Method of generating animation overlays starts with a processor causing a communication interface for a communication session to be displayed at client devices. The processor receives from a first client device an animation sending request and causes an animation sending interface to be displayed in the communication interface of the first client device. The animation sending interface comprises animation overlay icons. Each of the animation overlay icons comprise a first avatar associated with the first user. The processor receives from the first client device a selection of a first animation overlay icon and causes the first animation overlay corresponding to the first animation overlay icon to be displayed as an overlay on the communication interface of each of the plurality of client devices. The first animation overlay is an animation that includes the first avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.