1. A computer implemented method for applying deformations to a hierarchy of elements, the method comprising: receiving an element hierarchy for an object in a scene, wherein points for each element of the object are initially represented using a local coordinate space in which the points for the element have coordinates defined relative to a local origin for the element; determining, by operation of one or more computer processors, a first non-affine deformer to be applied to a first one or more of the elements of the object, wherein the non-affine deformer operates in a world coordinate space in which points have coordinates defined relative to a global origin; for each element of the first one or more of the elements: converting the points of the element into the world coordinate space, and upon determining the element has one or more subordinate elements in the element hierarchy to which the non-affine deformer is not applied: converting points of each of the one or more subordinate elements to a local coordinate space for the subordinate element if the points are currently represented using the world coordinate space; and marking the one or more subordinate elements to receive move propagation when the non-affine deformer is applied to the element but not applied to the one or more subordinate elements; and applying, by operation of the computer processors, the first non-affine deformer to the first one or more elements of the object in the world coordinate space.