1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a computer system, a model that represents a geometry of a facial expression of an animated character; applying, by the computer system, a primary deformation applied to the geometry of the facial expression, wherein: the primary deformation is applied relative to a rest geometry of the facial expression; and the primary deformation is defined by a primary deformation matrix; and applying, by the computer system and after applying the first deformation, a secondary deformation to the geometry of the facial expression, wherein: the secondary deformation is defined by a secondary deformation matrix; and the secondary deformation is applied using an inverse of the primary deformation matrix and the secondary deformation matrix.