Elizabeth Rega
Professor of Anatomy
Dr. Elizabeth Rega is a Professor of Anatomy as well as the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Development at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. She has a B.A. in Biology and German from Valparaiso University and a masters and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Physical Anthropology. As a research scientist, she has published numerous scientific articles, named a species of extinct Caribbean sloth and conducted fieldwork on three different continents. Elizabeth has been featured numerous times for her scientific expertise in television documentaries airing on Discovery Channel and Destination America channel. Her specialization in human and nonhuman primate anatomy has led her to be a frequent short and long-term consultant to the animation and gaming industries, working with modelers and animators on realistic body and facial anatomy, locomotion and movement. With Walt Disney Feature Animation, Elizabeth consulted on character design and animation of lead characters in Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan, Brother Bear, John Henry, Tangled and other projects still in development. She was engaged for an extended period as the lead anatomist consulting on apes and the title character in Tarzan. Dr. Rega provided extensive instruction on racial morphology and history of ethnic depictions in animation to Dreamworks and Walt Disney Imagineering, collaborating with the latter in the design of the President Obama audio-animatronic for the Disney World Hall of Presidents. In the realm of digital effects, she was heavily engaged in the development of the human anatomical material from live scanning to modeling to animation with SONY Pictures Imageworks for the film Hollowman, and later consulted on eye movement in Beowulf. Her most recent work has been in realistic facial and eye movement, where Animation Mentor and Blizzard Studios have tapped her expertise for animator development. Her most recent involvement has been with EA Sports, working with the Madden team. She is from Detroit and supports losing sports teams and quality local beer.
Events featuring Elizabeth Rega
Physiogamy, facial anatomy and eye movement for believable digital characters
The “uncanny valley” is often invoked to explain shortcomings in animated facial and eye movement, resulting in creepy characters. However, close attention to anatomical principles can help animators avoid some of the more common pitfalls to create more believable characters. This lecture is an introduction to the anatomical basis of facial expression, emphasizing both eye and mouth movement. Examples from the dissection table, live action and from animation in communicating character with facial expression are presented to illustrate basic principles which should inform modelling, rigging and animation, even in situations where procedural complexity must be rigorously minimized.
AVFXHuman Anatomy for Animators
This three hour session introduces anatomical topics of greatest utility to animators. More than just a list of parts, anatomy explores the relation of form with function which underlies successful character design and animation. Topics include human walking, running, facial expression and eye movement, with an emphasis on joint pivot locations, rotation limits and corresponding surface deformation. Practical demonstrations with participants will be integrated with visual examples to ensure that the subtleties so vital to believable motion are achieved. Students are encouraged to bring examples of their own work for critique.
One session (half day, Afternoon)
50 places £15