Best for
- Users who want to integrate AI into their video editing workflow
- Creators who want to automate After Effects operations without deep programming
- Users of MCP-compatible clients like Claude Desktop
A
After Effects MCP Server
Community
MCP server for Adobe After Effects enabling remote control via the Model Context Protocol.
GitHub source repository ↗
48FMRS · D
This server provides a comprehensive set of After Effects control tools, suitable for experienced users to integrate AI into video editing. It requires After Effects 2022+ and local setup, which may be a barrier for beginners.
This MCP server allows AI assistants and other applications to control Adobe After Effects through a standardized protocol. It supports creating compositions, managing layers, setting keyframes and expressions, applying masks, and more. The server uses ExtendScript to interact with After Effects and requires a companion bridge panel.
Tools
create-composition
Create a new composition in After Effects with custom settings such as name, dimensions, frame rate, duration, and background color.
run-script
Run a JavaScript script inside After Effects.
get-results
Get results of script execution.
get-help
Get help for available commands.
setLayerKeyframe
Add a keyframe to a layer property.
setLayerExpression
Add or remove expressions from layer properties.
setLayerProperties
Set layer properties such as position, scale, rotation, opacity, blend mode, 3D status, etc.
batchSetLayerProperties
Apply properties to multiple layers at once.
getLayerInfo
Get layer info (e.g., position, 3D status).
createCamera
Create a camera layer.
createNullObject
Create a null object for animation control.
duplicateLayer
Duplicate a layer.
deleteLayer
Delete a layer from the composition.
setLayerMask
Create or modify layer masks.
Setup
- Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp.git && cd after-effects-mcp
- Install dependencies: npm install
- Build the project: npm run build
- Install the After Effects panel: npm run install-bridge
- Configure your MCP client (e.g., Claude Desktop or Cursor) with the server command and arguments.
- Start the server: npm start
- Open After Effects, go to Window > mcp-bridge-auto.jsx to open the bridge panel, and ensure the 'Auto-run commands' checkbox is enabled.
claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"AfterEffectsMCP": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"PATH/TO/after-effects-mcp/build/index.js"
]
}
}
}
Fit and risk
Not for
- Users without After Effects 2022 or later
- Not suitable for those who want to run in the cloud or without local After Effects
- Not for users needing real-time video preview or complex timeline operations
Required permissions
- Requires access to the local file system to read configuration files
- Requires communication with After Effects to execute commands
Risks and side effects
- Requires running After Effects and Node.js locally, which may consume significant system resources
- Commands may fail if the bridge panel is not open in After Effects
- Executing scripts within After Effects carries security risks; avoid untrusted scripts
Troubleshooting
- 1. Ensure After Effects 2022 or later is installed and running.
- 2. Verify Node.js version is v14 or higher.
- 3. Ensure you have run 'npm run install-bridge' to install the panel.
- 4. Check that the server path in your MCP client configuration is correct.
- 5. Open the bridge panel in After Effects (Window > mcp-bridge-auto.jsx) and ensure 'Auto-run commands' is enabled.
- 6. Check server logs for error messages.
Use cases
Let an AI assistant create and modify After Effects compositions through natural language commands
Automate repetitive animation tasks like setting keyframes and expressions
Integrate AI-assisted features into video editing workflows
Supported clients
Claude DesktopFull support
CursorFull support