Contextual-based rendering of virtual avatars

A system for driving animation of a virtual avatar using a discomfort curve, the system comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store:
• an orientation of a first body part of a virtual avatar with respect to an adjacent second body part of the virtual avatar;
• and
• at least one discomfort curve governing motion of the first body part with respect to the adjacent second body part of the virtual avatar, wherein each of the at least one discomfort curves is associated with a mood of the virtual avatar and comprises a mapping of discomfort levels associated with a relationship of the first body part and the adjacent second body part of the virtual avatar;
• and
• a hardware processor programmed to:
• determine an orientation of the first body part of the virtual avatar with respect to the adjacent second body part of the virtual avatar;
• determine a mood of the virtual avatar;
• access a discomfort curve associated with the determined mood of the virtual avatar governing motion of the first body part with respect to the adjacent second body part;
• drive an animation of the first body part of the virtual avatar at least in part according to the at least one discomfort curve;
• and
• in response to a magnitude of a discomfort level of the at least one discomfort curve passing a first threshold value, drive an animation of the adjacent second body part of the virtual avatar based at least in part according to the at least one discomfort curve.