create-compositionLABSCO SUMMARY
The panel has to be open — that is the whole integration, and it is also the safety catch.
Commands only execute while the mcp-bridge-auto panel is running with auto-run enabled, so nothing touches your project when you are not expecting it. Within that, the coverage is unusually deep for a motion tool: keyframes, expressions and track mattes are all reachable, not just layer creation.
What it is
An MCP server paired with an After Effects panel script. The server queues commands; the panel picks them up inside AE and runs them.
What you get
- create-composition — a new comp with size, frame rate, duration and background colour
- setLayerProperties — position, scale, rotation, opacity, blend mode, 3D toggle, track matte type and timing on a layer
- batchSetLayerProperties — the same across several layers at once
- setLayerKeyframe and setLayerExpression — keyframes on a property, and expressions added or removed
- createCamera, createNullObject, duplicateLayer, deleteLayer and setLayerMask
- getLayerInfo for reading a layer's position and 3D status back
- run-script and get-results for arbitrary JS inside AE, and get-help for the command list
- Text, shape, solid and adjustment layer creation, with fills, strokes and fonts
Requirements
Adobe After Effects 2022 or later and Node.js v14 or later. Build the project, run npm run install-bridge to copy the panel into your AE installation, then open Window > mcp-bridge-auto.jsx in After Effects and leave Auto-run commands checked. Point the client at build/index.js.
Setup effort
Build from source — git clone https://github.com/Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp.git
USE CASES
01
Starting a comp to spec
Create the composition with the exact dimensions, frame rate and duration you were about to type in.
02
Animating a property over time
Set keyframes on position, scale, rotation or opacity at the times you name.
03
Applying the same change to many layers
Batch a property change across layers instead of selecting and editing each one.
04
Driving one property from another
Add an expression to a layer property, and remove it again when the look is wrong.
14 tools
Listed in project docs. Your client may show a different list.
run-scriptget-resultsget-helpsetLayerKeyframesetLayerExpressionsetLayerPropertiesbatchSetLayerPropertiesgetLayerInfocreateCameracreateNullObjectduplicateLayerdeleteLayersetLayerMaskBEFORE YOU INSTALL
What to know first
Tools you get
14 tools named in the project's documentation.
Requires
- node on PATH
- Node.js
Where it runs
Both documented clients run the server on your machine.
INSTALLATION
Connect your client
Server setup
TERMINAL
git clone https://github.com/Dakkshin/after-effects-mcp.git
cd after-effects-mcp
npm install
npm run buildCopy the panel script into your After Effects installation:
TERMINAL
npm run install-bridgeIn After Effects, open Window > mcp-bridge-auto.jsx and keep "Auto-run commands" checked
MCP Clients
Claude Code
CLAUDE CODE · JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"AfterEffectsMCP": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"<YOUR_PATH_TO_AFTER_EFFECTS_MCP>/build/index.js"
]
}
}
}Cursor
CURSOR · JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"AfterEffectsMCP": {
"command": "node",
"args": [
"<YOUR_PATH_TO_AFTER_EFFECTS_MCP>/build/index.js"
]
}
}
}<YOUR_PATH_TO_AFTER_EFFECTS_MCP> is the absolute path of the folder git clone created.
