paid content Archives - Face the FACS

Upper Lip Raiser vs. Nasolabial Furrow Deepener

October 25, 2026October 12, 2022 by Melinda Ozel

How to tell upper lip raiser (AU10) from nasolabial furrow deepener (AU11), two actions easily confused in facial coding, sculpting, and animation.

Stylized Facial Expression Design

October 11, 2022 by Melinda Ozel

Many facial movements look similar but differ in core ways. When we read faces, we rely on subtle differences to interpret expressions and their meaning. Because your audience will be likening your character’s facial expressions to what they already know and have experienced, you want your character to be readable – to be relatable.

Forehead Dynamics – Frontalis vs. Occipitalis

February 21, 2025July 20, 2022 by Melinda Ozel

We are generally familiar with frontalis’s work as an eyebrow elevator; however, it is often neglected knowledge that frontalis also works as a hairline depressor. Though this idea may seem counterintuitive, once you are familiar with some muscle basics, things will start to make sense.

Lip Tightener vs. Lip Presser

October 25, 2026March 30, 2022 by Melinda Ozel

Lip tightener (AU23) thins and constricts the lips. Lip presser (AU24) pushes them together. A side-by-side breakdown with GIFs and a rope analogy demo.

Eyebrow Shapes and Character Design

February 21, 2025October 25, 2021 by Melinda Ozel

In FACS, there are three main brow actions: inner brow raiser
outer brow raiser, brow lowerer. These actions and their combinations deform our brows into particular patterns, allowing us to identify different expressions.

Advanced Blend Shape Tips For Blinks

February 21, 2025September 9, 2021 by Melinda Ozel

If you’re an artist getting into the finer details of action-based wrinkles, here are some new terms for you to know.

"Melinda Ozel's resources on face anatomy, motion, and FACS are industry standard. During my time working on The Last of Us Part II (and other unannounced Playstation titles) I referred to it almost exclusively on a regular basis. The free material is great but the pay material is worth the cost."
Eric Drobile | Technical Animator

"For most people learning traditional FACS is not feasible. It requires very costly specialized degrees and years long commitment. And the half century old research with fuzzy photos was not made for artists. What Melinda has done for our industry is take the dense scientific information and streamlined it into very easy to digest entries and videos catered to artists."
Paul Liaw | Principal Character Artist

"I've been working as a Facial Blendshape Artist across film and gaming and have watched the quality of my work improve exponentially since I've had access to this wealth of knowledge that Melinda has so thoughtfully put together. Her documentation is clear, appealing, and comprehensive. If Paul Ekman is the father of FACS, Melinda has become the cool aunt."
Ioana Alexandra Pirvu | Lead Artist: Blendshapes @ Rockstar Games

"Face the FACS in my opinion is bar-none, the best resource out there for any artist and company dealing with facial animation. The way in which Melinda delivers knowledge is detailed, but fun and compelling enough to make you want to keep learning. For a topic that could have easily been boring, she inspired me to keep learning."
Giovanni Nakpil | Senior Creative 3D Evangelist @ Adobe

"If you're doing AU's (action units), this is the site you're going to need to bookmark. Melinda has gone above and beyond to create what I feel is the ultimate resource guide for AU's. Each AU explained, annotated and demonstrated with extreme clarity. You'll experience plenty of "aha!!" moments using Melinda's work as your guide!"
Frank Gravatt | Facial Modeler @ Cloud Chamber