after-effects-mcp MCP — Anwendungsfälle, Installieren & Live-Demo

Warum nutzen

Hauptfunktionen

14+ tools: comps, layers, cameras, nulls, keyframes, expressions, masks
ExtendScript bridge panel polls for commands — runs in the AE process
Works with Claude Code via .mcp.json; other clients via manual config
Supports blend modes, 3D layers, track mattes, mask feather/expansion
Batch property updates via batchSetLayerProperties

Live-Demo

In der Praxis

after-effects.replay ▶ bereit

0/0

Installieren

Wählen Sie Ihren Client

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json · Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

Öffne Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config. Nach dem Speichern neu starten.

~/.cursor/mcp.json · .cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

Cursor nutzt das gleiche mcpServers-Schema wie Claude Desktop. Projektkonfiguration schlägt die globale.

VS Code → Cline → MCP Servers → Edit

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

Klicken Sie auf das MCP-Servers-Symbol in der Cline-Seitenleiste, dann "Edit Configuration".

~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ],
      "_inferred": true
    }
  }
}

Gleiche Struktur wie Claude Desktop. Windsurf neu starten zum Übernehmen.

~/.continue/config.json

{
  "mcpServers": [
    {
      "name": "after-effects",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "after-effects-mcp"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Continue nutzt ein Array von Serverobjekten statt einer Map.

~/.config/zed/settings.json

{
  "context_servers": {
    "after-effects": {
      "command": {
        "path": "npx",
        "args": [
          "-y",
          "after-effects-mcp"
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}

In context_servers hinzufügen. Zed lädt beim Speichern neu.

claude mcp add after-effects -- npx -y after-effects-mcp

Einzeiler. Prüfen mit claude mcp list. Entfernen mit claude mcp remove.

Anwendungsfälle

Praxisnahe Nutzung: after-effects-mcp

Generate template-based lower thirds from a CSV

👤 Motion graphics artists making 10+ lower thirds per episode ⏱ ~20 min intermediate

Wann einsetzen: You have a CSV of names/titles and don't want to type each into a comp.

Voraussetzungen

After Effects 2022+ with the bridge panel installed — npm run install-bridge, then open mcp-bridge-auto.jsx and tick 'Auto-run commands'
MCP added via .mcp.json — Point to build/index.js and restart your client

Ablauf

Create the base comp

Create a composition 'LT_01' 1920x1080 29.97 5s black background.✓ Kopiert

→ Comp appears in AE
Add name + title text layers

Add text layer 'Dr. Jane Doe' bottom-left at (120, 900) 72pt. Add text layer 'Lead Scientist' below at (120, 960) 36pt.✓ Kopiert

→ Layers visible
Add in/out animation with keyframes

Set position keyframes: both text layers slide in from x=-400 between frames 0-15 and slide out from frames 120-135.✓ Kopiert

→ Animated lower third

Ergebnis: A working lower third template you can duplicate/edit per row in the CSV.

Fallstricke

Bridge panel isn't checked 'Auto-run' — commands queue forever — Open the panel and verify the checkbox every time AE relaunches
Too many commands at once causes AE UI freeze — Batch via batchSetLayerProperties rather than 100 individual calls

Kombinieren mit: filesystem

Build an expression-driven data visualization

👤 Motion designers doing infographics ⏱ ~20 min advanced

Wann einsetzen: You want shapes that animate from a data array without keyframing each.

Ablauf

Create base shape

Create a shape layer 'bar_01' — rectangle, center-anchored, 80x0 at (200,900).✓ Kopiert

→ Shape at zero height
Attach expression

On bar_01 Scale.y, set expression that grows from 0 to [value] over 30 frames, eased.✓ Kopiert

→ Expression applied, plays correctly

Ergebnis: One shape + expression that you can replicate per data point via a loop.

Duplicate a base layer and tweak properties per copy

👤 Anyone replicating a design across N items ⏱ ~10 min beginner

Wann einsetzen: You have one styled logo and need 12 variations positioned around a circle.

Ablauf

Duplicate N times

Duplicate layer 'logo_base' 12 times, name them logo_00 through logo_11.✓ Kopiert

→ 12 layers present
Position each

For each logo_NN, set position to a point on a 400px radius circle around (960,540), angle = NN * 30 degrees.✓ Kopiert

→ Ring of logos

Ergebnis: A cleanly arranged group in seconds.

Kombinationen

Mit anderen MCPs für 10-fache Wirkung

after-effects + davinci-resolve

Build motion graphics in AE, finish edit in Resolve

Build a 6-second title card in After Effects, render to ~/renders/title.mov, then import it at the head of the active Resolve timeline.✓ Kopiert

after-effects + filesystem

Generate AE comps from data files on disk

Read ./data/speakers.csv. For each row, create a lower-third comp in AE with that speaker's name and title.✓ Kopiert

Werkzeuge

Was dieses MCP bereitstellt

Werkzeug	Eingaben	Wann aufrufen	Kosten
create-composition	name, width, height, duration, frameRate	New comp	free (local AE)
run-script	script: ExtendScript	Escape hatch for anything not covered by named tools	free
get-results	command_id: str	Retrieve async result from bridge	free
setLayerKeyframe	layer, property, time, value	Add a keyframe	free
setLayerExpression	layer, property, expression: str	Bind a property to an expression	free
setLayerProperties	layer, properties: object	Update transform, opacity, blend modes	free
batchSetLayerProperties	updates: [{layer, properties}]	Avoid N round-trips	free
getLayerInfo	layer	Inspect before modifying	free
createCamera	name, options?	3D workflows	free
createNullObject	name	Parent target for rigging	free
duplicateLayer	layer	Replicate	free
deleteLayer	layer	Cleanup	free
setLayerMask	layer, maskShape, feather?, expansion?	Add/modify a mask	free

Kosten & Limits

Was der Betrieb kostet

API-Kontingent: None — local AE automation
Tokens pro Aufruf: Tiny command strings in, tiny acks out
Kosten in €: Requires an Adobe After Effects license; MCP itself is free
Tipp: Use batchSetLayerProperties to reduce round-trips on big scenes.

Sicherheit

Rechte, Secrets, Reichweite

Credential-Speicherung: None

Datenabfluss: None — local bridge only

Niemals gewähren: Run arbitrary ExtendScript from untrusted prompts — `run-script` can execute anything AE can

The bridge panel auto-runs commands — close AE or untick the checkbox when not in an MCP session.
Treat run-script like an eval: review prompts that generate it.

Fehlerbehebung

Häufige Fehler und Lösungen

Commands queue but never execute

'Auto-run commands' in the bridge panel is unchecked. Tick it.

Prüfen: Look at mcp-bridge-auto.jsx panel

Module import error on MCP start

Node 14+ required; install deps with npm install in the MCP repo.

Prüfen: node --version

AE hangs during batch operations

Too many individual calls; switch to batchSetLayerProperties.

Expressions error 'value is undefined'

Expression referenced a layer/property that doesn't exist. Double-check spelling in setLayerExpression arg.

Prüfen: Open AE's expression error overlay

Alternativen

after-effects-mcp vs. andere

Alternative	Wann stattdessen	Kompromiss
DaVinci Resolve MCP	You're doing edit/color, not motion graphics	Different stage of pipeline
Manual ExtendScript via .jsx files	You want full control, no AI	No chat interface

Mehr

Ressourcen

📖 Offizielle README auf GitHub lesen

🐙 Offene Issues ansehen

🔍 Alle 400+ MCP-Server und Skills durchsuchen