1. A method for applying an animation to a visual representation of a user, the method comprising: selecting a first animation from a plurality of stored animations, based on a first image indicative of a user presently being in a physical capture area, the first image being received from a capture device; applying the first animation to a visual representation of the user on a display device; updating at least one animation of the plurality of stored animations based at least in part on a characteristic of the user identified based at least in part on the first image; in response to determining from a second image of the physical capture area that the user is not located in the physical capture area, selecting a second animation of the plurality of stored animations based at least in part on a characteristic of the user from a prior image indicative of the user in the physical capture area or another physical capture area; and in response to determining that a second user is interacting with a computer application in which the visual representation of the user is made, applying the second animation to a visual representation of the user on the display device to animate the visual representation of the user while the user is not located in the physical capture area whereby the visual representation of the user is animated to behave in accordance with the characteristic of the user in the second animation.