- name
- after-effects-mcp
- description
- Automates Adobe After Effects using ExtendScript (.jsx) files and aerender CLI. Supports composition creation, effect application, batch rendering, project templates, and Adobe Media Encoder workflows.
After Effects MCP Bridge
This skill enables programmatic control of Adobe After Effects via ExtendScript (.jsx) automation and command-line tools.
🛠️ Core Capabilities
1. ExtendScript Automation
Use scripts/ae_script.jsx to execute After Effects operations:
- Create/modify compositions
- Add layers, effects, keyframes
- Batch render projects
- Manipulate project structure
2. Command-Line Rendering
Use aerender (After Effects command-line renderer) for:
- Headless rendering
- Batch processing
- Queue management
3. Project Template System
Use assets/templates/ for reusable AE project templates.
📋 Usage Patterns
Pattern 1: Create Composition Programmatically
// scripts/create_comp.jsx
var comp = app.project.items.addComp("MyComp", 1920, 1080, 1, 30, 300);
var solid = comp.layers.addSolid([1,0,0], "Red Solid", 1920, 1080, 1);Pattern 2: Batch Render Project
aerender -project ./my_project.aep -output ./output.mov -mpPattern 3: Apply Effect via Script
// scripts/apply_effect.jsx
var layer = app.project.activeItem.selectedLayer(1);
layer.property("ADBE Effect Parade").addProperty("ADBE Gaussian Blur");🔧 Available Scripts
| Script | Purpose |
|---|---|
create_comp.jsx | Create new composition with specified params |
batch_render.jsx | Queue multiple compositions for render |
apply_effect.jsx | Apply effects to selected layers |
export_template.jsx | Save project as template (.aet) |
🚀 Quick Start Workflow
- Check AE Installation: Verify After Effects is installed
which aerender- Load Project: Open existing .aep or create new
app.open(new File("./my_project.aep"));- Execute Script: Run ExtendScript via:
- AE: File → Scripts → Run Script File - Command-line: aerender -script ./myscript.jsx
- Render Output: Use aerender for headless rendering
⚠️ Requirements
- Adobe After Effects installed (CC 2019+)
- ExtendScript Toolkit (optional, for debugging)
- aerender in PATH for command-line rendering
📚 References
- ExtendScript Guide: See
references/extendscript_api.md - Effect Names: See
references/effect_names.md - Render Settings: See
references/render_settings.md
🎯 Monitoring
Be verbose about:
- Composition settings (resolution, duration, framerate)
- Effect choices and parameters
- Render queue status
- Output format decisions