Investigating Facial Animation Production through Artistic Inquiry

Abstract

Studies into dynamic facial expressions tend to make use of experimental methods based on objectively manipulated stimuli. New techniques for displaying increasingly realistic facial movement and methods of measuring observer responses are typical of computer animation and psychology facial expression research. However, few projects focus on the artistic nature of performance production. Instead, most concentrate on the naturalistic appearance of posed or acted expressions. In this paper, the authors discuss a method for exploring the creative process of emotional facial expression animation, and ask whether anything can be learned about authentic dynamic expressions through artistic inquiry.

Choreographing emotional facial expressions

“…This method consists of four stages of animation practice; planning, action, post-action, and evaluation. The cycle is repeated several times, with each full cycle generating new iterations of animation 21 . The goal of the practitionerresearcher is to investigate the overall effectiveness of each CEE applied to a range of emotional expression animations.…”

“…Effectiveness is evaluated based on; how artistically intuitive a CEE is (i.e., whether the practitioner would naturally opt to use the CEE) how difficult a CEE is to apply to a character using creative animation practices, how clear and authentic the resulting animation is, and how a CEE may be appropriately used in various contexts (e.g., the narrative context, the emotional context, in relation to the character's personality, etc). These artistic considerations are explored using an array of practice-based tools (including sketchbooks and an artist's journal) which in turn can be used to generate and convey performative data 21 .…”

“…Firstly, the data generated through the inquiry cycle method (sketches, journal entries, and animation) are reduced and compiled in a multimedia matrix, enabling quick referencing and comparison of CEEs and emotions 21,24 . The practitionerresearcher then embarks on a period of detailed reflective writing, analyzing, and critiquing each CEE for each emotional expression animation.…”

A Phenomenological Study of Facial Expression Animation

“…Practice-based research using this framework demonstrated that experimentation with EEC could affect the animator's interpretation of expression authenticity, clarity, and context (Sloan et al, 2009(Sloan et al, , 2010. In addition, tests of observer perception demonstrated that manipulation of EEC can impact on audience interpretation of expression authenticity.…”

“…Traditional animators have a strong foundation in the observation of nature, but also hold tacit knowledge regarding the procedures for successfully imitating -rather than replicating -life. Previous research has shown that an arts-based approach to facial animation research can be adopted to generate detailed predictions regarding the clarity and authenticity of dynamic expressions (Sloan et al, 2009). Subsequent studies have demonstrated that the predictions of artistically produced configurations of facial movement -termed emotional expression choreography (EEC) -can be verified empirically through tests of observer perception (Sloan et al, 2010).…”