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TikTok presents Avatars, its answer to Memoji

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TikTok has introduced a new filter called TikTok Avatars, which creates animated characters that mimic your expression. Now you can finally start posting hours of stories without revealing your face.

Announced on Thursday, the TikTok avatars look and work a lot like Apple’s Memoji. The app uses your phone’s camera to detect your face, then overlays it with an animated avatar that copies your movements. You can then record videos with this virtual puppet, letting it fill in where you would otherwise have had to show your tired, unwashed face to the world.

There are two dozen pre-made avatars to choose from, or you can customize your own. TikTok lets you change your features such as your Avatar’s skin tone, mouth, nose, and eyes, as well as add headgear and jewelry. The options are limited, with some of the hair choices in particular feeling somewhat plastic. However, TikTok noted that it will take user feedback into account and work with its Creative Diversity Collective to improve and update their Avatars.

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“From outfits to skin tone and hair color to texture, creating inclusive features and experiences remains our priority, and we will continue to listen to our community and look to creators for insights. comments at each stage of its development”, says TikTok.

To try this new filter, search for “avatar” in TikTok effects, then scroll down until you find the effect called “TikTok Avatars”.

It was much harder to trigger the sulky little heart when my Avatar had a beard.
Credit: Mashable / TikTok

Mashable’s experimentation revealed that the animation of TikTok Avatars is somewhat crazy right now, especially compared to Memoji. I found it difficult to smile in a way that didn’t make me look like a grinning bully in a teen movie, as my smaller eyes caused by my raised cheeks seemed to be interpreted as sinister.

My Avatar’s tongue was also very small in the vast cavern of his mouth. Pouting causes a little red heart to float out of your mouth, but the mood is slightly spoiled by the fact that it’s nearly impossible to pout without your front teeth showing. You can also make stars or hearts appear on your eyes by using your hand to make a peace sign or a heart on your finger respectively.

Still, the style is fun and looks a lot more mature than Apple’s Baby Memoji. It’s also fun to play avatars with puppets. Hopefully, TikTok will continue to refine avatar animation and existing assets by adding new customization options.