Techniques for facial expression capture for character animation are described. In one or more implementations, facial key points are identified in a series of images. Each image, in the series of images, is normalized from the identified facial key points. Facial features are determined from each of the normalized images. Then a facial expression is classified, based on the determined facial features, for each of the normalized images. In additional implementations, a series of images are captured that include performances of one or more facial expressions. The facial expressions in each image of the series of images are classified by a facial expression classifier. Then the facial expression classifications are used by a character animator system to produce a series of animated images of an animated character that include animated facial expressions that are associated with the facial expression classification of the corresponding image in the series of images.