After Effects MCP Server
An MCP server for Adobe After Effects: build compositions, layers, keyframes and expressions through an agent
- 888 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- Runs scripts inside After Effects on your machine
- Changes your projects and compositions
Install
- Works in
Manual install
git clone https://github.com/Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp.git
cd after-effects-mcp
npm install
npm run build
npm run install-bridgeBuild the project and install the bridge panel into After Effects.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- Runs scripts inside After Effects on your machine
- Changes your projects and compositions
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The server drives Adobe After Effects through ExtendScript and a bridge panel installed into the app. The agent creates compositions with a chosen size, frame rate and duration, adds text, shape, solid layers, cameras and null objects, and edits position, scale, rotation, opacity and blend modes. It can set keyframes, apply expressions and push properties to several layers at once. The bridge panel in After Effects polls a command queue and runs the requests.
Who it is for. For motion designers and editors who want to automate After Effects routines through an agent.
Good fit when
- You need to build a composition and layers from a description
- You need to place keyframes or expressions by rules
- You need to apply the same properties to many layers
Not a fit when
- You do not have After Effects 2022 or newer installed
- You cannot open the bridge panel and enable auto-run of commands
Example request
Create a 1920 by 1080 composition at 30 fps, add a text layer and animate its opacityMCP
- Transport
- stdio
- Authentication
- not required
Limitations
You need After Effects 2022 or newer and Node.js. The server installs from source: clone, npm install, build and install the panel via npm run install-bridge. Commands run only while the mcp-bridge-auto panel is open in After Effects with auto-run enabled.
How to disable. Remove the server entry from your MCP client config and close or remove the bridge panel in After Effects.
FAQ
How does the server talk to After Effects?
Through an ExtendScript bridge panel. It polls a command queue and runs the requests inside the app.
Is there a ready npx package?
The README installs from source: clone, build and run node build/index.js.
How is After Effects MCP Server different from ExtendScript scripts?
The server controls Adobe After Effects through ExtendScript and a bridge panel installed in the app. The agent creates compositions with the right size, frame rate and duration and adds layers, keyframes and expressions. You do not write the scripts.
How do I install After Effects MCP Server?
Clone the repository with git clone https://github.com/Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp.git, install the bridge panel in After Effects and connect the server to the client. It works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After Effects MCP Server (this card) | no | not required | 888 | |
| kubectl-mcp-server | no | not required | 972 | reads cluster state and diagnoses pod failures |
| Unreal Engine MCP Server | no | not required | 1,033 | Unreal Engine assets, actors and blueprints |
| Android MCP | no | not required | 924 | controls an Android device through ADB |
README in short
The README lists layer and animation features: compositions, text, shapes, solids, cameras, null objects, keyframes and expressions. Setup is from source, with npm run install-bridge copying scripts into After Effects. Control works while the mcp-bridge-auto panel is open with auto-run on. A table of available MCP tools is included. MIT licensed.