After Effects MCP Server
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tools | {
"listChanged": true
} |
| resources | {
"listChanged": true
} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| run-scriptB | Run a script command in After Effects. Use getHelp to see all available commands. |
| getHelpB | Get help on using the After Effects MCP integration |
| createCompositionB | Create a new After Effects composition |
| setLayerKeyframeA | Set a keyframe on a layer property. For multiple keyframes, use setLayerKeyframes instead. |
| setLayerKeyframesA | Set multiple keyframes in a single call. More efficient than repeated setLayerKeyframe calls. |
| setLayerExpressionB | Set an expression on a layer property |
| importFootageC | Import footage into the After Effects project |
| addToRenderQueueB | Add a composition to the render queue |
| setEffectKeyframesA | Set multiple keyframes on effect properties in a single call. More efficient for animating effects. |
| exportCompFrameA | Export a single frame from a composition as PNG for visual verification. Use this after creating or modifying compositions to verify the result looks correct. Then use the Read tool on the returned path to view the image. |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No prompts | |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| compositions | |
| workflow-guide |
TDQS
Scored across 10 tools
Each tool has a distinct purpose: keyframe tools are differentiated by single/multiple and layer/effect scope, and the rest target different operations (composition, import, render, export, help, script execution). No two tools are easily confused.
Most tools follow a camelCase verbNoun pattern (createComposition, setLayerKeyframes, importFootage). The only exception is run-script, which uses lowercase with a hyphen, creating a minor inconsistency.
With 10 tools, the set is well-scoped for After Effects automation—covering composition creation, footage import, animation, rendering, and frame export. Each tool earns its place without redundancy.
The toolset covers core workflows but misses common operations like adding layers, setting static layer properties, or managing project files. The run-script tool can mitigate these gaps, but it is a workaround rather than a dedicated interface.