How can I create expressive animations for a custom 3D mascot in Three.js?

Hey everyone,

I'm building a 3D Animal for an app and I'm trying to figure out the best way to animate it properly.

I have a finished character design/reference and want to turn it into a real interactive 3D avatar using Three.js + GLB/GLTF.

I need animations for:

  • 👀 Blinking and eye movement
  • 😊 Happy / smiling
  • 😈 Naughty / playful expressions
  • 🤔 Thinking
  • 😮 Surprised
  • 😢 Sad / crying
  • 🐙 Independent movement
  • 👋 Waving
  • Idle breathing/bobbing
  • Smooth transitions between expressions

The biggest challenge is facial animation and tentacle animation. I don't want to simply animate the entire model as one object. I want the eyes, mouth, eyebrows, and tentacles to move independently.

I'm fairly new to character animation, so I'm wondering what the recommended workflow is:

Blender → rig/shape keys → GLB → Three.js?

Or is there a better approach for a cute stylized character?

Also, how should I structure the GLB so that Three.js can easily trigger things like:

animal.play("happy");
animal.play("wave");
animal.play("cry");
animal.blink();

Any advice on rigging the face, movements, exporting to GLB, and controlling the animations in Three.js would be really appreciated.

I'm attaching the character reference so you can see the style I'm trying to match.

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 1 day ago

Any MTech Student??

Any idea of tomorrow?? Any updates? Timing? Do we have orientation?

Kindly help guys…. No information. From Clg.

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 4 days ago

Do you guys got mail from SRM RMP??

Hey guys,

I have recently joined MTech in SRM RMP, I still didn’t get any mail from the Management.
Am I the one who’s facing this issue or do I have a company?

🫠

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 13 days ago

Why do banks issue RuPay Platinum debit cards with regular savings accounts?

I opened a regular savings account with Bank of Baroda, but they issued me a RuPay Platinum debit card instead of a “normal debit card”.

From what I understand, my account is still a basic savings account, and the “Platinum” label is only for the debit card—not the account itself.

I’m curious:

Is there any real advantage to having a RuPay Platinum debit card over a standard debit card?

Have you actually used any of its benefits, like insurance, cashback, or merchant offers?

Is there anything I should know to make the most of this card?

I’d love to hear your experiences and whether the Platinum card is genuinely useful or mostly just a marketing label.

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 14 days ago

Boyfriend got upset because I went to the mall with my cousin and wore a baby tee. Am I missing something?

I've (F) been in a relationship with my boyfriend for a little over 5 years.

Today, my cousin (M), who is basically like my big brother, came all the way to India to spend time with me and my family. We're only about 10 days apart in age and grew up extremely close. We've laughed together, cried together, and shared so many memories over the years. He's always known about my relationship and has never had an issue with it. His attitude has always been, "Choose what makes you happy."

While he was visiting, he asked if I wanted to go to the mall with him. I said yes.

For context, I wore a baby tee with high-waisted trousers. I normally don't even like wearing crop tops, so I wore a camisole underneath because that's what makes me feel comfortable. I wasn't trying to dress to get attention—I just thought the outfit looked cute and felt comfortable in it.

Before leaving, I told my boyfriend exactly what we were doing. I told him I was going to the mall with my cousin and that we'd be going by bike. I wasn't hiding anything.

His response surprised me. He asked:

  • "Why are you going with him?"
  • "Why by bike?"
  • "Why are you wearing a baby tee?"

After that, he barely spoke to me and eventually went to sleep without really talking things through.

I'm honestly confused.

From my perspective, I spent time with a family member who's like a brother to me, I was transparent with my boyfriend about where I was going, and I wore something I felt cute and comfortable in.

At the same time, I know everyone has different boundaries in relationships, so I'm trying to understand whether I'm overlooking something.

Did I actually do something that would reasonably upset most people, or does this sound more like insecurity or jealousy? If you were in either of our shoes, how would you view this situation?

I'm looking for honest opinions from both men and women because I want to understand this fairly, not just hear people agree with me.

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 17 days ago

How do I help my boyfriend overcome insecurity, jealousy, and possessiveness?

Hi everyone,

I really need some advice.

I've been in a relationship with my boyfriend for over 5 years. He's a genuinely caring and loving person, but he sometimes struggles with feeling insecure, jealous, and possessive. I know these feelings usually come from fear of losing someone rather than bad intentions, and I want to help him instead of making him feel judged.

As his girlfriend, is there anything I can do to help him overcome these feelings? Have any of you (men or women) been in a similar situation?

  • What helped you or your partner?
  • How do you build trust without constantly giving reassurance?
  • Where do you draw the line between healthy reassurance and unhealthy possessiveness?
  • Is this something that gets better over time, or does he need to work on it himself?

I'd especially love to hear from men who have experienced insecurity in a relationship—what helped you become more secure?

Please be kind. I'm looking for genuine advice because I care about him and want our relationship to grow in a healthy way. ❤️

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 17 days ago
▲ 3 r/SRMIST+1 crossposts

Anyone joined MTech?? in RMP?

Hey guys,
Classes have started? Admission process is over or ongoing? Anyone who have joined, do let me know.

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 23 days ago

People who got married at 22–25: Was it the right decision?

I’m 24 and have been thinking a lot about marriage lately.
I’d love to hear from people who got married in their early 20s or mid-20s.
What made you decide that it was the right time?
How has married life been so far?
Are you and your spouse emotionally connected?
What challenges did you face in the first few years?
Looking back, do you still think getting married at that age was the right decision?
Is there anything you wish you had known before getting married?
I’m genuinely looking for real experiences—the good, the bad, and the unexpected. Your advice would really help me gain a better perspective before making such a big life decision.

Kindly share your thoughts in comments or DM me.
Thank you ❤️

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u/NeuralNadia14 — 1 month ago