Method and apparatus for animation

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed in a system cause the generation of an animated image, wherein the generation comprises:

• defining key points on the face of a human speaker to be animated, wherein defining key points comprises defining key points on video data that includes the human speaker speaking chosen words;
• generating a mapping table, including mapping positions of the key points over time as the speaker speaks the chosen words;
• and
• using the mapping table and a speech rate to generate a frame list, wherein the speech rate is obtained from the audio.

A system for animating an image, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a 2D animation module coupled to the processor and configured to generate a frame list for output to a rendering unit, wherein generating the frame list includes,
• receiving video data, wherein the video data comprises video of an object to be animated in which the object performs defined actions, wherein the defined actions include a plurality of actions and corresponding audio;
• defining key points on the object to be animated;
• generating a table of trajectories, including mapping positions of the key points over time as the object performs each of the defined action;
• using the table of trajectories and an audio rate of the video to generate the frame list, wherein the frame list includes information to render an animated image of the object in real time at a rate determined by the audio rate.