I don't know if it can help but I moved directly from version 1.2 to 2.1.4, because my current forum can only import from 1.2 with the importer found in the resource section.
You say I should set up on the production server and you give the link so you can watch?
The script needs to be run against the entire database.
If you don't know how to run the script and this is for an import into a brand new XF1 installation, you could then import that into a brand new XF2 installation, which will automatically be configured for emoji support.
That's doesn't work, when I click on the smilies icon I have already Loading...
Smilies appears when typing code in textarea + Preview
The table are all in utf8mb4_general_ci with the Xenforo Importer XFI the old table was in utf8_general_ci