| Stop Staring, Facial Modeling and Animation Done Right by Jason Osipa is an Alias Approved training resource. Despite this label, Stop Staring is an invaluable resource to all animators regardless of software platform. The book is composed of in depth facial animation theory as well as supporting exercises in Maya which demonstrate theory and techniques in such a way that the information can easily be translated to another animation package. Stop Staring is a unique learning resource, in that it resists the urge to put you through button pushing exercises and instead focuses on the most important part, the performance, and how to make it shine. In this book, Jason takes you through a tour of the face, and introduces you to the basics of lip sync, as well as explaining what different parts of the face tell an audience and how to tie those parts together to create a cohesive whole. It is important to note that Jason uses visimes (the way sounds look) instead of phonemes (the sounds you make during speech) for the purpose of lipsyncing. This means that the number and complexity of mouth shapes is greatly reduced from the basic 38 phoneme set the mouth makes during speech. Although most teaching resources teach some sort of visime or another (regardless of what they call it.) Jason breaks down speech in a manner that allows for highly efficient animating. In Stop Staring, Jason takes you through the fundamentals of lip syncing, as well as the nuances involved. He also covers the proper way to construct a humanoid face for optimal lip syncing. A subject that is integral to good facial performance, as the performance can only be as good as the underlying geometry that supports it. Later, he takes you through a rigorous examination of the brows and eyes and how they communicate. Jason Osipa has a rigorous production background, and he spends much space dispelling any preconceived notions about facial performance you may have and illustrates through simple, practical examples. Jason continues through examples of practical rigs for both complex and simple characters. It is here that the book really becomes Maya focused, as many of the conventions presented here are Maya specific. A rudimentary tour through expressions and Mel Scripting is also presented to facilitate an efficient and effective facial rig. The color inserts within the book are beautiful examples of his teachings in effect by numerous individuals. It highlights clearly the differences in facial performance between realistic characters and toon characters. The accompanying CD comes with all supporting materials to follow his exercises word for word. There's also a handful of quicktime clips of his various characters in action. Most of them are simply talking heads acting out a performance, and they underscore just how hard it is to give a convincing performance, especially without a body. Stop Staring is a book for intermediate to advanced animators. This book is a must have for any animator, or any modeler/rigger who has to prepare characters for animation. The book is an invaluable resource, and should be on all bookshelves right beside every animator's copy of "The Animator's Survival Kit" by Richard Williams. No other book to date presents facial animation concepts, theory, and practical application with the authority that Stop Staring does. Quite simply, Stop Staring by Jason Osipa, is one of those rare books that is interesting enough, and presents enough critical concepts that it demands to be read cover to cover. A book that will see you through your worst facial performance challenges, Stop Staring gets my highest recommendation. Sybex Publishing: www.sybex.com | 