Figma to After Effects with MotionUI: where to start
Workflow essentials
2 min read
What you’ll learn
Import directly from Figma or use a connected coding agent.
Use Claude Code or Codex, not ordinary chat sessions.
Start with one frame and inspect the result before animating.
MotionUI connects a Figma design to an editable After Effects scene. Start with the desktop app on macOS or Windows, then choose direct import, manual animation tools or a connected coding agent.
Import a design without an AI agent
Run MotionUI in the Figma file you want to use, open the After Effects panel and select the frame or layers to import. Send selection uses the open composition; New comp creates a separate composition. Start with one small frame and compare the result before importing a full product interface.
Follow how to import Figma designs into After Effects for the complete sequence.
Keep the right parts editable
Use supported editable text, shapes and paths for elements that need their own animation. Rasterize artwork that can move as one image. Check fonts, dimensions and layer organisation before you begin animating.
The editable or rasterized import guide explains the trade-off.
Choose Claude Code or Codex
Connect the agent you want to use under AI → Connect AI in MotionUI. These workflows use Claude Code or Codex with MotionUI tools. Ordinary Claude and ChatGPT chat sessions do not provide this connection.
Inspect, plan and animate
Ask the connected agent to inspect your active composition before making changes. Confirm the layer names, describe the intended movement and set clear limits. Review the proposal, approve it in the agent conversation and preview the result in After Effects.
For a complete example, follow how to animate a SaaS dashboard. The knowledge base provides the shorter setup and troubleshooting references.
Connect Figma, After Effects and Claude. Made by HIVER.