AE-MCP

After Effects Model Context Protocol Server

Automate Adobe After Effects with AI through 70+ MCP tools

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Overview

AE-MCP is a comprehensive MCP server that enables AI assistants like Claude to directly control Adobe After Effects. It provides 70+ tools covering the full motion graphics workflow — from creating compositions to applying professional effects and expressions.

Key Features

Feature	Description
70+ Tools	Complete After Effects automation
Animation Presets	Spring physics, bounce, elastic, slide, fade
Expression Library	20+ pre-built expressions (wiggle, loop, physics)
Effect Templates	One-click professional looks (cinematic, VHS, neon)
Motion Graphics	Lower thirds, title cards, transitions, logo reveals
Reliable Architecture	File-based communication for stability

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Requirements

• Adobe After Effects 2024 or later
• Node.js 18+
• macOS or Windows

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Installation

Step 1: Install the MCP Server

git clone https://github.com/anthropics/ae-mcp.git
cd ae-mcp
npm install
npm run build

Step 2: Install the CEP Extension

macOS:

./scripts/install-cep.sh

Windows:

scripts\install-cep.bat

Step 3: Configure Your AI Assistant

Claude Desktop

Add to your config file:

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ae-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/ae-mcp/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code (CLI)

Add to your MCP settings (~/.claude/settings.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ae-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/ae-mcp/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Bonus: This repo includes a Claude Code Skill for enhanced After Effects automation. Copy the skill files to your Claude Code skills directory:

cp -r SKILL/* ~/.claude/skills/

The Claude Code skill provides specialized knowledge about After Effects workflows, property formats, and best practices. See SKILL/SKILL.md for details.

Step 4: Launch After Effects

1. Start After Effects 2024+
2. Open Window > Extensions > AE-MCP
3. The panel will auto-start and begin listening for commands

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Tool Categories

Project & Composition

create_project · open_project · save_project · close_project · get_project_info · import_footage · create_composition · modify_composition · duplicate_composition · delete_composition · list_compositions · get_composition_info

Layer Creation

add_solid_layer · add_text_layer · add_text_layer_advanced · add_shape_layer · add_null_layer · add_adjustment_layer · add_camera_layer · add_light_layer · add_av_layer · precompose_layers · modify_layer · delete_layer

Animation & Keyframing

set_keyframe · set_keyframe_advanced · apply_easy_ease · set_temporal_ease · offset_keyframes · scale_keyframe_timing · reverse_keyframes · copy_keyframes · get_keyframes

Expressions

set_expression · get_expression · remove_expression · enable_expression · add_expression_control · apply_expression_template · link_properties

Effects

apply_effect · apply_effect_template · modify_effect_properties · remove_effect · reorder_effects · copy_effects · list_effects

Motion Graphics Templates

Tool	Styles
create_lower_third	modern, corporate, news, minimal, social
create_title_card	cinematic, documentary, social, minimal
create_transition	wipe, dissolve, push, slide, zoom
create_logo_reveal	fade, scale, slide, spin, glitch, particle
create_text_animator	typewriter, fadeIn, scaleIn, slideIn, randomize, wave

Asset Management

import_folder · replace_footage · organize_project_items · find_missing_footage · collect_files · reduce_project

Markers & Timeline

add_composition_marker · add_layer_marker · get_markers · delete_marker · set_work_area

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Quick Examples

Create an animated intro

Create a 1920x1080 composition called "Intro" at 30fps, 5 seconds.
Add a text layer saying "Welcome" centered on screen.
Apply a slideInUp animation with easy ease.
Add a subtle glow effect.

Build a lower third

Create a modern lower third:
- Name: "Sarah Chen"
- Title: "Lead Designer"
- Blue primary color
- Animate in and out
- 5 second duration

Add physics-based motion

Add a bounce expression to the position of "Logo" layer.
Set amplitude to 0.15, frequency to 4, decay to 6.

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Animation Presets

Spring Physics (Remotion-inspired)

Preset	Description
gentle	Subtle, smooth animations
default	Balanced spring motion
wobbly	Playful, bouncy animations
stiff	Quick, responsive animations
slow	Heavy, deliberate motion
bouncy	High energy bounces
snappy	Instant, responsive feel

Motion Presets

Fade: fadeIn · fadeOut Slide: slideInLeft · slideInRight · slideInUp · slideInDown · slideOutLeft · slideOutRight · slideOutUp · slideOutDown Scale: scaleIn · scaleOut · scaleInBounce Physics: bounce · elastic · overshoot Rotate: spinIn · spinOut

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Expression Templates

Category	Templates
Wiggle	wiggle · wiggleSmooth · wiggleFadeIn · wiggleFadeOut
Loop	loopCycle · loopPingpong · loopOffset · loopContinue
Physics	bounce · inertia · springy · overshoot
Linking	matchPosition · offsetPosition · followWithDelay · inverseRotation
Time	time · clock · countdown · frameNumber

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Effect Templates

Category	Effects
Blur	gaussianBlur · directionalBlur · glassBlur
Color	curves · colorBalance · brightnessContrast · vibrance
Stylistic	glow · dropShadow · vignette
Creative	cinematicLook · vhsRetro · neonGlow · filmGrain · chromaticAberration · duotone

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Architecture

ae-mcp/
├── src/                          # TypeScript source
│   ├── index.ts                  # Entry point
│   ├── stdio-server.ts           # MCP server (70+ tools)
│   ├── ae-integration/
│   │   ├── file-communicator.ts  # File-based IPC
│   │   └── generators/           # ES3 script generators
│   └── presets/                  # Animation, expression, effect presets
├── cep-extension/                # After Effects extension
│   ├── CSXS/manifest.xml
│   ├── jsx/host.jsx              # ExtendScript host
│   └── js/main.js                # Panel JavaScript
├── SKILL/                        # Claude Code skill
│   ├── SKILL.md                  # Skill definition
│   └── examples.md               # Animation examples
└── scripts/                      # Installation scripts

Communication Flow

AI Assistant (Claude)
        ↓
   MCP Server (Node.js)
        ↓ Write JSON command
   ~/Documents/ae-mcp-commands/
        ↓ Poll every 100ms
   CEP Extension
        ↓ Execute script
   After Effects DOM
        ↓ Write response
   *.json.response

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Troubleshooting

Extension not appearing in After Effects

1. Verify debug mode is enabled (the install script does this automatically)
2. Restart After Effects completely
3. Check extension location:
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/ae-mcp
   • Windows: %APPDATA%\Adobe\CEP\extensions\ae-mcp

Commands timing out

1. Ensure the AE-MCP panel is visible in After Effects
2. Check ~/Documents/ae-mcp-commands/ for command files
3. Look at the panel's log for errors

Script errors

1. Open the ExtendScript Toolkit or console in After Effects
2. Verify composition/layer references exist
3. Check for ES3 compatibility issues (no arrow functions, template literals, etc.)

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please read our contributing guidelines before submitting PRs.

License

MIT

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_{Built for motion designers who want to work faster with AI}