Lip synchronization between rigs

Abstract

In some embodiments a method of transferring facial expressions from a subject to a computer-generated character is provided where the method includes receiving positional information from a motion capture session of the subject representing a performance having facial expressions to be transferred to the computer-generated character, receiving a first animation model that represents the subject, and receiving a second animation model that represents the computer-generated character. Each of the first and second animation models can include a plurality of adjustable controls that define geometries of the model and that can be adjusted to present different facial expressions on the model, and where the first and second animation models are designed so that setting the same values for the same set of adjustable controls in each model generates a similar facial poses on the models. The method further includes determining a solution, including values for at least some of the plurality of controls, that matches the first animation model to the positional information to reproduce the facial expressions from the performance to the first animation model, retargeting the facial expressions from the performance to the second animation model using the solution; and thereafter, synchronizing lip movement of the second animation model with lip movement from the first animation model.