, but it was replaced by the Just Dance 2019 one when the map was re-released in the game.
Just Dance Wii[]
- In Just Dance Wii, the flashing triangle is placed higher than in Just Dance 2 and Summer Party/Extra Songs, but the pictograms slide is not, making the pictograms appear slightly under the triangle.
Dance on Broadway[]
- In Dance on Broadway, there are two pictogram slides, one coming from the left and one from the right, even if there is only one person playing.
Gallery[]
Standard pictograms[]
Main series (Solo)[]
Main series (Duets)[]
(American Boy, P1)
(Kurio Ko Uddah Le Jana)
(Hungarian Dance No. 5)
(Rock Lobster)
(Get Lucky)
(Me And My Broken Heart)
(Animals)
(I Gotta Feeling (Classroom Version))
(Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie)
(Mama Mia)
(Con Calma)
(Joone Khodet)
(Mood)
(CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!)
(I’m Good (Blue))
(Sunlight)
Main series (Trios)[]
(The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?))
(Fancy)
(DADDY)
(Where Are You Now)
(Tel Aviv)
(Dans van de Farao)
(Run the World (Girls))
(WANNABE)
(Don’t Cha)
(Calabria 2007)
Main series (Dance Crews/Quartets)[]
(Boogie Wonderland)
(Baby One More Time)
(Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke))
(Y.M.C.A.)
(Macarena)
(Bang Bang)
(Balkan Blast Remix)
(Scream & Shout)
(Bubble Pop! (Bubble Gum Version))
(Finesse (Remix))
(Everybody (Backstreet’s Back))
(Ice Cream)
(POP/STARS)
(MORE)
(Tainted Love)
(Pink Venom)
Japanese and Chinese series (Solos)[]
(High Light High Life)
Japanese and Chinese series (Duets)[]
(Xiao Ping Guo)
(Dan Dan Dubi Zubā!)
Japanese and Chinese series (Quartets)[]
(Flying Get)
(Uchū Dance!)
(Growl)
Kids/Disney series[]
(ABC)
Other spin-offs[]
Shake/Gold Moves[]
- For a comprehensive gallery of Gold Move pictograms, visit Gold Move.
Unusual Props[]
(Xiao Ping Guo, 舞力无限)
(Mashed Potato Time, remake)
(The Lazy Song)
(I’ve Been Working on The Railroad, Just Dance Unlimited/Now)
(Mr. Blue Sky)
(Can’t Feel My Face)
(Superstition)
(One Thing, Just Dance 4)
(One Thing, Just Dance+)
(Break My Heart)
(Let It Go (Sing Along))
(Rock n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) VS. Livin’ la Vida Loca, Livin’ la Vida Loca wins)
(Magic Halloween)
(This is Halloween)
(Mini Yo School)
(Mr. Saxobeat)
(Rockafeller Skank, Just Dance 2)
(White Noise)
(Umbrella (With an Umbrella))
(Wild Wild West (Extreme Version))
(Ai)
(Hangover (BaBaBa))
(Bar Bar Bar)
(Eye of the Tiger, from Just Dance: Greatest Hits onwards)
(Soul Searchin’, remake)
(Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight))
(Swish Swish)
(Slumber Party)
(Bad Boy)
(Beauty And A Beat VS. Call Me Maybe, Call Me Maybe wins)
(Blow Your Mind (Mwah))
(Electric Boy)
(Girls & Boys, Just Dance 4 Mashups/Puppet Master Modes)
(Heartbeat Song)
(I’m An Albatraoz)
(In the Summertime)
(Jerk it Out, Just Dance 4 Mashups/Puppet Master Modes and remake)
(Judas)
(Malibu)
(Never Gonna Give You Up, Just Dance 4)
(Soul Bossa Nova, remake)
(Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You))
(Super Bass VS. Love You Like A Love Song, Love You Like A Love Song wins)
(Work Work (Extreme Version)
(It’s Not Unusual, Just Dance 2)
(Mamasita, remake)
(Beautiful Liar, remake)
(Leila)
(Side to Side)
(The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?) (Campfire Dance))
(Bar Bar Bar)
(Who Let the Dogs Out?, remake)
(Rock N Roll Princess)
(I Was Made For Lovin’ You)
(So What)
(Kool Kontact)
(Kung Fu Fighting (Dave Ruffy/Mark Wallis Remix), from Just Dance: Greatest Hits/Best Of onwards)
(Futebol Crazy, Just Dance 2)
(Night Boat To Cairo)
(Soy Yo (Snake Version))
(Crazy Christmas)
(Call Me, remake)
(Dame Tu Cosita)
(Danceでバコーン!)
(Funplex (CSS Remix), remake)
(Girlfriend, Just Dance+)
(I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll)
(Just Dance Machine/Metal Guitar)
(キスだって左利き)
(Louie Louie, remake)
(Love Ward)
(Lump, remake)
(Rock n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) VS. Livin’ la Vida Loca, Livin’ la Vida Loca wins)
(Speedy Gonzalez)
(Walk This Way (Extreme Version))
(王妃 (Wang Fei))
(XMas Tree)
(Should I Stay or Should I Go)
(Sympathy For The Devil (Fatboy Slim Remix))
(Let’s Groove)
(Fine China (Extreme Version), Just Dance Unlimited)
(We R Who We R)
(Isidora)
(Tribal Dance (Katana Version))
(Cosmic Girl)
(Idealistic)
(Rock n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) VS. Livin’ la Vida Loca, Livin’ la Vida Loca wins)
(Tico-Tico no Fubá)
(Electro Body Combat, cool round 4)
(Crazy Little Thing Called Love)
(Love Is All)
(Baby Zouk, remake)
(Locked Out of Heaven)
(You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real))
(Danger! High Voltage (16-Bit Version))
(Happy (Sing Along))
(Just Dance Machine/Yodel)
(Take On Me)
(Timber)
(Jungle Boogie, remake)
(Kitchen Kittens)
(Yu Le Tian Kong)
(Tsukematsukeru)
(Video Killed the Radio Star)
(Magical Morning)
(Monsters of Jazz)
(The Frog Concert)
(Here Comes the Hotstepper, Just Dance 2)
(Leg Song(腿之歌))
(Sway (Quién Será))
(Dance Lab/Knight)
(I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’, remake)
(Euphoria)
(drivers license)
(Sweet Sensation)
(X)
(Chaise Longue)
(Espresso)
(Vogue)
(Holiday)
(Holding Out for a Hero)
(Rock n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) VS. Livin’ la Vida Loca, Livin’ la Vida Loca wins)
(Call Me Maybe (Alternate Version), Just Dance+)
(Dance Lab/Tennis Player)
(Swinging 60’s Workout, intense round 3)
(Water Me (Tennis Version))
(Wet Tennis)
(Moves Like Jagger)
(Wherever I Go)
(Think About Things)
(A Little Less Conversation, Just Dance 2014 Mashups/Party Master Modes)
(Cotton Eye Joe, Just Dance 4 Mashups/Puppet Master Modes and remake)
(Irish Meadow Dance)
(Rasputin, from Just Dance 2020 onwards)
(Ghostbusters)
(Just Dance Machine/Glass Cleaner)
(Swinging 60’s Workout, intense round 3)
(Circus (Extreme Version))
(Rock n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain) VS. Livin’ la Vida Loca, Livin’ la Vida Loca wins)
(Dance Lab/Referee)
(Turn Up the Love)
(Turn Up the Love (Sumo))
Others[]
References[]
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