Squid Game uniform colors: Red vs Pink, Explained

In Squid Game, color is much more than just visual flair. Colors are used as a powerful storytelling tool, and it's no different with Squid Game. Viewers have debated the guards' uniform colors, but it's not because of lighting or a trick of the eye (optical illusions).

There is also symbolic significance in the colors of the "pink soldiers," magenta (which varies between red and pink), and the players, teal (which varies between blue and green), which represent concepts of dominance, subordination, and perseverance.

The fact that these hues are reminiscent of squid's natural camouflage techniques adds another level of significance to the show, and that's fascinating. So, in Squid Game, are the guards dressed in red? Or pink?

The answer depends on perspective, and quite literally. Perception, however, isn’t universal. Conditions like glaucoma and color blindness can also affect how viewers see these colors, proving that Squid Game doesn’t just play games with its characters. It manipulates the audience, too.

The illusion of color — Red, pink, and the power play

Are the guards dressed in red? Or pink? The answer depends on perspective, and quite literally. Under dim lighting, their jumpsuits can appear a menacing red, evoking authority and violence. But in brighter scenes, the uniforms shift to pink, a tone traditionally associated with submission or allure. This duality aligns with the guards’ roles as both enforcers of the games and pawns trapped in the same brutal system.

Even when V of BTS donned the (in)famous Squid Game jumpsuit in the Permission to Dance concert, we can notice the variation in hues.

The creators’ choice of magenta, a color that sits on the spectrum between red and pink, reflects this contradiction. Like the guards themselves, the color resists a single definition, representing the fragile balance between power and subservience.

For some viewers, however, the question of color isn’t just about lighting. It’s about biology. Glaucoma can affect contrast perception, making shades appear darker or muted, while color blindness can cause confusion between reds and greens or other close hues. The guards' magenta uniforms blur the distinction between predator and prey, playing on this ambiguity.

[The biggest plot twist in the Squid Game was discovering that the color of their uniforms was not red, but PINK!

Image 1 (left):

"This doesn’t even fit me, and the color is horrible."

Image 2 (right):

"I love pink."]

Nobody is only a spectator in this argument. Season 2 is when the show officially tackles the issue. Player 196 comments on how much she loves the guards’ suits because they’re pink. This direct acknowledgment suggests that the creators intended the uniforms to be seen as pink. Also, they are now referred to as "pink soldiers." Also, the recently used Netflix logo with pink shades? Yeah, another confirmation? Maybe, but now it's back to red again (while some people still see it pink, due to glaucoma, adjustments in displays et al).

All of this, and the way lighting and perception distort the color, keeps the conversation alive and reinforces the show’s deeper themes of reality versus illusion.

Teal uniforms — Survival under camouflage

On the other side of the spectrum, the players’ teal uniforms create an equally compelling narrative. Teal, a blend of blue and green (or something in between) conveys both calmness and fear. This reflects the players' frailty and desperation. They are dehumanized as individuals and reduced to faceless cogs in a machine because of how uniform everything is.

Similar to magenta, teal is much more than a mere hue. It's a survival strategy. Squids in the wild adopt blue-green hues to blend in with their environment. This is how they evade danger or prepare for an ambush. Similarly, in Squid Game, players are compelled to adapt and blend in. They wear the outfit to hide their fears and show their commitment to survive the intense competition. In the MV for Haegeum, SUGA's journey is from prey to boss.

Dissimilarities in visual processing, such as how some viewers might see the teal as more blue or green, serve to emphasize the show's focus on warped realities. Shadows, light, and even brain chemistry influence these colors. But these effects reflect the difficulties the players have in reading their surroundings and making critical judgments that could mean the difference between life and death.

Playing with perception — Lighting, illusions, and manipulation

Squid Game thrives on manipulating its audience, and color perception is no exception. Lighting plays a key role in how viewers interpret the guards’ magenta jumpsuits, shifting between red and pink depending on the scene. This mirrors the psychological manipulation within the games, where reality is constantly distorted to keep players disoriented and compliant.

Perception can be distorted by factors such as lighting, contrast, and brain processing, as demonstrated by the infamous "blue-and-gold dress" controversy. By using color as a psychological weapon, Squid Game expands upon the idea that color perception is dependent on how various regions of the brain process light, as discovered by neuroscientists studying the phenomenon.

Whether it’s the guards’ magenta uniforms or the players’ teal jumpsuits, Squid Game reminds us that perception isn’t always reality. And more, in this deadly game, that distinction can mean survival or death.

Beyond aesthetics — Colors as narrative tools

The color palette in Squid Game isn’t just about aesthetics. Its usage as a storytelling tool is intrinsic to the storytelling itself. The guards wearing magenta symbolize a vulnerable power. Similarly 'anonymous,' keeping one's identity secret is key to the players' teal uniforms. When used together, the show's visual hierarchy bolsters its examination of power dynamics and systemic control.

Some think and have stated that Viva Magenta (Pantone 18-1750, announced as the Pantone Color of the Year for 2023) is the official Pantone color for the Squid Game suits. However, that's not true. While it shares similarities with the guards’ ambiguous hue, it wasn’t selected as the show's official color.

Squids can endure in hostile environments thanks to their biological camouflage, which these colors are an impressive replication of. The guards are a reflection of the squid's daring, show-stopping antics. Conversely, when it feels threatened, the players mimic its ability to blend in and vanish.

This connection between nature and the narrative underscores the show’s central themes of predation, manipulation, and survival. Like squid, the characters in Squid Game are constantly adapting; sometimes to attack, sometimes to hide.

The psychology of colors — Power, fear, and submission

Colors don’t just speak to the eye. They speak to the mind. In Squid Game, magenta and teal tap into deeper psychological triggers.

Magenta (red vs pink): Red evokes dominance, aggression, and danger, while pink softens that message, hinting at submission and deceit. This duality mirrors the guards’ role. They are imposing yet faceless. They are predators and pawns in equal measure.

Teal (blue vs green): Blue symbolizes calmness and trust, while green introduces unease and sickness. Together, teal creates tension, thus reflecting the players’ internal conflict as they navigate hope and despair.

It is not a coincidence that these colors clash. In contrast to the subdued teal, the dazzling magenta stands out. This emphasizes the show's psychological power dynamics by reflecting the guards' obvious dominance and the players' covert fight for survival.

Conclusion — Storytelling hues

Color is more than just an aesthetic choice in Squid Game; it's a language. The uniforms convey a great deal about the show's themes of vulnerability, control, and adaptation, with their varying colors of magenta and soothing yet dehumanizing teal.

These hues do more than create the mood; they actively question how we perceive things. The jerseys can look very different to somebody with color blindness or glaucoma, highlighting how our subjective vision reflects the skewed realities in the game. The protagonists depend on camouflage, whether it's to blend in or stand out, much like wild squid.

So, the next time you watch Squid Game, ask yourself: are these colors trying to trick you—or are they revealing the truth?