Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for customizing the display of text messages received by a communications terminal, such as a cell phone. The method includes downloading and installing at least one display module that controls animated rendering of a received text message with a predefined animation; recording at least one display module selection criterion, which corresponds to the installed module; analyzing characteristics of a received text message to be displayed; selecting a display module when a selection criterion associated with the display module is fulfilled by the analyzed characteristics; and submitting the received text message to the selected display module.