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 |

Requirements

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

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

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"]
    }
  }
}

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

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

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.

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

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 |

Effect Templates

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

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

Troubleshooting

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

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

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.)

Contributing

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

License

MIT