Your first editable animation

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Run Chorono on your computer, connect your AI agent, and keep every layer and keyframe available for editing.

Chorono setup workflow: install the editor, connect MCP, then create and save an animation.

1. Install the editor

You need Node.js 20 or later, npm, Git and a modern browser. Open Terminal on macOS/Linux or PowerShell on Windows. Install your chosen agent client separately.

git clone https://github.com/codie1982/chorono-editor.git
cd chorono-editor
npm ci
npm run cli:build
npm run chorono -- setup

Setup builds missing editor outputs, prepares the MCP connection and installs the Chorono skills. Use setup --agent codex or setup --agent claude-code to select one client. The default also configures Claude Desktop for MCP; its skill import method differs.

2. Start and connect

npm run chorono -- start --background --open

Open the printed URL and choose MCP → Connect this editor. Reload your agent client’s MCP connections or start a new session after setup changes its configuration. Reconnect the editor after refreshing the browser tab.

npm run chorono -- doctor

If setup selected one client, use the same selector with doctor, for example doctor --agent codex. Doctor checks the server and connected editor count. It reports what still needs attention and exits with code 1 until ready.

3. Ask your agent to animate

Use Chorono to create a 1920 × 1080 scene with a title and three shapes. Add separate intro, idle and outro animations. Inspect preview images, validate the scene and save the portable editable project. Report the saved path.

The agent edits the connected scene through MCP tools. You can continue adjusting layers, timing, keyframes and effects in the editor. The agent skills guide explains how the setup and authoring instructions work together.

Keep and reopen your work

Portable projects are saved under the selected animation project’s projects/ directory. Use --project PATH on setup, start and doctor to keep animation work separate from the editor checkout. Installing skills alone does not start or connect an editor.

Stop the running Next server before rebuilding or reinstalling dependencies. The CLI’s stop command manages only its matching background server.

npm run chorono -- stop
npm run chorono -- setup --rebuild
npm run chorono -- start --background --open

See installation details and connection troubleshooting. The external agent’s local MCP workflow needs no provider API key in the editor.