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The Ultimate Guide to Creating and Animating ARKit Facial Blendshapes

Learn how to create ARKit's 52 FACS-based blendshapes and bring 3D characters to life with realtime facial animation for AI motion capture, Apple Vision Pro and games

Learn about ARKit blendshapes
Learn about ARKit blendshapes
Real-Time facial animation via Webcam

ARKit Face Tracking

All 52 ARKit Blendshapes

A complete reference of every ARKit facial blendshape — with FACS action units, muscle anatomy, and visual examples.

browDownLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

browDownLeft

AU4 brow lowerer
Muscle(s) & Function

corrugator supercilii, depressor supercilii, procerus·Lowers the eyebrows and pulls them together.

browDownRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

browDownRight

AU4 brow lowerer
Muscle(s) & Function

corrugator supercilii, depressor supercilii, procerus·Lowers the eyebrows and pulls them together.

browInnerUp blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

browInnerUp

AU1 inner brow raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

frontalis, medial portion·Lifts the inner portion of the eyebrows, creating a slight arch near the bridge of the nose.

browOuterUpLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

browOuterUpLeft

AU2 outer brow raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

frontalis, lateral portion·Lifts the outer portion of the eyebrows, creating an arched shape.

browOuterUpRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

browOuterUpRight

AU2 outer brow raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

frontalis, lateral portion·Lifts the outer portion of the eyebrows, creating an arched shape.

eyeBlinkLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeBlinkLeft

AU45 blinkAU43 eye closure
Muscle(s) & Function

contraction of palpebral orbicularis oculi & relaxation of levator palpebrae superioris·AU45 briefly closes the eyelids, while AU43 closes them for longer.

eyeBlinkRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeBlinkRight

AU45 blinkAU43 eye closure
Muscle(s) & Function

contraction of palpebral orbicularis oculi & relaxation of levator palpebrae superioris·AU45 briefly closes the eyelids, while AU43 closes them for longer.

eyeLookDownLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookDownLeft

M64 eyes down
Muscle(s) & Function

superior oblique and inferior rectus·Directs the eyes downward, shifting the line of sight lower and adjusting the position of the eyelids in response.

eyeLookDownRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookDownRight

M64 eyes down
Muscle(s) & Function

superior oblique and inferior rectus·Involves the downward gaze of the eyes, directing the line of sight lower.

eyeLookInLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookInLeft

M62 eyes turn right
Muscle(s) & Function

medial rectus·Directs the eyes toward the right, shifting the line of sight and adjusting the position of the eyelids accordingly.

eyeLookInRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookInRight

M61 eyes turn left
Muscle(s) & Function

medial rectus·Involves the leftward gaze of the eyes, shifting the line of sight to the left.

eyeLookOutLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookOutLeft

M61 eyes turn left
Muscle(s) & Function

lateral rectus·The action of M61 involves the leftward gaze of the eyes.

eyeLookOutRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookOutRight

M62 eyes turn right
Muscle(s) & Function

lateral rectus·Involves the rightward gaze of the eyes, shifting the line of sight to the right.

eyeLookUpLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookUpLeft

M63 eyes up
Muscle(s) & Function

superior rectus and inferior oblique·Involves the upward gaze of the eyes.

eyeLookUpRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeLookUpRight

M63 eyes up
Muscle(s) & Function

superior rectus and inferior oblique·Involves the upward gaze of the eyes.

eyeSquintLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeSquintLeft

AU7 lid tightener
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oculi, palpebral portion·Narrows the eye opening primarily via the raising of the lower eyelid.

eyeSquintRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeSquintRight

AU7 lid tightener
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oculi, palpebral portion·Narrows the eye opening primarily via the raising of the lower eyelid.

eyeWideLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeWideLeft

AU5 upper lid raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

levator palpebrae superioris·Widens the eye opening by raising the upper eyelid.

eyeWideRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

eyeWideRight

AU5 upper lid raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

levator palpebrae superioris·Widens the eye opening by lifting the upper eyelid.

jawForward blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

jawForward

AD29 thrust
Muscle(s) & Function

pterygoids (and some masseter)·Pushes the lower jaw forward, shifting its position slightly ahead from its resting alignment.

jawLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

jawLeft

AD30 jaw sideways
Muscle(s) & Function

pterygoids and temporalis·Moves the jaw to the side (in this case, left), shifting its position laterally.

jawRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

jawRight

AD30 jaw sideways
Muscle(s) & Function

pterygoids and temporalis·Moves the jaw to the side (in this case, right), shifting its position laterally.

jawOpen blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

jawOpen

AU26 jaw dropAU27 mouth stretch
Muscle(s) & Function

relaxation of masseter, temporalis, internal pterygoid; lateral pterygoid and suprahyoid muscles·AU26 moderately lowers the jaw through relaxation, while AU27 forcefully lowers it further.

mouthClose blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthClose

AU8 lips toward each otherAU26 jaw drop/AU27 mouth stretch
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oris, masseter, temporalis, pterygoids, digastric·Brings the lips together by lowering the upper lip and raising the lower lip.

mouthDimpleLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthDimpleLeft

AU14 dimpler
Muscle(s) & Function

buccinator·Draws the corners of the lips back against the teeth, tightening the mouth corners.

mouthDimpleRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthDimpleRight

AU14 dimpler
Muscle(s) & Function

buccinator·Draws the corners of the lips back against the teeth, tightening the mouth.

mouthFrownLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthFrownLeft

AU15 lip corner depressor
Muscle(s) & Function

depressor anguli oris·Draws the corners of the lips downward, creating a downturned lip shape.

mouthFrownRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthFrownRight

AU15 lip corner depressor
Muscle(s) & Function

depressor anguli oris·Draws the corners of the lips downward, creating a slight frown or neutral expression.

mouthFunnel blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthFunnel

AU22 lip funneler
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oris·Projects and spreads the lips outward, separating and fanning out the lips.

mouthLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthLeft

N/A a mixture of actions
Muscle(s) & Function

N/A: a mixture of asymmetric muscle contractions on each side of the face

mouthLowerDownLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthLowerDownLeft

AU16 lower lip depressor
Muscle(s) & Function

depressor labii inferioris·Draws the lower lip downward and laterally, stretching it down and to the sides.

mouthLowerDownRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthLowerDownRight

AU16 lower lip depressor
Muscle(s) & Function

depressor labii inferioris·Draws the lower lip downward and laterally, stretching it down and to the sides.

mouthPressLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthPressLeft

AU24 lip presser
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oris·Presses the upper and lower lips firmly together.

mouthPressRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthPressRight

AU24 lip presser
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oris·Presses the upper and lower lips firmly together.

mouthPucker blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthPucker

AU18 lip pucker
Muscle(s) & Function

incisivus labii superioris, incisivus labii inferioris·Draws the lip corners toward each other causing the fleshy part of the lips to protrude.

mouthRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthRight

N/A a mixture of actions
Muscle(s) & Function

N/A: a mixture of asymmetric muscle contractions on each side of the face

mouthRollLower blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthRollLower

AU28 lips suck (bottom)
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oris·The bottom portion of AU28 draws the lower lip into the mouth opening, wrapping it around the lower teeth.

mouthRollUpper blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthRollUpper

AU28 lips suck (top)
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oris·The top portion of AU28 draws the upper lip into the mouth opening, wrapping it around the upper teeth.

mouthShrugLower blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthShrugLower

AU17 chin raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

mentalis·Pushes up the lower lip and chin area, causing the chin to protrude slightly and the lower lip to rise.

mouthShrugUpper blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthShrugUpper

AU17 chin raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

mentalis·Pushes up the upper lip and chin area, causing the chin to protrude slightly and the upper lip to rise.

mouthSmileLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthSmileLeft

AU12 lip corner puller
Muscle(s) & Function

zygomaticus major·Draws the corners of the lips upward, backward, and laterally, creating a stretched or elongated smile.

mouthSmileRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthSmileRight

AU12 lip corner puller
Muscle(s) & Function

zygomaticus major·Draws the corners of the lips upward, backward, and laterally, creating a stretched or elongated smile.

mouthStretchLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthStretchLeft

AU20 lip stretcher
Muscle(s) & Function

risorius·Draws the lip corners laterally, stretching the fleshy part of the lips.

mouthStretchRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthStretchRight

AU20 lip stretcher
Muscle(s) & Function

risorius·Draws the lip corners laterally, stretching the fleshy part of the lips.

mouthUpperUpLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthUpperUpLeft

AU10 upper lip raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

levator labii superioris·AU10 lifts the top lip, more laterally than AU9 but more medially than AU11.

mouthUpperUpRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

mouthUpperUpRight

AU10 upper lip raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

levator labii superioris·AU10 lifts the upper lip, more laterally than AU9 but more medially than AU11.

cheekPuff blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

cheekPuff

AD34 puff
Muscle(s) & Function

buccinator, orbicularis oris·Expands the cheeks by forcing air into them, causing them to puff outward.

cheekSquintLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

cheekSquintLeft

AU6 cheek raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oculi, orbital portion·Tightens the outer rings of the eye orbit and squeezes the lateral eye corners.

cheekSquintRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

cheekSquintRight

AU6 cheek raiser
Muscle(s) & Function

orbicularis oculi, orbital portion·Tightens the outer rings of the eye orbit and squeezes the lateral eye corners.

noseSneerLeft blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

noseSneerLeft

AU9 nose wrinkler
Muscle(s) & Function

levator labii superioris alaeque nasi·Lifts the sides of the nose, nostrils, and central upper lip area.

noseSneerRight blendshape — ARKit facial expression reference
Blendshape

noseSneerRight

AU9 nose wrinkler
Muscle(s) & Function

levator labii superioris alaeque nasi·Lifts the sides of the nose, nostrils, and central upper lip area.

51 blendshapes total — click any row to explore the interactive reference