What is the Bad Times Squid Game guard dance?
It is a solo dance clip that mixes two things people recognize at once: the faceless guard from Squid Game and a deep house track that has become a common soundtrack for dance videos. The mask makes the dancer anonymous, so the clip is all about the moves: sharp footwork in neon-green sneakers, the body leaning into the beat, the camera low enough that the dancer towers over the palm trees.
People look for it as the Bad Times dance, the Squid Game guard dance, the masked guard dance, the square mask dance or simply "Imael Angel Bad Times TikTok". In other languages it shows up as "танец стража из Игры в кальмара", "baile del guardia de El juego del calamar" or "dança do guarda de Round 6".
Where does the original video come from?
The song is "Bad Times" by Imael Angel, a deep house single released on March 30, 2026. Its lyrics are about holding on to your self-worth when things get hard, and its steady beat made it a popular backing track for dance clips and edits on social media. Several versions exist, including a long, an extended and a club version.
The look comes from Squid Game, the South Korean Netflix series created by Hwang Dong-hyuk that premiered in 2021. Its guards wear black mesh masks marked with a circle, a triangle or a square, the square standing for the managers. Here the dancer keeps only the mask and pairs it with streetwear instead of the guards' pink jumpsuit.
We have not confirmed who filmed the clip or who the dancer is, so this page does not name them or link a source. vswp keeps the clip's own sound exactly as it is.
Who and what is in it?
One person to replace: the dancer. The clip is one continuous shot from a camera placed close to the floor:
- The outfit. A black mask with a white square, a black hood pulled up, a black hoodie with a bright green flame pattern, black joggers and black high-top sneakers with neon-green panels.
- The place. A terrace tiled in a maroon-and-white checkerboard, young palm trees and a small wooden hut with a lattice wall at the side, the sea and a wide blue sky with white clouds behind.
- The dance. For 28 seconds the dancer moves to "Bad Times" in the middle of the frame, full length from sneakers to hood, with quick steps that make the green sneakers flash.
How to make the Bad Times guard dance with AI
- Open the Bad Times Squid Game guard dance trend and sign in with Telegram. There is no password.
- The dancer is already found: give the card one photo (JPEG, PNG or WebP).
- Decide on "Keep the original look". On, the green flame hoodie, the joggers and the sneakers stay and your face and hair appear where the mask was; off, your clothes and look come from your photo.
- Press "Make the free preview" to see about 5 seconds at 480p with a small "vswp.app" mark; every new user gets one.
- Press "Create the full video". The price in Telegram Stars is shown before you start, and the Stars come back if a render fails or is canceled.
- Download the MP4 at 480p or 720p with the original sound, typically ready in minutes.
By starting a video you confirm you have the right to use it and the photos, so ask friends before using theirs. More videos are in the trends list.
Which photo for the dancer?
- Full length for your own outfit. The dancer is in the frame from head to toe the whole time. With "Keep the original look" off, a full-body photo of you alone carries your clothes, hair and silhouette best.
- A clear face. The mask comes off in your version, so your face is what people see: use a sharp, front-facing photo in good light, without sunglasses, a cap or anything covering it.
- Daylight. The scene is shot outdoors under an open sky; a photo taken in soft daylight blends in better than one with hard flash or colored club light.
More tips: which photos work best for an AI video swap.
