1. A method for a computer system including a processor, a memory, a display, and a user input device comprising: receiving at least one surface deformation for a surface of a model of an object via the user input device, wherein the model of the object comprises a plurality of animation variables, wherein values for the plurality of animation variables are used to determine the surface of the model; in response to receiving the at least one surface deformation: determining, by the processor, a first predefined pose for the model of the object from a plurality of pre-defined poses for the model of the object, wherein a pre-defined pose is based on motion capture data, wherein the first predefined pose comprises a first plurality of values for the plurality of animation variables and a first plurality of surface deformations; determining, by the processor, a second predefined pose, wherein the second predefined pose comprises a second plurality of values for the plurality of animation variables and a second plurality of surface deformations, determining whether the received at least one surface deformation is more similar to the first plurality of surface deformations associated with the first predefined pose or more similar to the second plurality of surface deformations associated with the second predefined pose; in response to determining that the received at least one surface deformation is more similar to the first plurality of surface deformations, posing, by the processor, the model of the object in response to the first plurality of values of the plurality of animation variables; in response to determining that the received surface deformation is more similar to the second plurality of surface deformations, posing, by the processor, the model of the object in response to the second plurality of values of the plurality of animation variables; and displaying the model of the object on the display.