A graphic character object temporary storage stores parameters of a character and associated default values in a hierarchical data structure and one or more animation object data represented in a hierarchical data structure, the one or more animation object data having an associated animation, the graphic character object temporary storage and the animation object data being part of a local memory of a computer system. A method includes receiving a vector graphic object having character part objects which are represented as geometric shapes, displaying a two dimensional character, changing the scale of a part of the displayed two dimensional character, and storing an adjusted parameter in the graphic character object temporary storage as a percentage change from the default value, displaying a customized two dimensional character, applying keyframe data in an associated animation object data to the character parts objects, and displaying an animation according to the keyframe data.