1. A method of applying effects to a number of computer-generated characters, the method comprising: defining an effect for a first character and a second character; displaying, on a display device of a computer, a commencement of an application of the effect to the first character; and after starting the display of the commencement of the application of the effect to the first character, displaying, on the display device of the computer, a commencement of an application of the effect to the second character, wherein the application of the effect to a particular character comprises displaying a movement of the particular character, wherein the effect is applied for a same amount of time to each character such that there is a first period of time when the first character and the second character are both moving and a second period of time when the second character is still moving after the first character stops moving.