Abstract: A multilayer data animation program is provided that controls the simultaneous display of objects that represent complex or interrelated data, where the appearance of the objects may change over time to reflect changes in the data. The multilayer data animation program layers the objects in an indicator having a hierarchy of layers based on the importance of the data that each object represents relative to the data that the other objects represent. The objects are periodically updated to reflect changes in the data, and the multilayer data animation program alters the display of the objects in accordance with the layer hierarchy when the display of objects on one layer conflicts with objects on another layer.