Aseprite Live MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Aseprite Live

before you install - you'll need

Set ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND, ASEPRITE_PATH before connecting.

Claude Code

claude mcp add oaktreegames-aseprite-live-mcp -- uvx aseprite-live-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "oaktreegames-aseprite-live-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "aseprite-live-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

repo age created 2026-07-13 - young repo, little track record yet

license MIT - declared in the repository

pypi package aseprite-live-mcp - check the name against the project README before installing (PyPI has no namespace ownership)

registry namespace io.github.oaktreegames is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Aseprite Live can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can get the active sprite's size, color mode, and layer/frame/tag lists, read one composited pixel (all layers) at (x, y) as rrggbbaa, read the sprite's typed key/value metadata (Properties), and read a composited pixel region as a grid of rrggbbaa strings - the AI feedback loop for 'what does the canvas look like now'.

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Aseprite Live lets an agent do.

Layer

10 tools - e.g. Add a new empty layer (optionally named) at the top of the stack.; Move a layer inside a layer group.; Delete the layer with the given name.

add_layer · move_layer_to_group · delete_layer · rename_layer · set_layer_visibility · set_layer_opacity…

Sprite

9 tools - e.g. Get the active sprite's size, color mode, and layer/frame/tag lists.; Attach typed key/value metadata to the sprite (Aseprite's Properties system - stored in the .aseprite file itself).; Read the sprite's…

get_sprite_info · set_sprite_metadata · get_sprite_metadata · open_sprite · save_sprite · close_sprite…

read & search

4 tools - e.g. Read one composited pixel (all layers) at (x, y) as rrggbbaa.; Read a composited pixel region as a grid of rrggbbaa strings - the AI feedback loop for 'what does the canvas look like now'.; Live editor…

get_pixel · get_pixels · list_sprites · list_layers

Frame

4 tools - e.g. Append a new empty frame.; Delete frame number (1-based).; Set frame number's duration in milliseconds.

add_frame · delete_frame · set_frame_duration · set_frame_durations

Cel

3 tools - e.g. Empty the cel at the given layer + frame (transparent).; Move the cel's top-left origin to (x, y).; Set the cel's opacity (0-255).

clear_cel · set_cel_position · set_cel_opacity

Import

2 tools - e.g. Slice a sheet PNG into animation frames: cells are read row-major at the given frame size onto a new "imported" layer, adding frames as needed.; Import an external image file (PNG, etc.) into a new layer…

import_spritesheet · import_image_as_layer

create & write

2 tools - e.g. Add a layer group.; Append count empty frames in one undo step.

add_group · add_frames

Draw

2 tools - e.g. Set individual pixels: pixels is a list of {"x": int, "y": int, "color": "rrggbb[aa]"}.; Stroke connected line segments through points (ordered [x, y] pairs); close=True joins the last point back to the…

draw_pixels · draw_polyline

Limitations (from the README)

- Headless calls are separate Aseprite processes - editor-session state (selection, view, symmetry) doesn't persist between headless calls. Pixels, layers, frames, palettes, tilemaps, metadata: all persist (they're in the file). - The interactive tools need the live editor - dialogs, point picking, watching, viewport control error cleanly under headless. - Animated .gif export is headless-only. Saving .gif from the l

Latest releases

v0.2.0 · 2026-07-17

The tool surface closes the gaps we found surveying the other Aseprite MCP · servers, the live editor becomes a two-way surface, and the server learns to · tell you when it's out of date. · Added - update awareness…

04 · Who maintains Aseprite Live

Aseprite Live is maintained by oaktreegames. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Jul 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/oaktreegames/aseprite-live-mcp
category: gaming - ranked #25 of 35 actively-maintained gaming servers as of 2026-08-25.
release cadence: 1 release in the last 90 days (latest 2026-07-17)
registry: io.github.oaktreegames/aseprite-live-mcp (active, first published 2026-07-14 · 4 versions)
packages: pypi:aseprite-live-mcp

06 · Aseprite Live FAQ

Is Aseprite Live still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-07-29 and it shipped 1 release in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

What can Aseprite Live do?

With this server connected, an agent can get the active sprite's size, color mode, and layer/frame/tag lists, read one composited pixel (all layers) at (x, y) as rrggbbaa, read the sprite's typed key/value metadata (Properties), and read a composited pixel region as a grid of rrggbbaa strings - the AI feedback loop for 'what does the canvas look like now'.

How do I install Aseprite Live?

Run `uvx aseprite-live-mcp`. The README documents 2 environment variables (ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND, ASEPRITE_PATH) to set first. Set ASEPRITE_MCP_BACKEND, ASEPRITE_PATH before connecting. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Aseprite Live run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via uvx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Aseprite Live

Alternatives to Aseprite Live

Maintained gaming servers if Aseprite Live isn't the fit.

More gaming MCP servers · Mythx Engine · Godot Lens · Steam (read-only) · Godot MCP (satelliteoflove) · Sprite Cook

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