MCP server
Connect the Sprite AI MCP server to your AI editor (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and more) and generate pixel art sprites without leaving your tools.
Install
Pick your editor and connect in one step.
API key
Run this once in your terminal:
claude mcp add --transport http sprite-ai https://www.sprite-ai.art/api/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer sai_sk_your_key_here"Once it's connected, your AI editor can make sprites and animations for you, right inside your project. It uses your API key and spends tokens from your account. Nothing to download, no setup.
Try it
Just ask your assistant in plain English:
"generate a knight sprite and animate it walking"
It picks the right tools, makes the art, and saves the files into your project.
What you can do
| Tool | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
sprite_generate | Make one sprite from a description. | 1 token (4 for tile/background/ui/effect) |
sprite_import | Add a sprite you already have. | Free |
sprite_generate_animation | Turn a sprite into an animation (walk, run, idle...). | 14-20 tokens |
sprite_restyle | Redraw a sprite in a new style (gold, ice, or your own words), same character. | 4 tokens |
sprite_rotate | Turn one sprite into all 8 facing directions, same character and palette. | 12 tokens |
sprite_normal_map | Normal map for dynamic lighting, from a sprite or animation (per-frame, no flicker). | 1 token / frame |
sprite_remove_background | Cut a flat background off a sprite you imported. Standard is a chroma key, refined is palette matting. | Free / 1 token |
sprite_get_job | Check on a running animation or restyle. | Free |
sprite_list_creations | See your past sprites and animations. | Free |
sprite_get_balance | Check your tokens. | Free |
sprite_list_asset_types | See what you can make. | Free |
How it works
Make or add a sprite once and you get back an id. After that, you work by that id:
- Animate it: pass the id as
source_generation_id. - Restyle it (gold, ice, zombie, or anything you describe): same id, same field.
- Rotate it into 8 facing directions for a top-down or isometric game: same id.
- Normal-map it for dynamic lighting: same id again (animations come back as the same strip, lit-engine ready).
- Remove a flat background from a screenshot or render you imported: same id, and the cutout comes back as a new id.
- Match a new sprite to its style: pass the id as
reference_asset_id.
You never re-send the image. Your assistant handles the ids for you, you just describe what you want.
Want to animate or copy the style of a file on your computer? Your assistant adds it once with sprite_import (free), then uses the id it gets back. The server can't see your disk, so the assistant reads the file and uploads it for you.
Common asks
- "Make a walking goblin." Generates the goblin, then animates it.
- "Animate this sprite I have at ./hero.png." Imports the file, then animates it.
- "Make a sword and shield that match my knight." Generates them using the knight as a style reference.
- "Give me gold and ice versions of my knight." Restyles the same sprite twice, keeping the character.
- "I need my knight facing all 8 directions." Rotates the sprite and saves the 8-frame strip.
- "Make a normal map for my torch sprite so it reacts to light." Generates the map and saves it as
torch_n.png. - "Remove the magenta background from ./render.png." Imports the file, cuts the background, saves the transparent PNG.
Saving files
Every result comes with a download link. Your assistant grabs it and saves the file into your project automatically, you don't have to copy anything by hand.
For the assistant
Want your assistant to read the full guide before it starts? Point it at /api/mcp/docs. For the raw HTTP API, see the API reference.
Last updated September 5, 2026