An apparatus and method for displaying a lock screen including a character object having a motion effect in a terminal equipped with a touch screen. The method includes locking the touch screen and displaying the lock screen including the character object having the motion effect on a preset background image. Upon generation of a touch input, determining whether the touch input is for unlocking the touch screen, and if the touch input is for unlocking the touch screen, unlocking the touch screen and controlling the character object to perform a preset action indicating the unlocking of the touch screen.