System and methods are provided to cache encoded graphical objects that may be subsequently combined with other encoded video data to form a data stream decodable by a client device according to a format specification. Paint instructions relating to a graphical object are sent from a layout engine to a rendering library. A shim intercepts these instructions and determines whether the graphical object already has been rendered and encoded. If so, a cached copy of the object is transmitted to the client device. If not, the shim transparently passes the instructions to the rendering library, and the object is rendered, encoded, and cached. Hash values are used for efficiency. Methods are disclosed to detect and cache animations, and to cut and splice cached objects into encoded video data.