Cumulative rendering of animated objects

A distributed image processing system performs first animation rendering at a transmission system, in response to first graphic data and associated metadata, and final animation rendering at a receiver system, in response to the received partially rendered graphic data and associated metadata. The received metadata file may have been modified in accordance with the animation requirements of the individual receiver means. Preferably the graphic data includes locked parameters defining first characteristics of animated objects and the metadata contains unlocked parameters, defining second characteristics of animated objects, with respective parameter information to enable editing of the unlocked parameters. Different levels of access may be defined to allow users access to only certain types of parameters.