This work presents a method for deforming meshes in a shape-sensible way using Moving Least Squares (MLS) optimization. It is explained how an approach for space deformation [10] can be transformed into a skeleton-guided deformation scheme, where more sensitivity to the mesh geometry is achieved. Given a mesh and its skeleton, for each joint a minimization problem is solved subject to positional constraints given by the user. The mesh geometry is then modified by blending optimal transformations computed at skeleton joints associated with each vertex of the mesh. Additionally, it is shown how a small reformulation of the MLS scheme makes it possible to affect the bending behavior of the deformation. © 2008 IEEE.