Methods and systems are provided preparing training data for training a neural network to simulate deformations of a surface of a CG character, for training a neural network to simulate deformations of a surface of a CG character and for employing a neural network to simulate deformations of a surface of a CG character. Matrix decomposition techniques are used to generate the training data and are subsequently used by trained neural networks during inference to reconstruct CG character surfaces. The inference methods and systems are suitable for real time animation applications.