🎬 After Effects MCP Server

What is 🎬 After Effects MCP Server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants and other applications to control Adobe After Effects through a standardized protocol. It is designed for developers and users who want to automate After Effects tasks via tool‑calling interfaces.

How to use 🎬 After Effects MCP Server?

Install prerequisites (After Effects 2022+, Node.js 14+), clone the repository, install dependencies, build the project, and run the install‑bridge script to copy the panel to After Effects. Then update your MCP client config (e.g., Claude or Cursor) with the command node and the path to build/index.js, start the server, open the mcp-bridge-auto.jsx panel in After Effects (Window menu), and enable auto‑run.

Key features of 🎬 After Effects MCP Server

• Create compositions with custom size, frame rate, duration, and background color
• Manage layers: text, shape, solid, camera, null objects
• Set keyframes, expressions, and batch‑edit layer properties
• Modify layer masks, blend modes, 2D/3D mode, and track mattes
• List all compositions and retrieve project information
• Run JavaScript scripts directly inside After Effects

Use cases of 🎬 After Effects MCP Server

• Automating composition and layer creation for video production pipelines
• Adding dynamic animations with keyframes or expressions via AI prompts
• Batch‑adjusting layer properties across multiple compositions
• Integrating After Effects into multi‑tool workflows (e.g., with Claude Code or Cursor)
• Rapid prototyping of motion graphics without manual UI interaction

FAQ from 🎬 After Effects MCP Server

What can this MCP server do?

It lets AI assistants create, modify, and animate compositions and layers in Adobe After Effects using predefined MCP tools, without direct user interaction.

What are the system requirements?

Adobe After Effects (2022 or later) and Node.js v14 or later. npm or yarn is needed for installation.

How do I connect an AI assistant to After Effects?

Configure your MCP client (e.g., Claude or Cursor) with the server command node and the path to build/index.js. Then start the server and open the mcp-bridge-auto.jsx panel in After Effects to enable command execution.

Does the server support animation?

Yes. You can add keyframes to layer properties (position, scale, rotation, opacity, etc.) and apply JavaScript expressions for dynamic, procedural animations.

What is the MCP Bridge panel?

A panel script (mcp-bridge-auto.jsx) installed into After Effects that continuously checks for incoming commands from the MCP server and auto‑runs them when the “Auto‑run commands” checkbox is enabled.