RIGGING WORKSHOP: The TIGER FACIAL BLEND SHAPES
These are the original set of facial expressions used on the Sabre Tooth Tiger which is now quite an old rig but the theory is still valid.   For those who are not familiar with this technique, the cats face changes (blends) from one shape to another depending on what value is entered for a particular shape (blend shape target).   These shapes are known as "Blend Shapes" in Maya (Symbolics, a pioneer of this technique, referred to them as "Relative Displacements").   I didn't set these up.   I think it was Noel Mulvaney who originally sculpted these targets.   They are an important stage in the rigging process which is why I have included them.   The other reason is that I find the snarl very funny but at the same time quite frightening.   Pass your mouse over the white circles towards the green centers to operate the expressions.   This is only a primative version of the tiger which was light and quick to use.