Example systems, methods, and instructions to be executed by a processor for the animation of realistic facial performances of avatars are provided. Such an example system includes a memory to store a facial gesture model of a subject head derived from a photogrammetric scan of the subject head, and a video of a face of the subject head delivering a facial performance. The system further includes a processor to generate a dynamic texture map that combines the video of the face of the subject head delivering the facial performance with a static portion of the facial gesture model of the subject head, apply the dynamic texture map to the facial gesture model, and animate the facial gesture model of the subject head to emulate the facial performance.