While studying 3D Animation at the New York Film Academy, Andrew Clendenen talks about a group project.
Giving a computer animated character facial expression is done with blend shape deformers. They allow the animator to change the shape of an object such as a face into smiles or frowns and shaping the mouth for speech. Without these different expressions, it becomes difficult to show what the characters are thinking and feeling. They can also be used for muscle deformation in the body.
Along with body language the face is the easiest way to communicate emotions to the audience. If the viewer can relate to what the character is feeling it helps to make it all seem less computer generated.
For the group project, another classmate working with blend shapes made a list of all the expressions that the character could possibly make during the animation, and even some extra, just in case.
Another student drew up an expression sheet, which basically consisted of multiple sketches of the main character, each with a different facial pose. While modifying the 3D models face, it helps to visualize how drastic the expressions will be, by looking at sketches of each.
The character’s original head is duplicated as many times as necessary for every facial movement, and later combined all together, back into the original and can be tested with simple controls.
Andrew Clendenen, One-Year 3D Animation School Student
