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
} |
| prompts | {
"listChanged": true
} |
| resources | {
"listChanged": true
} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| run-scriptA | Run a read-only script in After Effects |
| get-resultsB | Get results from the last script executed in After Effects |
| get-helpA | Get help on using the After Effects MCP integration |
| create-compositionA | Create a new composition in After Effects with specified parameters |
| setLayerKeyframeC | Set a keyframe for a specific layer property at a given time. |
| setLayerExpressionB | Set or remove an expression for a specific layer property. |
| setKeyframeEaseB | Apply ease (Easy Ease, Snappy, Smooth, or custom speed & influence) to keyframes of a property in After Effects |
| importFootageB | Import footage (image, video, audio, or sequence) from disk into After Effects and optionally add it to a composition |
| setupCameraRigC | Create a professional 3D Camera Rig with a 3D Null orbit controller, zoom, distance, and optional 3D enablement |
| replaceTextInCompB | Find and replace text content across layers in a composition (ideal for customizing AE templates & MoGRTs) |
| replaceFootageB | Replace an existing footage item or placeholder in the project with a new file from disk (essential for template customization) |
| listProjectItemsB | List all items in the project panel including compositions, footage files, solids, and folders with metadata |
| test-animationD | Test animation functionality in After Effects |
| apply-effectC | Apply an effect to a layer in After Effects |
| apply-effect-templateB | Apply a predefined effect template to a layer in After Effects |
| mcp_aftereffects_applyEffectC | Apply an effect to a layer in After Effects |
| mcp_aftereffects_applyEffectTemplateC | Apply a predefined effect template to a layer in After Effects |
| mcp_aftereffects_get_effects_helpB | Get help on using After Effects effects |
| run-bridge-testA | Run the bridge test effects script to verify communication and apply test effects |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| list-compositions | List compositions in the current After Effects project |
| analyze-composition | |
| create-composition | Create a new composition with specified settings |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| compositions |
TDQS
Scored across 19 tools
Several tools have near-duplicate purposes: apply-effect duplicates mcp_aftereffects_applyEffect, apply-effect-template duplicates mcp_aftereffects_applyEffectTemplate, and test-animation/run-bridge-test overlap with diagnostic script execution. The help tools are also somewhat unclear in scope, making tool selection prone to confusion.
The tool set mixes camelCase, kebab-case, and mcp_aftereffects_ prefixed names inconsistently. Similar operations use different conventions, such as apply-effect versus mcp_aftereffects_applyEffect, which hurts predictability.
With 19 tools, the count is borderline heavy for the stated After Effects integration. The duplication of effect tools and diagnostic tools makes the set feel larger than necessary.
The surface covers key animation workflows such as expressions, keyframes, easing, footage import/replace, composition creation, text replacement, effects, and camera rig setup. However, obvious gaps remain around reading/querying layer properties, layer creation/deletion, project item management, and rendering/export.