For the list of shapes that would be modeled for this model, the phonemes were reduced to eight basic shapes:

1. Wide, slightly open lips: E in evening.
2. Round lips, jaw slightly open: O in oh, O in toast.
3. Round lips, corners of the mouth puckered: OO in book.
4. Closed mouth: P in pie, B in book.
5. Lower lip drawn to upper teeth: F in fine, V in vase.
6. Lips pursed: W in work.
7. Mouth open, tongue visible from inside mouth: T in tank, D in dog.
8. 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.

Author Tom Capizzi (left), series editor Mike Ford (center) and series editor Kyle Clark (right).

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.

Series editor Kyle Clark is a lead animator at Microsoft's Digital Anvil Studios and co-founder of Animation Foundation. He majored in Film, Video and Computer Animation at USC and has since worked on a number of feature, commercial and game projects. He has also taught at various schools including San Francisco Academy of Art College, San Francisco State University, UCLA School of Design and Texas A&M University.

Michael Ford, series editor, is a senior technical animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks and co-founder of Animation Foundation. A graduate of UCLA’s School of Design, he has since worked on numerous feature and commercial projects at ILM, Centropolis FX and Digital Magic. He has lectured at the UCLA School of Design, USC, DeAnza College and San Francisco Academy of Art College.