diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index eec78e0..0f8fb81 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ java {
 
 dependencies {
     implementation "dev.selimaj:session-java:0.2.0"
+    implementation "org.saturnclient:emotes-core:${emotes_version}"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/cosmetics/Emotes.java b/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/cosmetics/Emotes.java
index bc0353b..b4f00dd 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/cosmetics/Emotes.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/cosmetics/Emotes.java
@@ -1,17 +1,45 @@
 package org.saturnclient.cosmetics;
 
+import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Optional;
 
+import org.saturnclient.common.provider.Providers;
+import org.saturnclient.emotes.core.Emote;
+import org.saturnclient.emotes.core.EmoteRegistry;
+
+/**
+ * Saturn's emotes, loaded from {@code assets/saturnclient/player_animations/<id>.json} (Emotecraft
+ * format). They live in Saturn's own registry rather than the emote library's shared one, so another
+ * mod using the library can't replace them.
+ */
 public class Emotes {
+    private static final List<String> IDS = List.of("tpose", "back_flip", "facepalm", "cry", "giga_chad",
+            "front_flip");
+
+    private static final EmoteRegistry REGISTRY = new EmoteRegistry();
+
+    /** The emotes that loaded, in wheel order. */
     public static List<String> availableEmotes = new ArrayList<>();
 
     public static void initialize() {
-        availableEmotes.add("tpose");
-        availableEmotes.add("back_flip");
-        availableEmotes.add("facepalm");
-        availableEmotes.add("cry");
-        availableEmotes.add("giga_chad");
-        availableEmotes.add("front_flip");
+        for (String id : IDS) {
+            String path = "/assets/saturnclient/player_animations/" + id + ".json";
+            try (InputStream in = Emotes.class.getResourceAsStream(path)) {
+                if (in == null) {
+                    Providers.saturn.logError("Missing emote " + path);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                REGISTRY.loadEmotecraft(id, in);
+                availableEmotes.add(id);
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                Providers.saturn.logError("Failed to load emote " + id, e);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static Optional<Emote> get(String id) {
+        return REGISTRY.get(id);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/ui/screens/EmoteWheel.java b/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/ui/screens/EmoteWheel.java
index 80ad62c..2a870ec 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/ui/screens/EmoteWheel.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/saturnclient/ui/screens/EmoteWheel.java
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ public class EmoteWheel extends SaturnScreen {
             emoteStagger.draw(
                     new TextureButton(Textures.getEmotePreview(emote), () -> {
                         Providers.saturn.playEmote(ServiceClient.uuid, emote);
+                        ServiceClient.emote(emote);
                         provider.close();
                     })
                             .dimensions(70, 70)