From Figma to an animated product demo with Claude Code or Codex

Turn a Figma dashboard into an After Effects motion study with Claude Code or Codex and MotionUI.

Supported AI clients: use Claude Code or Codex with the MotionUI tools connected. The ordinary ChatGPT and Claude chat interfaces do not provide this MotionUI workflow. Claude Code can appear inside the Claude desktop app; choose its Code environment, not a normal chat.

• You will: Refine a screen, import its layers, animate and review.

• Prerequisites: macOS or Windows, MotionUI, Figma desktop, After Effects, configured Claude Code or Codex access

How do you take a Figma screen through to animation?

Start in the MotionUI app, then verify agent access separately for Figma and After Effects. MotionUI is a desktop app for macOS and Windows by HIVER; access plugin setup from the app.

Step 1: Link the target Figma file

Open MotionUI on your computer and access its plugin setup. Open your target file in Figma desktop, run the MotionUI plugin, and check that the file appears under Linked files in the MotionUI app.

In your configured Claude Code or Codex session, ask your connected agent to inspect the linked file and identify the dashboard frame before making changes. Continue when the agent identifies the intended screen.

Connection checkpoint: An active After Effects connection does not establish agent access to Figma. Verify the linked Figma file separately, with its plugin running.

Use the Claude Code or Codex in Figma help page for the file workflow.

Step 2: Create a focused dashboard variation

Give your connected agent a design task with a named screen, a visible outcome and explicit boundaries. For this example, improve the dashboard card hierarchy while preserving the original screen.

The prompts in this guide are suggested starting points. Adapt them to the actual frame and layer names.

Inspect the selected dashboard frame. Create a separate variation with a clearer card hierarchy, keep the existing branding and leave the original frame unchanged.

Expected result: A separate variation you can compare with the original. Check the hierarchy in Figma before asking for further changes; keep each follow-up focused on a specific design decision.

Step 3: Review the screen and prepare the handoff

Inspect the variation in Figma before importing it. Confirm that the primary action is identifiable, the card order supports the intended reveal, and the text and branding are correct.

Select only the approved frames or layers. Keep the MotionUI plugin open in that file throughout the handoff.

A suggested handoff prompt:

Describe the approved dashboard variation for animation. Identify the cards in reveal order and the primary action. Keep the layout unchanged and summarize what needs checking after import.

Review gate: You should have an approved screen and a clear animation brief. Treat this description as handoff context; use MotionUI to transfer the actual selection.

Step 4: Send the selection to After Effects

Keep MotionUI running and open the MotionUI panel in After Effects. Choose the destination before sending:

• Open an existing composition to add the selection there.

• Without an open composition, MotionUI creates a composition from the frame.

• Use New comp in the Figma plugin to force a separate composition.

Click Send selection in the Figma plugin. You can also trigger it from the Figma tab of the After Effects panel. Check Recent imports in the MotionUI app while the selection is read and built.

This import works directly through MotionUI without an AI agent. See sending a Figma selection to After Effects for the import workflow.

Step 5: Inspect the imported layers with Claude Code or Codex

Open the destination composition, keep the MotionUI panel open, and confirm that the MotionUI app shows an active After Effects connection. Ask your connected agent to inspect the composition and describe its current layers before animating.

Supported text, shapes and vector paths import as editable layers. Artwork needing an image representation can import as an asset. Inspect the elements you intend to animate individually.

Review gate: Compare the composition with the approved Figma screen. Confirm the intended cards and primary action are present, then base the animation request on the actual After Effects layers.

Step 6: Apply the dashboard animation brief

Save the project before larger scene changes. Give your connected agent this suggested starting point:

Inspect this dashboard comp. Reveal the cards from left to right, move the cursor to the primary action and add a subtle hover response. Keep the existing layout and explain the proposed timing before applying it.

Review the proposed timing before proceeding. Once connected, your connected agent can inspect compositions, create layers, set keyframes and use MotionUI animation tools. Follow the Claude Code or Codex in After Effects workflow for scene preparation.

Expected result: A motion study to review in After Effects against the approved layout and animation brief.

Step 7: Revise one motion decision at a time

Review playback at the intended frame rate. Check whether the card reveal reads clearly and whether the hover response directs attention to the primary action.

Request timing, easing, distance or sequencing changes separately. For example, ask your connected agent to reduce the hover movement while preserving the card reveal. Review playback again after each change. You can also edit layers and keyframes yourself.

What should you check when troubleshooting?

• Your connected agent cannot see Figma: Check Linked files and keep the plugin open in the correct file before repeating the prompt.

• The import appears in an unexpected scene: Check which composition was open when sending. Use New comp for a separate destination.

• An element imports as artwork: Inspect whether it uses an image representation before planning individual edits.

• Your connected agent cannot inspect After Effects: Open the target composition, keep the panel open and verify the active connection in the MotionUI app.

Need to set up the app first? Follow the MotionUI setup guide for Mac and Windows.