Different ways of portraying grief on a 3D character's face
Hokkanen, Nina (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052315254
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052315254
Tiivistelmä
The objective of the thesis was to examine the different ways of portraying grief on a 3D character's face. This included analysing the effectiveness of emotional acting and the techniques used to produce it on a technical level.
The case study method was utilised to gather information on how different 3D productions, both games and animated shows, approach portraying grief on their characters’ faces. The cases were analysed comparatively to examine both the effectiveness of the emotional acting as well as the techniques used to portray grief. The main aspects that arose from the analysis included the varying emotional intensity, the presence or lack of symmetry, visible wrinkles, eye movement and the different methods for tears on a character’s face.
The production part of the thesis explained both the preparation of a 3D model for animation as well as the production of six different animation variations in Blender. Additionally, a storyboard explaining the context was produced to support the emotional impact of the animations. At last, the animation variations were evaluated through a survey to gain more data on which aspects featured in the animations resonated the best with the participants.
The results of the survey showed that most of the participants preferred the 3D tears the most when compared to the other techniques in the survey. In addition, a preference for asymmetry in the facial expressions was present in the results. However, there was a lot of deviation between the participants' opinions, which made it apparent that there is a need for further studies on the topic.
The case study method was utilised to gather information on how different 3D productions, both games and animated shows, approach portraying grief on their characters’ faces. The cases were analysed comparatively to examine both the effectiveness of the emotional acting as well as the techniques used to portray grief. The main aspects that arose from the analysis included the varying emotional intensity, the presence or lack of symmetry, visible wrinkles, eye movement and the different methods for tears on a character’s face.
The production part of the thesis explained both the preparation of a 3D model for animation as well as the production of six different animation variations in Blender. Additionally, a storyboard explaining the context was produced to support the emotional impact of the animations. At last, the animation variations were evaluated through a survey to gain more data on which aspects featured in the animations resonated the best with the participants.
The results of the survey showed that most of the participants preferred the 3D tears the most when compared to the other techniques in the survey. In addition, a preference for asymmetry in the facial expressions was present in the results. However, there was a lot of deviation between the participants' opinions, which made it apparent that there is a need for further studies on the topic.