After Effects - Shape layer obscures graphics layer unless positioned at bottom I am following an AE tutorial.  As part of its exercise files, the tutorial provides an .ai file that has two layers: a rocket and a black background. The .ai file is then imported into AE as a composition, thereby retaining the two layers.

The tutorial then creates a circle as a shape layer.  It places the shape layer below the rocket but above the background:



and the following is displayed:



When I do the same, the circle obstructs the rocket layer:



The only way I can get the rocket layer to be visible is by moving the circle layer all the way to the vertical bottom:



It's as if the two layers of the original .ai file are behaving as one.  What could be the problem?
Probably a dumb question, but is your circle the same colour as the rocket?
Then it would appear to obscure the rocket...

Alternatively - 
There could be some kind of matte on one of the layers? 
Click on the Toggle Switches/Modes button at the bottom of the list of layers in the timeline, and see whether any mattes are switched on.