PART 3
Animated Expressions
EarnestAn earnest expression conveys that one is serious, not joking around, so it’s important to remove any playful elements. It’s a go-to look for portraying the seriousness of situations such as when a character is involved in something requiring intense concentration or conveying trustworthiness to someone.
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The gaze directed straight at the object and the firm mouth form the standard expression of earnestness. Raising the brows and adding wrinkles between them to create an intense look is also common.
JokingThis expression conveys playfulness. Reducing the serious elements present enhances the impression of playfulness. It’s a particularly useful expression for adding comedic touches such as when a character is trying to make people laugh by joking around.
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Personality plays a strong role in forming this expression. Depending on the character’s personality, gestures such as winking or sticking out the tongue may be used to create a cheerful, comical impression. Try combining it with various other expressions.
RefreshedThis breezy look captures the feeling of being rejuvenated and energized. It’s often used to express the exhilarated mood that results from an intense workout or the feeling of liberation after completing a stressful job or task.
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A smiling face forms the basis for this expression. There are various ways to depict it, with eagerly open eyes lending a sense of achievement, while closed eyes convey a feeling of exhilaration. Hair fluttering in the breeze and symbols for shine and sparkle add to the effect.
SmugnessA smug face expresses excessive self-confidence, so it’s fine to overexaggerate when you draw it. It can be used not only to express self-confidence but also to depict a boastful attitude.
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Raising the brows and the corners of the mouth is standard for this expression, which has all the facial features directed upward. Overdefining the eyes and adding shine symbols are also effective. Apart from the facial expression, the appearance of having self-confidence can be expressed by lifting the head up and straightening the back.
Being MovedA heartfelt gesture or a swooning sense of inspiration can be the causes of this expression. The source of the emotion alters the expression, so consider the character and the scenario when fine-tuning this particular expression.
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When expressing a combination of respect and admiration, this expression is often portrayed by adding highlights in the eyes to create shine. If the expression is one of being extremely touched, it’s typical to incorporate tears and blush to the cheeks. The key to this expression is knowing why the character feels so moved.
ContentmentThe feelings of calmness and pleasure associated with contentment often arise from physical stimulation, such as when having a massage, or may be internally caused, such as when someone is being praised for a job well done.
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One can feel good physically or mentally, but either way, it’s typical to depict this expression as slightly untidy, with the cheeks flushed and the brows lowered. Adding saliva dripping from the mouth can be effective for emphasizing the untidy look.
PleadingThis expression forms when asking a favor of someone. Depending on the level of importance, the expression changes greatly: small requests evoking a different facial register from a matter of life and death. Here, we look at small and massive favors separately.
▶ Asking a small favor
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This expression is used when asking a friend for a small favor in a carefree manner. A smiling face is used as the base for the expression, with brows slightly lowered in apology and gestures portraying a request effective in building the look.
▶ Asking a huge favor
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This expression conveys pleading in a life-and-death situation. The base expression is one of earnestness or a troubled look. Intensely flushed cheeks are effective in conveying the degree of seriousness.
ExasperationExasperation lends itself to a troubled look, but disappointment and a slight sense of mocking can also come into play. Initial reactions of surprise or anger can also resolve themselves into the more subtle modes of exasperation.
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A troubled face with slackened brows and eyes forms the base for this expression. When anger is mixed in, raising the brows is a way to create a look of annoyance. Slackening the mouth so that it is half-open, adding wrinkles between the brows and adding symbols for sighs and sweat are also effective.
EnduranceWe all have to put up with unpleasant situations, the face and body tensing in the effort that endurance or acceptance requires. Tolerating or humoring someone can also produce similar slightly pained expressions.
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Furrowed brows with wrinkles between them are standard in this expression. The eyes and mouth are rendered differently depending on the level of forbearance being depicted. If it’s only a slight degree of tolerance, the eyes narrow and the mouth is slightly tense, but strong forbearance is evoked in tightly shut eyes and a clenched jaw.
PainThis expression can be used for emotional pain as well, but the examples shown here are in reaction to physical duress. Experiencing sudden pain causes bold facial expressions and sharp body movements, while enduring chronic pain turns the face pale.
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When experiencing a moment of pain, breath is inhaled sharply, causing the eyebrows to tense and the mouth and eyes to twist in an obvious grimace. When experiencing chronic pain, the brows lower and the jaws clench in an expression similar to that of forbearance. Vary the expression depending on the level of pain and the situation.
Variations
▶ Touching something hot
This expression is an immediate reaction to touching something hot. It is similar to that depicting pain, but as it is an expression caused in a fleeting moment, it’s fine to overexaggerate it somewhat.
▶ Fainting
This resembles the expression of being asleep, but showing the whites of the eyes and using comic elements help to build the look.
DISCUSSION How Temperature Affects Expressions
▶ Heat
When it’s hot, facial muscles appear to slacken, with an open mouth, ragged breath, flushed cheeks and glistening skin creating the impression of heat. The brows may droop from loss of strength due to the heat or may be raised in irritation at it.
▶ Cold
Cold creates the expression of tension in the facial muscles. Wrinkles form between the brows and the jaws clench. Symbols to express turning pale and trembling are also effective.
MadnessVarious emotions fuse to form the erratic instability that accompanies madness. Rage, loathing as well as the derangements of intense love can all lead to the face of a madman.
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The eyes are often key to creating different expressions of madness, with exaggeratedly open eyes, asymmetrical eyes, unfocused eyes and eyes with small pupils just a few of the examples. Combining expressions for opposing emotions is also effective, such as using an expression of fear as the base and then adding a laughing mouth.
References: Loathing (Page 70)
PlottingThis expression is used when a character is planning something evil. This is a go-to expression for villains as it captures not only the conjuring of bad thoughts but the accompanying anticipation and enjoyment, as the nefarious scheme starts to take on life.
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Raising the brows and creating an asymmetrical expression brings out the look of a villain. The eyes are often depicted as looking up in order to suggest thoughts being taken over by evil schemes.
ScoffingThis expression conveys condescension and contempt. As it is an expression of ridicule, it makes the other person feel uncomfortable. It’s often used in situations when a character is asserting superiority over another.
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Wrinkles between the brows and twisted facial features are often used to form this expression. When wanting to show one’s own strength, the brows are raised, but when there is even only a little compassion for the other person, they are lowered. As the other person is being ridiculed, the mouth forms a smile, creating an expression of overconfident pride.
Variations
▶ Guffawing
This expression depicts boisterous laughter such as may come from gloating. Raising the face adds to the effect.
▶ Sniggering
This expression conveys laughing at an inappropriate moment. The smiling face takes on a worried look.
▶ A cold smile
A cold smile expresses both disgust and detachment from someone. Twisting the corners of the mouth and slightly altering the eyebrows creates a smile of derision.
References: Exasperation (Page 152)
Hiding SomethingThis expression conveys a sense of concealment. It differs markedly depending on the situation, with the look of trying to hide something insignificant being quite different from the expression of desperately covering up something of extreme importance that must not be discovered. Choose the right look for the situation.
▶ Hiding something insignificant
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This expression of slight deception is used when hiding something small. It’s common to depict the character feigning innocence by grinning while someone walks past, with other comical effects such as whistling also used.
▶ Covering up something big
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This expression conveys covering up something extremely significant. The brows lowered in a troubled expression or raised in a slightly angry expression along with symbols for sweat bring out the air of panicking to conceal something important.
