Arcade machines of the 1980s and 1990s employed sophisticated sprite-based animation systems to create dynamic facial expressions. Unlike modern 3D rendering, these systems used pre-drawn animation frames stored in ROM chips, with dedicated graphics hardware cycling through these frames to simulate movement. The Neo Geo MVS system, for instance, could display up to 380 sprites simultaneously, allowing for detailed facial animation through rapid frame switching.

Developers used palette cycling and color depth manipulation to create the illusion of smooth facial movements with limited memory. Games like "The King of Fighters" series utilized character-specific animation banks containing dozens of expression frames - from blinking eyes to speaking mouths - triggered by in-game events through programmed animation sequences.

The hardware's tile-based background layers and sprite scaling capabilities enabled developers to create zoom-in effects during dramatic moments, emphasizing character expressions. This technical approach required meticulous frame-by-frame artistry but resulted in the iconic, expressive characters that defined arcade gaming's golden era.