This was a deep dive into replacement animation, but specifically a closer look at lip syncs and facial animation in stop motion. I used Sculpy to sculpt the base head and then sculpted 8 individual faces that I hand painted mouth poses on. The system worked using magnets, allowing the faces to snap to the base head. The eyes were composited in post to ensure that there was uniformity in the eyes from pose to pose.
Process Photographs
8 hand sculpted faces waiting for painted mouth poses.
Magnet system to allow replacements to snap to the base of the head.
Hand painted mouth poses on each face.
Wig cap for hair.
Wefts of hair made out of colored yarn that has been brushed out.
Lighting set up for photographing the puppet.
Up close of puppet "on-set".
