After Effects MCP servers

These connectors let Claude, Codex, Cursor and other AI agents build and edit compositions, layers, keyframes and expressions in a running After Effects. Almost all of them work through an ExtendScript or CEP bridge, so the agent can run scripts inside your project. Work on a copy until you trust the tool.

What is an After Effects MCP server?

It's a small program that lets an AI assistant like Claude, Codex or Cursor control After Effects through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Almost all of them connect through an ExtendScript or CEP bridge running inside After Effects, so the agent can create comps, layers, keyframes and expressions in your open project. Work on a copy until you trust the tool

14 tools · last checked 2026-10-17 · how we check

All 14 After Effects tools

MCP server★ 761

After Effects MCP (Dakkshin)

Lets an AI assistant create compositions, text, shape and solid layers, set keyframes and properties, and apply expressions in a running After Effects project.

After Effectsmedium setupfree

MCP server★ 400

MCP for Adobe Premiere Pro (leancoderkavy)

Local-first Premiere automation through Adobe's documented UXP and CEP/ExtendScript APIs: AI-assisted editing, project organization and export checks; also includes an After Effects MOGRT studio.

Premiere ProAfter Effectsmedium setupfree

MCP server★ 120

mcp-aftereffects (Kumo Productions)

TypeScript MCP server that inspects and edits projects, comps and layers in a running After Effects instance and can trigger renders; changes are grouped so they undo atomically.

After Effectseasy setupfree

MCP server + CEP panel★ 85

ae-mcp (JUNKDOGE-JOE)

A CEP extension that connects a running After Effects to AI. You can chat inside the panel or connect external agents; it runs ExtendScript for general operations and native AEGP tools for exact time/object targeting, with preview and a reusable tool library.

After Effectsmedium setupfree

MCP server + CEP panel★ 60

AE MCP Bridge

Live connection that lets an AI read your project, look at rendered frames, and change keyframes, expressions and effects while AE is open. Every change is one undo step.

After Effectsmedium setupfree

MCP server★ 42

After Effects MCP (HeroicSwan)

Production-minded AE MCP server with a headless startup bridge, high-level tools plus a JSX escape hatch, frame capture as images, and render helpers for building and reviewing motion graphics.

After Effectsmedium setupfree

MCP server + CEP panel★ 40

AE-MCP (70+ tools)

70+ tools covering comps, layers, animation, effects and expressions so an assistant like Claude can drive After Effects end to end.

After Effectsmedium setupfree

MCP server★ 33

After Effects MCP (Engine Room)

Describe an animation (lower third, logo reveal, counter) and it builds editable layers, keyframes, easing, effects, expressions and text in your project.

After Effectseasy setupfree

CLI + MCP server★ 24

aftr

'Puppeteer for After Effects': a Node controller sends JSON commands to a CEP panel that runs them as ExtendScript, plus a spec-driven pipeline that builds clips and self-corrects them by rendering.

After EffectsFFmpegmedium setupfree

Agent skill★ 23

After Effects Codex Agent rules

Codex operating rules and quality references for After Effects work through an MCP runtime. It is guidance for the agent, not a bridge by itself.

After Effectseasy setupfree

MCP server★ 22

After Effects MCP (Enhanced Multilingual)

Create and inspect comps and layers, animate, apply effects and presets, manage masks and cameras, render in the background, and run arbitrary ExtendScript. Adds first-class Arabic/RTL text support.

After Effectsmedium setupfree

MCP server + CEP panel★ 6

after-effects-mcp-vision

Lets an agent build in a live After Effects or Illustrator session, then capture and look at the pixels it made so it can correct itself.

After EffectsIllustratormedium setupfree

MCP server (cloud)★ 6

Plainly Videos MCP (official)

Lets agents browse your Plainly After Effects templates, see required parameters and previews, and render them in Plainly's cloud.

After Effectseasy setuppaid

Commercial app (local MCP)

EditAssist (MCP)

Local toolkit that ingests, transcribes and semantically searches footage, assembles rough cuts, drives your NLE and renders, with Claude Code orchestrating over MCP.

DaVinci ResolvePremiere ProAfter EffectsFinal Cut Proeasy setupunknown

After Effects tools compared

Tool	Type	Setup	Supported versions	Price	License	Stars	Updated
After Effects MCP (Dakkshin)	MCP server	medium	After Effects 2022 or later; Node.js 14+	free	MIT	761	2026-04-01
MCP for Adobe Premiere Pro (leancoderkavy)	MCP server	medium	Premiere Pro 2020-2026 on Windows and macOS	free	MIT	400	2026-10-17
mcp-aftereffects (Kumo Productions)	MCP server	easy	After Effects 2024 / 2025 / 2026 on Windows or macOS; Node.js 24+	free	MIT	120	2026-10-16
ae-mcp (JUNKDOGE-JOE)	MCP server + CEP panel	medium	Release v0.11.0 at time of listing; AE version not stated	free	MIT	85	2026-10-11
AE MCP Bridge	MCP server + CEP panel	medium	After Effects 2022 (22.0)+ on macOS or Windows; Node.js 18+; ffmpeg optional	free	MIT	60	2026-10-05
After Effects MCP (HeroicSwan)	MCP server	medium	After Effects 2022+; Node.js 20+	free	MIT	42	2026-07-20
AE-MCP (70+ tools)	MCP server + CEP panel	medium	After Effects 2024 or later; Node.js 18+; macOS or Windows	free	MIT	40	2026-10-08
After Effects MCP (Engine Room)	MCP server	easy	After Effects 2026 on macOS or Windows; Node 22+ for editor clients	free	MIT	33	2026-10-17
aftr	CLI + MCP server	medium	After Effects 2024 to 2026; Node 18+; ffmpeg on PATH	free	MIT	24	2026-07-13
After Effects Codex Agent rules	Agent skill	easy	unknown	free	unknown	23	2026-09-25
After Effects MCP (Enhanced Multilingual)	MCP server	medium	Windows or macOS; Node.js 18+; AE version not stated	free	MIT	22	2026-10-10
after-effects-mcp-vision	MCP server + CEP panel	medium	After Effects 2022 (22.0)+ or Illustrator 2023 (27.0)+, macOS or Windows	free	MIT	6	2026-10-15
Plainly Videos MCP (official)	MCP server (cloud)	easy	Node.js 18+	paid	unknown	6	2026-09-21
EditAssist (MCP)	Commercial app (local MCP)	easy	unknown	unknown	proprietary	n/a	unknown

Questions

How many After Effects tools does AgentCut list?

14 as of 2026-10-17: 12 free, 1 paid and 1 with unclear pricing

Which After Effects tool is easiest to set up?

mcp-aftereffects (Kumo Productions), After Effects MCP (Engine Room), After Effects Codex Agent rules and Plainly Videos MCP (official) are rated easy setup. Easy means one install command and no panel to load

Which After Effects tool is most popular on GitHub?

After Effects MCP (Dakkshin) with 761 stars, then MCP for Adobe Premiere Pro (leancoderkavy) (400) and mcp-aftereffects (Kumo Productions) (120). Stars were checked on 2026-10-17

Which of these tools can run arbitrary code?

4 of 14 have a safety note about running arbitrary scripts or code: mcp-aftereffects (Kumo Productions), ae-mcp (JUNKDOGE-JOE), After Effects MCP (HeroicSwan) and After Effects MCP (Engine Room). Open a duplicate of your project before letting an agent use them

How often is this list checked?

Each entry shows the date it was last checked against its GitHub repo and README. The latest check on this page was 2026-10-17

Useful alongside these tools

aescripts + aepluginsThe main marketplace for After Effects and Premiere scripts and plugins. Affiliate default 5%, up to 20%.Partner link (affiliate ID pending)EnvatoTemplates, MOGRTs, stock and SFX that agents can drop into AE and Premiere projects.Partner link (affiliate ID pending)

The AgentCut weekly

New AI connectors for After Effects, Premiere, Resolve and CapCut, tested setup notes, and what broke after app updates. One email a week.