Labial coarticulation modeling for realistic facial animation

Abstract

A modified version of the coarticulation model proposed by Cohen and Massaro (1993) is described. A semi-automatic minimization technique, working on real cinematic data, acquired by the ELITE opto-electronic system, was used to train the dynamic characteristics of the model. Finally, the model was applied with success to GRETA, an Italian talking head, and examples are illustrated to show the naturalness of the resulting animation technique.