I always wondered how much C-3PO's facial expression was supported by the perpendicular lens grids

[Space In Vader]

I always wondered how much C-3PO's facial expression was supported by the perpendicular lens grids (that look the same as the jet grids of 2001's Discovery because the same manufacturer J. A. Michell was involved) and made a short animation of different grid angels.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Your animation was both fascinating and creepy. I can see how if the angle of his eye grids were changed and the size of his iris were changed it would be easier to read his emotional state but I’m not sure I would want that.

I remember GL saying he wanted C-3po to have a totally neutral face so his emotions would always be from the performance and from what the character said and not from his facial expressions. With a neutral face if he says he’s happy and his body language is happy then his face ‘looks’ happy, and if he says he’s sad and his body language is sad then his face ‘looks’ sad, etc…