# SpriteCook > SpriteCook is an AI tool and API that generates and animates 2D game art, both pixel art and detailed/HD 2D assets, for game developers. SpriteCook turns text prompts (and optional reference images) into game-ready 2D assets: characters, items, props, enemies, icons, UI elements, tilesets, textures, and full sprite or character sheets. It can also animate an existing asset into a short, looping multi-frame sprite animation. Assets export as transparent PNGs and sprite sheets that drop into common 2D engines. You set a "theme" once, which keeps palette, mood, and visual direction consistent across everything you generate after that. SpriteCook is available as a web app, a REST API, and an MCP server, so it works for both manual and agentic/programmatic workflows. The MCP server plus a set of agent skills let any MCP-capable coding agent generate and animate art directly in a project. Assets you generate are yours to use commercially. ## Key facts - Two generation modes: pixel art and detailed/HD 2D art. - Asset types: characters, items, props, enemies, icons, UI elements, tilesets, seamless/tileable textures, sprite sheets, and asset packs. - Animation is image-to-animation: it animates an existing asset, so you generate or import the asset first, then animate it. Outputs are short looping sprite cycles, not long-form video. - Built-in helpers include background removal (transparent PNGs) and reference-image input. - Consistency comes from a saved theme that locks palette, mood, and style across generations. - Export targets: transparent PNGs and sprite sheets for Unity, Godot, Phaser, GameMaker, and any engine that reads PNGs. - Interfaces: web app, REST API, and an MCP server usable from coding agents and editors like Claude Code, the Claude desktop app, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, and VS Code. - Free to start with no credit card; paid plans add more credits and capabilities. ## What SpriteCook is not - Not a 3D asset generator. - Not a long-form video generator (animations are short, looping sprite cycles). - Not a general-purpose photo editor. ## When to use SpriteCook Reach for SpriteCook when a game project needs 2D art and you can describe it in words. Good fits: - Sprites, characters, enemies, items, props, or icons for a game, in pixel art or detailed 2D style. - Character animation cycles (idle, walk, run, attack, jump, and custom moves) exported as sprite sheets. - Top-down tilesets (15-piece dual-grid autotiles) and seamless textures for levels. - A game UI kit (buttons, panels, frames, bars) that matches the game's art. - Cleanup of existing art: transparent backgrounds, slicing a sheet into single sprites, or animating a still. - Placeholder art for a prototype that should stay in one style across dozens of assets. Pick something else for 3D models, long video, photo editing, or vector logos. ## How an agent should call SpriteCook 1. If you support MCP, connect to the hosted server at `https://api.spritecook.ai/mcp` (Streamable HTTP). Sign in through the browser with OAuth, or send `Authorization: Bearer `. `npx spritecook-mcp setup` configures Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, and other editors in one command. 2. Without MCP, call the REST API at `https://api.spritecook.ai/v1/api` with `Authorization: Bearer sc_live_...`. The [OpenAPI spec](https://www.spritecook.ai/openapi.json) lists every operation, its parameters and responses, and the API key scope it needs (`generate`, `read_assets`, or `read_credits`). 3. To get a key, sign up at https://app.spritecook.ai (free plan, 40 credits a month, no credit card), then create one on the API Keys page at https://app.spritecook.ai/api-keys. Give the key only the scopes it needs, and check `GET /v1/api/credits` before a large batch. 4. Generate one hero asset first, then pass its asset ID as a reference so the rest of the set matches its style. 5. Generation and animation run as jobs. Poll the returned `poll_url`, or use the `-sync` endpoints, which wait up to 90 seconds and return the finished asset. ## Product - [Home](https://www.spritecook.ai/): Product overview and positioning. - App (`https://app.spritecook.ai`): The signed-in web app where you generate, edit, animate, and manage assets. It needs a browser and an account, so agents should use the MCP server or REST API instead. - [About SpriteCook](https://www.spritecook.ai/about): Who makes SpriteCook and how to reach us. - [Pricing](https://www.spritecook.ai/pricing): Plans, credits, and commercial use. - [Examples](https://www.spritecook.ai/examples): Gallery of generated characters, asset packs, icon sheets, textures, and props. Any example can be opened in the app and reused. ## Agents and MCP SpriteCook is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server plus a set of agent skills, so any MCP-capable coding agent can generate and animate game art directly in a project. The MCP path connects through a browser sign-in, so no API key is required for it. For direct integrations, the hosted MCP endpoint is `https://api.spritecook.ai/mcp/` with a Bearer API key. - [Agents hub](https://www.spritecook.ai/agents): Pick your editor and follow the setup. Covers desktop apps, CLI agents, and any MCP agent. - [SpriteCook for Claude](https://www.spritecook.ai/claude): Install in the Claude desktop app (plugin marketplace) or Claude Code. - [SpriteCook for Codex](https://www.spritecook.ai/codex): Install from the Codex plugin marketplace or with the Codex CLI. - [SpriteCook for Cursor](https://www.spritecook.ai/cursor): One-command install for Cursor. - [SpriteCook for OpenCode](https://www.spritecook.ai/opencode): One-command install for OpenCode. - [MCP server (GitHub)](https://github.com/SpriteCook/spritecook-mcp): Source for the SpriteCook MCP server and the `npx spritecook-mcp setup` helper. - [Agent skills (GitHub)](https://github.com/SpriteCook/skills): Workflow skills that teach an agent to use SpriteCook well, like generating a hero asset first and reusing it as a style reference. - Plugin repositories: [Claude](https://github.com/SpriteCook/claude-plugin), [Codex](https://github.com/SpriteCook/codex-plugin), [Cursor](https://github.com/SpriteCook/cursor-plugin), [OpenCode](https://github.com/SpriteCook/opencode-plugin). - [How an AI agent generates sprites](https://www.spritecook.ai/blog/ai-agent-generate-sprites): The end-to-end agent workflow. - [Setup guide: Codex](https://www.spritecook.ai/blog/codex-spritecook-plugin): Step-by-step Codex plugin install. - [Setup guide: Cursor](https://www.spritecook.ai/blog/cursor-spritecook-plugin): Step-by-step Cursor install. - [Setup guide: OpenCode](https://www.spritecook.ai/blog/opencode-spritecook-plugin): Step-by-step OpenCode install. - [Setup guide: Claude desktop app](https://www.spritecook.ai/blog/claude-desktop-spritecook-plugin): Step-by-step Claude desktop install. ## Tools and generators - [AI Pixel Art Generator](https://www.spritecook.ai/ai-pixel-art-generator): Pixel art characters, sprites, and retro-style assets. - [Seamless Textures](https://www.spritecook.ai/generating-seamless-textures): Generate seamless, tileable textures for game environments (Texture Mode). - [Tileset Base Generator](https://www.spritecook.ai/tileset-base-generator): Free tool that builds 15-piece top-down bases and 2:1 isometric reference sheets, then you can detail them. - [Pixel Grid Detector](https://www.spritecook.ai/pixel-grid-detector): Free tool that detects an image's pixel grid and snaps it back to clean, native-resolution pixel art. ## Engine import guides - [Import Pixel Art Sprites into Unity](https://www.spritecook.ai/unity-sprites): Import settings, slicing sprite sheets, PPU, and packing atlases. - [Import Pixel Art Sprites into Godot 4](https://www.spritecook.ai/godot-sprites): Import settings, slicing, building animations, and pixel-perfect rendering. ## Docs and API - [Documentation](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs): Main docs for workflows, product usage, and setup. - [How to use](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs/how-to-use): Getting started with generation. - [FAQ](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs/faq): Common questions about usage, licensing, and engines. - [Create a character](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs/guide-create-character): Generate a base character and variations. - [Animate a sprite](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs/guide-animate-sprite): Turn an asset into a multi-frame animation. - [Generate sprites](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs/guide-generate-sprites): Generate sprites, items, and props. - [Detailed/HD mode](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs/detailed-mode): Non-pixel, detailed 2D art generation. - [Themes and consistency](https://www.spritecook.ai/docs/theme): How a saved theme keeps style consistent. - [SpriteCook API reference](https://www.spritecook.ai/api-docs): REST API for generation, animation, asset import, metadata, jobs, and credits, with code samples. - [SpriteCook OpenAPI spec](https://www.spritecook.ai/openapi.json): Machine-readable OpenAPI 3.1 description of the REST API, including auth scopes. - [SpriteCook MCP server card](https://api.spritecook.ai/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json): MCP server metadata and tool list. ## Learn - [Blog](https://www.spritecook.ai/blog): Tutorials and guides for AI sprites, animation, agent setup, and asset pipelines. ## Company and legal - [About](https://www.spritecook.ai/about): The company behind SpriteCook. - [Contact](https://www.spritecook.ai/contact): Support and sales. - [Game Jam](https://www.spritecook.ai/jam): SpriteCook for game jams. - [Press Kit](https://www.spritecook.ai/press): Brand assets and media resources. - [Terms](https://www.spritecook.ai/terms): Terms of service. - [Privacy](https://www.spritecook.ai/privacy): Privacy policy. - [Cookies](https://www.spritecook.ai/cookies): Cookie policy. - [Refunds](https://www.spritecook.ai/refunds): Refund policy.