JALI Research, the Toronto-based developer of high-end lip sync and facial animation software, returns as an exhibitor to Annecy for the International Animation Film Market (MIFA), taking place June 10–13. As part of the official MIFA program, JALI Co-Founder and Oscar-winning animator Chris Landreth will present an exclusive, live and interactive demonstration on creating emotionally driven character animation.
JALI uses intelligent automation to deliver high-fidelity facial animation and multilingual lip sync at scale feature animation for animated films, AAA games, cinematics, immersive media, etc. By evolving their lip sync solution from a background utility into a creative tool, JALI aims to help production teams generate high quality results and believable digital characters on time, on budget and on model.
“Annecy is recognized for supporting industry transformation and highlighting emerging talent,” says Sarah Watling, JALI Research Co-Founder and CEO. “We’re excited to return this year and showcase how JALI’s solutions are empowering animation studios and animators with powerful, high-end, scalable pipeline tools that support both large-scale production and craft-centric animation houses to deliver best-in-class animated stories.”
The JALI software suite includes natively deployed plugins for Autodesk Maya and Unreal Engine. Its embedded Heart & Mask system is based on performance theory and psychology, enabling animators to blend internal emotion (Heart) with outward expression (Mask) for emotionally rich performances across infinite takes without sculpting each frame. The streamlined workflow eliminates repetitive tasks and gives artists the freedom to iterate quickly and explore a broader emotional range.
MIFA Presentation with Chris Landreth Presentation — Animating Emotion: JALI’s Tools for Immersive Storytelling
Thursday, June 12 | 5–6 p.m. | Rotonde Room
Annecy attendees are invited to join Academy Award-winning animator and JALI Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Chris Landreth, for a live presentation at MIFA.
Designed for industry professionals, students, and animation enthusiasts, Landreth will take the audience on an exciting and emotional journey that explores JALI’s powerful lip sync and facial animation technology, offering a unique glimpse into how automation and the creative process intersect to drive forward modern animation workflows. The session includes live demos highlighting JALI’s Heart & Mask system and explores its advanced suite of intuitive animation and rigging tools that empower creators to deliver expressive, high-quality character performances efficiently while maintaining artistic control.
An acclaimed director and facial animation educator, Landreth won the Best Short Animation Oscar for Ryan in 2005. His masterclass, Making Faces, has been taught at DreamWorks Animation, Seneca College, the University of Toronto and the École Georges Méliès in Paris.
Explore JALI’s Game-Changing Facial Animation at Stand A17 MIFA
Festival attendees are encouraged to visit JALI at Stand A17 to explore the latest features in its facial animation and lip-sync software.
Exhibit Hours:
- Tuesday, June 10–Thursday, June 12: 9 a.m. –7 p.m.
- Friday, June 13: 8:30 a.m. –6 p.m.
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