1. A system for use in generating computer animations from captured video images comprising: one or more processors; memory accessible by each of the one or more processors; and instructions stored in the memory that are read by the one or more processors and direct the one or more processors to: receive a video segment including at least one image wherein each at least one image includes an image of a source surface; obtain an animation rig comprising a plurality of blend shapes; and generate animation curves that drive the animation rig to animate a 3D model from the at least one image in the video segment by: identifying features of the source surface in the at least one image from the video segment, mapping the identified features of the source surface to the plurality of blend shapes of the animation rig, tracking the identified features of the source surface in the at least one images of the video segment, and determining animation curves from the tracking of the identified features mapped to the plurality blend shapes of the animation rig.