Facial Performance [AnimSchool]
- Publisher
- AnimSchool
- Product Type
- Video Course
- Product URL
- https://animschool.edu/AnimationProgram.aspx
- Author
- Anand Somasundaran
- Language
- English (English sub)
- Duration
- 45:31
- Release date
- Oct 1, 2020
- Skill level
- Project Files
- Yes
- Product Price
- $1620
Duration: 11 Weeks
Facial Performance is an advanced character-animation course focused on the demanding craft of facial acting. Students animate a line of dialogue while concentrating on the subtle emotional beats that reveal what a character is thinking and feeling.The course begins with character story and acting analysis, establishing the intentions and emotional progression behind a performance before focusing on individual facial controls. Students learn to construct clear facial poses that support the character’s personality, dialogue, and internal thought process.
Dedicated lectures explore the role of the eyes in facial performance. Students examine how eye direction, focus, blinks, brows, and surrounding facial shapes contribute to attention, emotion, and subtext. Rather than treating each facial feature separately, the course emphasizes how the face functions as one connected unit and overall shape.
The lip-sync portion explores how spoken dialogue can be translated into convincing facial motion. Students study mouth shapes, jaw movement, phonemes, and the relationship between speech sounds and readable poses. The goal is not merely to match mouth movement to audio, but to integrate lip sync into the larger acting performance.
Later lessons examine different blocking approaches as well as the use of squash and stretch in facial animation. These techniques help students create clear transitions, avoid mechanical movement, and add flexibility and appeal without losing the emotional intent of the shot.
Throughout the course, critique sessions provide detailed feedback on acting choices, facial poses, eye animation, lip sync, timing, and polish. Students repeatedly revise their work, progressing from the initial story and blocking stages to a refined dialogue performance with greater emotional depth and personality.
Who this course is for
- Advanced character animators who want to specialize in facial acting and dialogue performance
- Students who have already developed a foundation in body mechanics and character performance
- Animators seeking to improve eye acting, facial posing, phonemes, and lip sync
- Artists preparing dialogue-based character animation for a professional demo reel
About the Author
AnimSchool is an accredited online school specializing in 3D animation, modeling, and rigging. Founded in 2010 by David Gallagher, an animator, rigger, and former Character Development Supervisor at Blue Sky Studios, the school offers instruction from working professionals in the animation, visual-effects, and game industries.
Part of a 3D Animation Program - Bundle [AnimSchool]
Last edited by a moderator:
Guys, the course files are being processed and should be up on GBC in about 12 hours! 
The course is available for download, enjoy - enjoy!