The ideal list of shapes that you need to capture in your ROM is shown below. Not all people are physically capable of making all of the face shapes in the list but when directing them, you should always ask them to attempt each. The idea is that with this full list of shapes, we cover the complete range of movements the actor will make when they begin performing in character. If a shape is missing because the actor can’t make the shape, they likely won’t be making that shape in performance either. However, if a shape they can make is missed during the Range of Motion, it will likely be partially missed during tracking as well as in animation.
EYES:
1) neutral lids, eyes forward
2) neutral lids, look in every direction ("every direction" means Up, Down, Left, Right, and the four corners for a total of eight shapes)
3) wide open lids, eyes forward
4) wide open lids, look in every direction
5) squinting, eyes forward
6) squinting, look in every direction
7) half blink
8) closed and relaxed (blink)
9) closed and pressed
BROWS:
1) neutral
2) left up slightly, right up slightly
3) left up extreme, right up extreme
4) left up, right neutral
5) left neutral, right up
6) left down slightly, right down slightly(angry)
7) left down extreme, right down extreme
MOUTH:
1) closed, neutral
2) closed, neutral up
3) closed, skewed left
4) closed, skewed right
5) closed, neutral w/ open jaw
6) closed, puckered (closed OO)
7) closed, puckered left
8) closed, puckered right
9) closed, puckered up
10) closed, puckered w/ open jaw
11) open as wide as possible in all direction
12) open wide left/right, teeth touching
13) open wide left/right, teeth not touching
14) open wide up/down
15) open wide, jaw left
16) open wide, jaw right
17) slightly open (relaxed), teeth touching
18) slightly open, teeth not touching
19) slightly open, jaw left
20) slightly open, jaw right
MOUTH, CONTINUED:
29) O phoneme natural
30) O phoneme exaggerated
31) D phoneme natural
32) D phoneme exaggerated
33) F/V phoneme natural
34) F/V phoneme exaggerated
35) L phoneme natural
36) L phoneme exaggerated
37) M/B phoneme natural
38) M/B phoneme exaggerated
39) W phoneme natural
40) W phoneme exaggerated
41) CH phoneme natural
42) CH phoneme exaggerated
43) closed, cheeks sucked in
44) closed, cheeks puffed out
45) open smile, teeth touching
46) open smile, teeth touching, exaggerated
47) open smile, teeth not touching
48) open smile skewed left
49) open smile skewed right
50) closed smile
51) closed smile exaggerated
52) closed smile, left only
53) closed smile, right only
54) closed frown (lip corners down)
55) closed sneer (lips closed, mouth raised)
56) open sneer (lips open, teeth touching, mouth
raised)
57) lips rolled in
58) closed, only right side open (as if talking out the
side of the mouth)
59) closed, only left side open