LA-based Fix8, which lets people engage in video chat through an animated avatar, has raised a $3 million initial round from Vickers Financial Group. Using its own proprietary technology, the company says it can analyze a user’s facial expressions to render a representative avatar over video chat services, such as AOL (NYSE: TWX) IM, Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) and Skype. VentureBeat has an example of what the service looks like. Other companies doing similar things include Gizmoz and Donnerwood Media, the parent company of Meez, Oddcast and many others. Fix8 is a unit of Mobinex, which offers a number of avatar-related services. Release.

• Social Animation Company Gizmoz Secures $6.3 Million First Round