FACS Cram Session
Build and break down expressions. Learn the mechanics of action units.
A high-density, visually-driven Facial Action Coding System (FACS) intensive course that saves months of research and reference hunting. Designed for rewatch. Built for long-term reference.
Intermediate through expert · 2.5-hour lecture + 30-minute Q&A · 500+ slides · Recording access for 3 years
If you purchased a past FACS Cram Session, view recordings here: August 2026 cohort · Earlier cohorts
Taken by 600+ artists and teams at
About this course
Across animation, performance capture, and expression tracking, the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) is the shared language of facial expression. However, because FACS was originally designed for observational research, it can feel abstract and difficult to apply in production.
The FACS Cram Session bridges that gap by ditching the academic checklist approach and reframing how facial actions are understood and applied. Instead of observing and describing expressions, the focus is on defining them through shape, structure, and motion. You’ll learn the muscles, mechanics, and constraints that drive each action unit.
Whether you’re building personal expertise or stepping into a new pipeline, this intensive serves as both a rapid onboarding guide and a long-term reference tool.
What you walk away with
- Years of specialized research and production experience distilled into a 2.5-hour intensive
- A systematic toolkit for identifying the core structure and motion of primary FACS shapes
- A comprehensive reference library of all FACS action units
- 30 minutes of Q&A for live lectures or email support if you missed the live session
- 500+ slides of visually-focused content (photos, GIFs, videos, custom-made diagrams)
- Downloadable PDF lecture slides for you to keep
- 3-year access to live lecture recording
What makes the FACS Cram Session different
Learn FACS through facial mechanics from the inside out.
The FACS Cram Session teaches facial actions through muscles, mechanics, and structure. This inside-out approach encourages artists to learn the underlying conditions of expressions rather than memorizing surface descriptions.
Master FACS built for production, not behavioral coding.
In this course, FACS is treated as a tool for building, evaluating, and debugging facial motion – not as an observational checklist.
Eliminate the gaps and edge cases in standard FACS.
Throughout this session, we cover facial movements that are functionally distinct and anatomically relevant but poorly-represented or missing entirely in existing FACS documentation.
Hone your facial motion logic.
Rather than relying on idealized examples alone, this course trains artists to reason from anatomy and structure when facial actions appear ambiguous, blended, or incomplete.
Become a better facial motion communicator.
Regardless of your role, the FACS Cram Session is designed to help you communicate more effectively with artists of different backgrounds by encouraging a standardized language. Having shared mechanical framework reduces subjective disagreements and speeds up communication between animators, riggers, TDs, and researchers.
A look inside the lecture
Over 500 slides of visual anatomy, diagrams, and real facial movement.
Frontalis variation
AU17 chin raiser vs. AU15 lip corner depressor
Lip pucker vs. lip funneler
Decode facial motion from color-coded anatomy to real expression.
Live session
Saturday, January 30, 2027 @ 9am PT (12pm ET · 5pm UK · 6pm CET).
2.5-hour lecture + 30-minute Q&A. Can’t make it live? Everyone who signs up gets recording access for 3 years and downloadable PDFs, plus email support if you missed the live session.
1 Lesson | 7 Sections
Intro to FACS: Origin & Action Units
- So, what exactly is FACS?
- Action units (AUs) explained
- Key terms to keep in mind
- Tips & tricks for FACS self-study
Upper face Part I: The Eyebrows
The principles of brow movements:
- AU1 – inner brow raiser, medial frontalis
- AU2 – outer brow raiser, lateral frontalis
- AU4 – brow lowerer, all 3 muscles deconstructed (corrugator supercilii, depressor supercilii, procerus)
- Brow shape & frontalis variation
- The effects of shape variation on expression perception
- Occipitalis & frontalis dynamics
Upper face Part II: The Eyes
- The basic eye actions
- AU5 – upper lid raiser
- AU6 – cheek raiser
- AU7 – lid tightener
- AU43 – eye closure
- AU45 – blink
- non-AU – open-eyed-blink
- Emotional and communicative meaning of different eye combinations
- Eye shapes and how they may affect the look of eye-based expressions
Middle Face: The Nose & Nearby
- Revisiting the nasolabial furrow
- Intro to middle face actions
- AU9 – nose wrinkler
- AU10 – upper lip raiser
- AU11 – nasolabial furrow deepener
- AU38 – nostril dilator
- AU39 – nostril compressor
Lip Corner Movers: Raising & Lowering Illusions
- Smile-like actions
- AU12 – lip corner puller
- AU13 – sharp lip puller
- AU14 – dimpler
- AU20 (& AU21) – lip stretcher (& neck tightener)
- Lip depressors and lip depressor illusions
- AU15 – lip corner depressor
- AU16 – lower lip depressor
- AU17 – chin raiser
Lower Face: The Mouth & Below
- Dissecting the amalgam of complex mouth-based movements and below
- Intro to orbicularis oris & incisivus actions
- AU8 – lips toward each other
- AU18 – lip pucker
- AU22 – lip funneler
- AU23 – lip tightener (horizontal & vertical types)
- AU24 – lip presser
- AU28 – lips suck
- Differentiating forward projecting actions like pucker and funneler
The Jaw & Action Descriptors
- Jaw and remaining actions
- AU25 – lips parted **
- AU26 – jaw drop
- AU27 – mouth stretch
- Intro to action descriptors
- tongue show
- bite
- blow
- puff
- suck
- bulge
FACS Course Includes
- A function-first breakdown of all Facial Action Coding System (FACS) action units
- 500+ slides of visual content (photos, GIFs, and anatomical diagrams)
- 2.5-hour lecture + 30-minute Q&A
- Recording access for 3 years
- Downloadable PDFs
- Certificate of completion
Skill Level
Intermediate through expert
Time
2.5 hour intensive
Sections
7
Slides
500+
Intended audience
Who is this course for?
This course is intended for animators, modelers, riggers, researchers, and scan technicians who already work with facial performance and want a structured approach for understanding FACS and the facial muscles that drive expression.
Who is this course NOT for?
This course is NOT for those whose main goal is to pass the FACS Final Test (FFT). While much of the information will still be relevant, we will not cover things like coding rule checklists, intensity ratings, or eye and head movement. Instead, we will take an integrated approach by focusing on muscle anatomy, facial mechanics, and variation across individuals.
What experience level do you need?
This course is intended for artists and researchers with prior exposure to facial animation, rigging, facial anatomy, or FACS. However, determined beginners who are willing to dive in are more than welcome.
Why artists choose the FACS Cram Session
In today’s competitive, rapidly evolving market, specialized FACS knowledge is in-demand now more than ever. Love it or hate it, the AI boom and increased use of automated facial capture methods has put pressure on studios and startups to seek standardized solutions for building and breaking down facial motion. (See Step 4 in The Rookie‘s “How to Become a 3D Animator in 2026: The ‘AI-Proof’ Career Roadmap.”) From Apple, Google, and Roblox to DNEG, Rockstar, and Steamroller, a “strong understanding of FACS” has become a staple requirement for film, game, and tech roles.
Whether you work on stylized, photorealistic, animated, or real-time facial expressions, the FACS Cram Session will equip you with foundational Facial Action Coding System skills for today’s market needs. You’ll leave with:
- Three-year access to a structured FACS intensive made for rewatch.
- Canonical expression references, diagrams, and terms with accessible definitions.
- A FACS blueprint to keep on hand for shape work and interview refreshers.
- An evergreen skillset that gives you the power to pivot or root yourself in your industry of choice.
Dates and rates
Save $240 with the early bird rate. Registration closes Friday, January 29.
Now · Early bird
$457
Through Dec 31, 2026
Regular
$587
Jan 1 – Jan 22, 2027
Final
$697
Jan 23 – Jan 29, 2027
All sales are final. Can’t make it live? You still get the recording and PDFs.
“Even after being recently laid off, I paid to participate in this class knowing I would learn a lot… and it was worth every penny.”
Steven Ekholm · Senior Character Artist
Email me to receive a 10% course combo discount for Lipsync Mechanics + FACS Cram Session.
Looking for studio lectures? Check out my live, remote workshops for teams.
Optional add-on · $297 · 10 spots
Get a certificate for your discipline
After you’ve gone through the course and feel comfortable with the material, complete an assignment for your track. Every track covers 8 base shapes: 2 from the forehead, 2 from the eyes, 2 from the middle face/nasolabial section, and 2 from the mouth/orbicularis oris. I’ll review your work and send you notes in writing or as a recorded walkthrough. Pass the review and you get a certificate for your track.
- FACS Base Shapes for Modeling Model 8 designated base shapes
- FACS Base Shapes for Rigging Rig 8 designated base shapes and submit a 0 to 1 slider sweep of each
- FACS Base Shapes for Animation Animate 8 designated base shapes (onset, peak, and release) on any rig
- FACS Base Shapes for Engineering Email me a description of what you’re working on, and I’ll cook up an assignment for you.
Want to go over it live? Add a Zoom review for $150.
Available after the course. Limited to 10 spots for the January 2027 cohort. Refundable within 14 days of purchase if you haven’t submitted your assignment. Submit within 6 months of purchase. After 14 days, you can transfer your review to a colleague or apply it as credit toward another course.
Individual testimonials
This course was an extremely beneficial to my understanding of FACS. The in-depth exploration of primary shapes provided me with a deeper understanding of primary shapes and facial anatomy for my career as a facial artist in film and games. Melinda does an excellent job correcting common misconceptions, making complex concepts easier to grasp.
The diagrams and video examples were incredibly helpful, offering clear visual guidance that I could apply immediately. This course was a fantastic value for the cost, and it has significantly improved my ability to create more accurate and expressive facial shapes. Would highly recommend to anyone who’s looking deepen their understanding of FACS.
Derrick Sesson
Senior Facial Artist
If you have any interest in getting up to speed with FACS and its terminology, I can’t recommend Melinda’s FACS Cram Session enough. It’s packed with details, schematics, anatomical references and actual real-life examples that you really can’t find elsewhere and it’s all presented in a very clean and compelling way. Definitely an essential resource for anyone trying to understand or emulate facial animation.
Quentin Defrance
Real-time Rigging Supervisor
Even after being recently laid off, I paid to participate in this class knowing I would learn a lot… and it was worth every penny. Melinda conveys information in a succinct, intelligent way that translates confusing elements into making perfect sense. With the added bounty of reference and resources she leaves with the attendees, it turned out to be one of those wonderful and rare experiences that really helped me to add to my expertise and inspired me to update my approach as a professional. Melinda is clearly an expert and a solid teacher, and I highly recommend learning from her.
Steven Ekholm
Senior Character Artist
Studio testimonials
I’ve had the great privilege of working with Melinda at my last 2 companies, Netflix and Epic Games. I have no hesitation in recommending her to anyone wanting to increase their knowledge, understanding, and application of facial expressions, in particular FACS (Facial Action Coding System).
There is simply no expert in the subject who I know of with more passion, dedication and intellectual curiosity. She combines this with a talent for teaching, and a gift for explaining via personal demonstration. Whether as a consultant, or a lecturer the value that she brings to any company or project is extraordinary, and I’m certain that I will be working with her again in the future. If you need to know about FACS, she is the number 1 “Goto” person in the world!
Mark Flanagan
Animation Education & Training Manager
Workshops with Epic Games & Netflix
Melinda Ozel’s knowledge of FACS is exceptional, and her classes are the best I’ve ever seen on this subject. Where she truly excels is the level at which she understands facial anatomy and expressions, how and why each shape fires, combines or breaks, but also what tone or emotion they are to convey. To me this makes her classes uniquely beneficial in helping animators, rigging TDs and modelers create the most accurate performances.
Of all the the classes I’ve seen on this subject none have ever married the technical aspects with this level of artistic execution, nor explained it so clearly, enthusiastically and thoroughly as Melinda has. From the beginner level all the way to the most senior artists, I’ve witnessed everyone learn and improve from her detailed instruction. If you are seeking to learn or level up your team, I cannot recommend her enough.
Shannon Thomas
Artist Supervisor
Workshops with Blizzard
I’ve had the privilege of hosting one of Melinda’s Studio talks for our character development teams at Insomniac Games and I can assure you will not be disappointed! Her talks are jam packed with goods for both the novice and the professional. Highly recommend checking this out.
Whether you’re an animator trying to craft more believable performance, a character artist or TD trying to create more plausible characters or rigs, an ML engineer trying to qualitatively evaluate your research against its anatomical basis, or a supervisor / director trying to help your team squeeze every last bit of realism out of an on screen performance – there is something in this talk for you.
Josh Dicarlo
Character Technology Director
Workshop with Insomniac Games
Melinda joined us for an incredible 2-hour FACS Cram session last month and it was one of the most informative training sessions I have ever attended! Melinda is highly skilled at presenting potentially complex information in an engaging and clear manner. Our team were left feeling educated and excited to delve deeper into FACS!
I can’t recommend Melinda’s presentation services, or plethora of exhaustive and in-depth information on her website highly enough. Don’t hesitate to contact Melinda if you are looking for any FACS training – she is an absolute pleasure to work with and a huge asset to any team education!
Holly Price
Character TD
Workshop with undisclosed studio
About the instructor
Hi! I’m Melinda Ozel, a consultant and educator on all things face-related. I specialize in facial expressions, FACS (Facial Action Coding System), and facial anatomy. My background in faces originated in academia, migrated to tech, and now lives in the space between art, science, and technology.
I apply my expression expertise to a range of industries (film, game, tech, etc.) and products/media (Emoji, AR/VR face tracking, AAA game characters, photoreal animals, AI, deepfake technologies, etc.). If it has a face, you’re in the right place.
Explore my multidisciplinary project history below.
Film & 3D Characters
- Here – AI Facial Expression Consultant with Metaphysic (film, credited)
- Jane, Apple+ TV – Primate Expression Consultant (show, credited)
- Gigi & Nate – Primate Expression Consultant (film, uncredited)
- Notorious B.I.G. HyperModel by Hyperreal – Expression Researcher
VR & Face Tracking Tech
- Meta Quest Pro, face tracking – Expression Researcher & Expression Data Specialist
- System and method for applying an expression to an avatar (patent 10970907) – Co-inventor
- Systems and methods for improving animation of computer-generated avatars (patent 11270487) – Co-inventor
- Systems and methods for improving animation of computer-generated avatars (patent 11468616) – Co-inventor
- Oculus LipSync – Expression Researcher
Product Design
- Facebook Care reaction – Emoji Expression Consultant
- Facebook Emoji Sets – Emoji Expression Consultant
- Facebook Newsfeed Reactions – Emoji Expression Consultant
- Facebook Feeling/Activity – Emoji Expression Consultant
Saturday, January 30. Save your seat.
9am PT · online · Recording access for 3 years