after-effects-mcp MCP — Use Cases, Install & Live Demo

Why use it

Key features

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

What it looks like in practice

after-effects.replay ▶ ready

0/0

Install

Pick your 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
    }
  }
}

Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config. Restart after saving.

~/.cursor/mcp.json · .cursor/mcp.json

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

Cursor uses the same mcpServers schema as Claude Desktop. Project config wins over global.

VS Code → Cline → MCP Servers → Edit

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

Click the MCP Servers icon in the Cline sidebar, then "Edit Configuration".

~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

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

Same shape as Claude Desktop. Restart Windsurf to pick up changes.

~/.continue/config.json

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

Continue uses an array of server objects rather than a map.

~/.config/zed/settings.json

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

Add to context_servers. Zed hot-reloads on save.

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

One-liner. Verify with claude mcp list. Remove with claude mcp remove.

Use Cases

Real-world ways to use after-effects-mcp

Generate template-based lower thirds from a CSV

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

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

Prerequisites

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

Flow

Create the base comp

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

→ 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.✓ Copied

→ 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.✓ Copied

→ Animated lower third

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

Pitfalls

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

Combine with: filesystem

Build an expression-driven data visualization

👤 Motion designers doing infographics ⏱ ~20 min advanced

When to use: You want shapes that animate from a data array without keyframing each.

Flow

Create base shape

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

→ Shape at zero height
Attach expression

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

→ Expression applied, plays correctly

Outcome: 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

When to use: You have one styled logo and need 12 variations positioned around a circle.

Flow

Duplicate N times

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

→ 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.✓ Copied

→ Ring of logos

Outcome: A cleanly arranged group in seconds.

Combinations

Pair with other MCPs for X10 leverage

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.✓ Copied

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.✓ Copied

Tools

What this MCP exposes

Tool	Inputs	When to call	Cost
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

Cost & Limits

What this costs to run

API quota: None — local AE automation
Tokens per call: Tiny command strings in, tiny acks out
Monetary: Requires an Adobe After Effects license; MCP itself is free
Tip: Use batchSetLayerProperties to reduce round-trips on big scenes.

Security

Permissions, secrets, blast radius

Credential storage: None

Data egress: None — local bridge only

Never grant: 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.

Troubleshooting

Common errors and fixes

Commands queue but never execute

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

Verify: 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.

Verify: 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.

Verify: Open AE's expression error overlay

Alternatives

after-effects-mcp vs others

Alternative	When to use it instead	Tradeoff
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

More

Resources

📖 Read the official README on GitHub

🐙 Browse open issues

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