What is the FROWN Threshold?
Key Concept - The two key facial cues for recognizing a frown are the steep angle and lowered position of the inner eyebrows.
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Figures 1 & 2: The face trasnforms from Neutral to Angry when the inner eyebrows lower significantly at a pronounced angle.
EMOFrowns are a key pose of animated characters, and appear at some point in virtually every feature film, when anger or irritation is expressed. It’s worthwhile to examine the two key elements that make the human frown happen: the position of the eyebrow, and the angle of the upper edge of the inner brow. If either is not playing its required role, the frown vaporizes, and the effect of annoyance or anger (or concentration) vanishes.
Angry Emoticons
 |  | Figure 3 (left) Successful stylized frown emoticons highlight the steeply angled and deeply lowered inner eyebrows. Figure 4 (right) misses all the cues and fails the 'frown test.' |
The Frown Threshold
 | Figure 5. When the eyebrow drops down below the top of the upper eyelid, it has crossed the 'frown threshold.' This principle is illustrated here with a red horizontal line. The lower the eyebrow corners go, the more intense the expression. |
From Anger to Rage
 | Figures 6. As the inner corner of the eyebrow drops further below the frown threshold, this man's expression of frowning intensifies to rage. This illustration represents the lowest point the eyebrow can descend due to the facial anatomy. |
Lowered Eyebrow with NO ANGLE = No Frown
 | Figure 7. How do you kill a frown? Using the same deeply slanted eyebrows in Figure 6, I flattened the inner corner of the eyebrows, making them horizontal, instead of slanted. With no other change, the face has gone from rage to neutral. |
Angled Eyebrow but TOO HIGH = No Frown
 | Figure 8. Position definitely counts! The eyebrows with their strong inner slant placed too high on the forehead no longer make the face look angry. The expression becomes ambiguous - surprised? quizzical? |
The Eyebrow FROWN in Photos
Figures 9 to 11. The frowning eyebrow 'in action' with an angry citizen, an enraged actor and an incensed royal.
CREDITS: Figures 1-3, 5-8. Illustrations by blog author, Gary Faigin; Figure 4. 'Red Angry Emoticon, 'stock photo at www.depositphotos.com; Figure 9 . Photo of unidentified citizen at Town Hall healthcare meeting (photographer unknown); Figure 10. Superhero actor, Hugh Jackman (photographer Patrik Giardino/Men’s Health); Figure 11. Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (photographer unknown.)
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