For the list of shapes that would be modeled for this model, the phonemes were reduced to eight basic shapes:
- Wide, slightly open lips: E in evening.
- Round lips, jaw slightly open: O in oh, O in toast.
- Round lips, corners of the mouth puckered: OO in book.
- Closed mouth: P in pie, B in book.
- Lower lip drawn to upper teeth: F in fine, V in vase.
- Lips pursed: W in work.
- Mouth open, tongue visible from inside mouth: T in tank, D in dog.
- Relaxed mouth, mostly closed teeth, tongue visible behind the teeth: S in sit.
To learn more about constructing 3D characters and other topics of interest to animators, check out Inspired 3D Modeling and Texture Mapping by Tom Capizzi; series edited by Kyle Clark and Michael Ford: Premier Press, 2002. 272 pages with illustrations. ISBN 1-931841-50-0 (US $59.99) Read more about all four titles in the Inspired series and check back to VFXWorld frequently to read new excerpts.
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| Author Tom Capizzi.
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Tom Capizzi is a technical director at Rhythm and Hues Studios. He has teaching experience at such respected schools as Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Academy of Art in San Francisco, and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He has been in film production in LA as a modeling and lighting technical director on many feature productions including Dr. Doolittle 2, The Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas, Stuart Little, Mystery Men, Babe 2: Pig in the City and Mouse Hunt.
