mcp-aftereffects
An MCP server connects an agent to a running Adobe After Effects: project inspection, layer edits, expressions and frame renders.
- 161 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Broad access
Why this level
- The agent changes compositions, layers and keyframes in an open project.
- Layer names, expressions and file paths reach the AI service.
- Optional ExtendScript reaches beyond After Effects and touches files and processes on the computer.
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add mcp/mcp-aftereffectsDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- The agent changes compositions, layers and keyframes in an open project.
- Layer names, expressions and file paths reach the AI service.
- Optional ExtendScript reaches beyond After Effects and touches files and processes on the computer.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
mcp-aftereffects links an MCP client to a running Adobe After Effects 2024–2026 on Windows or macOS. The agent reads compositions and layers, changes properties, keyframes, effects, masks, text and shapes, sets expressions, saves the project, makes backups and renders frames for preview. The agent does not need to be taught the program's interface: it inspects project state and assembles operations itself. The `AE_MCP_READONLY=1` mode leaves only inspection and rendering. Arbitrary ExtendScript is off by default and enabled with `AE_MCP_ENABLE_EVAL=1`.
Who it is for. Motion designers and editors who revise After Effects projects with text tasks and want to check results frame by frame.
Good fit when
- Notes from a PDF must be applied across dozens of project layers.
- A .aep project came from a colleague, and its errors and missing files need finding.
- Text motion from an Illustrator layout has to be built from scratch.
- Before editing, you want a backup and a rendered frame for comparison.
Not a fit when
- The project is under NDA and data cannot go to an AI service.
- Work happens on Linux, since Windows and macOS are supported.
- A critical project with no backup.
Example request
Take the open After Effects project, list the compositions and find layers with missing files, changing nothing.MCP
- Transport
- stdio
- Authentication
- not required
Environment variables
AE_MCP_READONLY- `1` enables read-only mode
AE_MCP_ENABLE_EVAL- `1` enables arbitrary ExtendScript, off by default
AE_MCP_EXE- Path to After Effects when it is installed outside the standard location
Limitations
Windows or macOS, After Effects 2024–2026 and Node.js 24 or newer are required. Turn on "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network" in After Effects preferences. On macOS grant the client access under Automation on first run. Modal dialogs in After Effects block every script. Several program copies (`AfterFX.exe -m`) need the agent installed with `install-agent`. The author advises starting with a backup or a test project because the agent changes compositions, layers and keyframes.
How to disable. Remove the `aftereffects` entry from the MCP client settings (`claude mcp remove aftereffects`). If you ran `install-agent`, its startup script sits in the After Effects Scripts/Startup folder and is deleted by hand.
FAQ
Do I need a plugin inside After Effects?
No, when one copy of the program is open. Several copies need the startup script from the `install-agent` command.
How do I inspect a project without changes?
Add `AE_MCP_READONLY=1` to the server environment. Inspection and frame rendering stay, and edits are disabled.
Can it run arbitrary scripts?
Yes, with `AE_MCP_ENABLE_EVAL=1`, but the feature is off by default. The README warns that it can affect files and processes on the whole computer.
What if After Effects is installed in a non-standard place?
Set the executable path with the `AE_MCP_EXE` variable.
What from the project reaches the AI service?
Composition and layer names, expressions, keyframes and file paths enter the model context. For NDA projects, check the service's data retention policy first.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
Official releases are published only through npm and GitHub Releases. Internal details live in the developer documentation.