1. A method for generating and displaying animated graphics on a browser client based upon an animated graphic display object specification and runtime data from a portal server affecting an appearance trait of the animated graphic display object, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, by the browser client, an animated graphics description from the portal server, the description specifying an animation behavior for an identified graphical display object; creating a connection between an animated display object, corresponding to the animated graphics description, and a source of runtime data from the portal server affecting display of the animated display object; and applying runtime data received from the source of runtime data to the animated display object to render an animated graphic display object.