Aseprite Live — Claude Code MCP server: features and setup
This MCP server lets an AI agent edit a running Aseprite session or process files headlessly. Use it for sprites, tilemaps, art checks, and Unity export.
claude mcp add --env ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND=<ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND> --env ASEPRITE_PATH=<ASEPRITE_PATH> --env ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL=<ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL> --env ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=<ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK> --transport stdio aseprite-live -- uvx aseprite-live-mcpWhat Aseprite Live does
Aseprite Live connects an AI agent to an open Aseprite editor, including documents that have not been saved yet. Edits are kept as separate undo steps, and the server can work with in-editor dialogs. Its headless mode processes .aseprite files on disk through aseprite --batch, so no editor window is needed.
The toolset covers drawing operations, isometric shapes, tilemaps, animation work, and art QA. It can export a sprite sheet for Unity with a generated .meta, apply per-slice pivots, and compare animation frames. The server also reports when its own version is out of date.
Python 3.10+ and Aseprite 1.3+ are required. Live editing needs a running Aseprite instance; headless processing does not.
What it helps with
- draw a sprite and export it as PNG
- assemble a tilemap from a tileset
- compare animation frames for visual changes
- export a sliced sprite sheet with Unity metadata
- build isometric game-art primitives
Example prompts for the agent
- Create a
.asepritefile, draw a gold coin, and save it ascoin.png. - Lay out a tilemap from this tileset, then check the row placement.
- Prepare this sprite sheet for Unity, slice it, and assign a pivot to each slice.
How to install Aseprite Live
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND=<ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND> --env ASEPRITE_PATH=<ASEPRITE_PATH> --env ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL=<ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL> --env ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=<ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK> --transport stdio aseprite-live -- uvx aseprite-live-mcpReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from aseprite-live-mcp <command>
Platform CLI
codex mcp add aseprite-live --env ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND=<ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND> --env ASEPRITE_PATH=<ASEPRITE_PATH> --env ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL=<ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL> --env ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=<ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK> -- uvx aseprite-live-mcpReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from aseprite-live-mcp <command>
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"aseprite-live": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"aseprite-live-mcp"
],
"env": {
"ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND": "<ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND>",
"ASEPRITE_PATH": "<ASEPRITE_PATH>",
"ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL": "<ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL>",
"ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK": "<ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from aseprite-live-mcp <command>
Config file
{
"servers": {
"aseprite-live": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"aseprite-live-mcp"
],
"env": {
"ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND": "<ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND>",
"ASEPRITE_PATH": "<ASEPRITE_PATH>",
"ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL": "<ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL>",
"ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK": "<ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from aseprite-live-mcp <command>
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND=<ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND> -e ASEPRITE_PATH=<ASEPRITE_PATH> -e ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL=<ASEPRITE_RELAY_URL> -e ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=<ASEPRITE_MCP_NO_UPDATE_CHECK> aseprite-live uvx aseprite-live-mcpReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from aseprite-live-mcp <command>
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Aseprite Live
How do I install Aseprite Live in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add aseprite-live-mcp -- uvx aseprite-live-mcp.
What does Aseprite Live do?
It lets an agent operate a live Aseprite editor or process .aseprite files without the editor open. Its tools cover drawing, tilemaps, animation checks, and Unity sprite export.
What does Aseprite Live require?
You need Python 3.10+ and Aseprite 1.3+. Live editing also requires Aseprite to be running.
