Abstract: A system and method for enabling the use of photo-realistic, three-dimensional virtual representatives in a variety of communications settings is disclosed. A first module is employed for selecting a virtual representative to be used for communicating with a user, for defining text to be voiced by the selected virtual representative, and for inserting emotion cues into that text. A second module responds to data from the first module by generating an image of the virtual representative, then controls changes in the image in accordance with the text to be voiced and the corresponding emotion cues. A third module is employed for defining virtual representatives and the response of virtual representatives to emotion cues associated with text to be voiced. The modularity of the presently disclosed invention lends itself to the integration into a variety of settings, including Web pages, email and PC games.