1. A method of creating countdown animations, the method comprising: receiving, from a first user, text including a plurality of words representing a task to be started at a given time by a second user; generating a countdown of an amount of time remaining in a user selected period of time for accessing media content based on a difference between a current time and the given time; processing the text to select a word of the plurality of words associated with the task; identifying a character of a plurality of characters based on a user criterion by automatically determining one of the plurality of characters that is associated with the selected word associated with the task, wherein each of the plurality of characters is associated with a different type of task; searching a database of a plurality of countdown animations to select a countdown animation associated with the identified character; and generating for display to the second user the selected countdown animation simultaneously with the media content, wherein the selected countdown animation identifies the task to be started by the second user at the end of the countdown of the amount of time.