1. A method of presenting avatars with a multimedia program, the method comprising: continually monitoring a viewer to result in animation input data; displaying an avatar corresponding to the viewer in a virtual environment that includes further avatars corresponding to further viewers; continually updating the avatar in response to the animation input data; subtracting background data to result in animation input data that corresponds substantially to the monitored viewer and not a viewing area around the monitored viewer; detecting a level of motion in the viewing area around the monitored viewer; in response to a low level of motion, capturing background data from the viewing area; and in response to a high level of motion, continually monitoring the viewer to result in animation input data achieved in part by excluding the captured background data.