What It Does
Moving Parents handles parenting tasks and adds expression-driven animation in After Effects. Select layers and parent them to the first selection or a new null. The script then applies expressions for scaling, drifting, or movement, all without setting keyframes. Works with standard layers, cameras, lights, OBJ files, and After Effects 2026’s 3D shapes.
The script creates nulls at the calculated center of selected layers (or comp center) and matches null durations to layer timelines. After parenting, adjust positions by un-parenting, making changes, then re-parenting to restore links.
Key Features
Parenting. Select layers and parent them to the first layer or a new null. Options let you parent only un-parented layers (set to None) and control null placement and duration matching.
Un-Parent/Re-Parent. Select a parent layer and click Un-Parent to break all child links. Make edits, then hit Re-Parent to restore the hierarchy. Options include selecting all children automatically or un-parenting locked layers.
Resize. Scale the parent or null by a percentage. When not parenting, resize selected layers individually, including their keyframes, by the entered value.
Drift. Applies a scaling drift expression to the parent or null in 2D, or a Z-position drift in 3D. Effect Controls sliders adjust start value, drift rate, and reverse direction.
Move. Adds expressions for X, Y, and Z position movement (in 3D). Sliders control move rate, direction, and reverse without keyframe editing. Change speed or direction by adjusting sliders or selecting options from dropdowns.
Slam-In/Fly-Out. Simulates layers slamming in at the start and flying out at the end. Effect Controls adjust start and end size, frame duration, fly-out direction, and curve controls for exponential scaling and easing. Turn either effect off independently.
Multiple options can combine on the same null, and nulls can parent to each other for layered control.
Who It’s For
Useful for animators working with complex layer hierarchies, especially in character rigging or motion graphics builds. The expression-based approach suits projects where you need flexible timing adjustments without re-keying. The script handles cameras and 3D objects, making it practical for 3D compositing setups.
Note that cameras, lights, 3D objects, and shapes can’t accept Effect Controls, so Drift, Move, and Slam-In/Fly-Out expressions require null parents instead.
Pricing
$12.99 for a one-time license. No subscription or upgrade path mentioned for new users.