Computing system and method for rendering avatars

A computing system is provided comprising a processor is configured to execute an augmented reality avatar program to receive a second-user avatar-data object and second-user pose information, via a computer network, receive an image from a live image feed captured by a camera of the computing device, identify a virtual surface corresponding to a physical surface that appears in the image; calculate a position and a pose of a second-user avatar relative to the virtual surface based on the second-user pose information, render the second-user avatar-data object to thereby display the second-user avatar of the second user superimposed upon the image. The second-user avatar is anchored to the virtual surface according to the calculated position and pose of the second-user avatar. The virtual surface is world-locked to the physical surface in the image in a real world 3-D environment.