Sunday, January 4, 2009

Face Animation

So I haven't posted in a while because I really haven't had anything worth while to put up. But I think I do now. Lately I have been in sort of an Animation slump at work. My stuff seems stale and stiff. Among other things my face animationwas suffering a bit. There was no fleshy feeling in any of it. The great Jason Schleifer suggested that I take some time and just do some really simple tests and refresh what I know. This was SOOO helpful. These tests aren't feature quality by any means but they sure helped me to see things clear.
I took some notes along the way and Ill share those too. The first is just a simple change up to see how fleshy I could make the face feel. Again the animation isn't very good but it helped me to see what I could do to really make the face feel connected. The second is taking that idea and applying it to more change ups with some minor upper body animation.

NOTES!

Face Animation Notes
-use lid sculpt controls to keep the lids connected to the brows and cheeks.
-at the brows extreme the nose flesh will move up with them
-Arc the corners of the mouth
-Maybe a little squash and stretch in the eyes to exaggerate expression change
-Squash and stretch in the jaw and how that pulls the flesh in the cheeks and eyes and

nose.
-Have eyes react first most of the time.
-Group low face controls to offset timing from up face.
-James Baxter says that face muscles move in "fits and starts".
-Most movements in the face will be a direct result of emotion. Some will be residual
movement from those emotive moves. i.e. Brows go up out of surprise (emotion) but also the
corners of the eyes might go up because the eye brows will pull them up (residual). This
may not really happen on real people but it can add a nice fleshy feel to an animated
character. Should be used minimally.
-Sometimes its not the mouth move that is wrong, its the jaw.
-Arc the inside of the brows.
-Its animation, shape what you can to strengthen your idea.

Eye Check list
_ Brow and Lid connectivity
_ Lid and eye connectivity
_ lid sculpt
_ Eye squash and stretch.
_ eye shape Asymmetry

Brow Check list
_ Brow Lid connectivity
_ Brow to Brow connectivity.
_ Brow Muscles, Forehead and bridge of the nose.
_ Brow arcs
_ Brow lead and Overlap

Mouth Check list
_ Mouth lids connectivity
_ Mouth Nose connectivity
_ cheek connectivity
_ Jaw mouth offset
_ Jaw squash and stretch
_ lip sculpt
_ Mouth asymmetry
_ Mouth corners arcs
_ mouth up down left right
_ Jaw drag

Remember the power of a good break down.

Use mini expressions!


12 comments:

A Highly Refined Pirate said...

Dude Scott!!! I love the laughing piece!!!! You are amazing my friend! Animation is going ok, I think I have improved, but it's still never good enough and is always a struggle (moan moan, blah blah). Rex is amazing, I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for him and my boys! I'm taking a slight break from animation over the holidays. Super busy with family stuff, I'm actually writing to you from Thailand! I'm so glad you stopped by to check on me! We all miss you, and I hope you and your family are doing well!

Laura Lee said...

Hey Scott! It's great to hear from you :). I hope you had a great New Years!
These animations are awesome! And I will definitely keep coming back to this page for the notes because they are so helpful.
My animations are going alright, I finally posted what I did in 115 on my blog. But for now I'm done with 2-D and very excited to start some 3-D stuff next semester!
And I saw your name on the credits! We all cheered for you :D!
Thanks for dropping by to say hello! I hope all is well with you, and if you're allowed to say, what are you working on now? But don't tell me if it's something you'll get in trouble for! :P

chrystal chan said...

oy, Scott! miss you. I'm really glad to see that you're always pushing yourself & passionate to keep learning. I think a lot of people tend to level out, and get too comfortable. Thanks for your comment! I actually don't get such sweet & explained compliments. It's usually just, "it's lovely" or "that's nice". (Even my mom barely compliments me! sure likes to crit though *snarglemumble*) But I guess people buying stuff is a compliment. I hope you & your wifey are doing well!! Maybe when you're not busy, we can go do something stupid. btw, Have you ever watched The Office? I have a feeeelling you might like it if you haven't.

Chris Palmer said...

wow! Thanks for the post, Scott. Super insightful!

Adam_Pintek said...

dude SCOTTy! How is it going!!? The car is almost done(by the way) just give me a few more years...

You... Me.... and Donnyboy need to go play some golf... you down?

peace out.

TJ Phan said...

Scott, these are great notes! Thanks for sharing. Your Norman tests are awesome btw!

Renee Carty said...

Thanks for the comment Scott! I need to update my blog more often. Your facial notes and tests are great, really helpful! I hope to impliment them in my own tests, especially my current one. It's a serious emotional piece with loads of subtlety goodness. It's driving me up the wall but I love the challenge. Rex has been a really helpful too. I'll post it soon, when I've finished blocking my first pass.

Fast forward to the future: It was great seeing you at PDI!! Yay! And thanks for touring us around the facilities. Next time I'll try that milk machine thing and some cereal. Hope you're doing well Scott, say 'ello to the missus for me :)

Jake Panian said...

hey man,
it's been a looong while!
you commented on my blog a while ago.. thanks! haha
things have been so crazy recently...
your stuff looks amazing!
it was awesome seeing your name in mad 2 :)

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Come home now!!!

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