MSN Messenger, also known as Windows Live Messenger, was an instant messaging platform developed by Microsoft.

First launched in 1999, the messenger platform first introduced a series of animated emoticons via its MSN Messenger 6.0 update on July 17, 2003. The platform was discontinued in 2013.

These animated emoticons were based on a series of shortcodes, such as :-D to insert a predecessor to the 😃 Grinning Face with Big Eyes emoji and (H) to use a predecessor to the 😎 Smiling Face with Sunglasses emoji.

Many MSN Messenger emoticons now have emoji equivalents within the modern Unicode-based emoji keyboard.