Illustrator Strokes get converted to Filled shapes in AE?

I have an illustrator graphic made up of all strokes. When imported into AE and converted to shape layers, all the strokes turn into filled shapes matching the thickness of the AI graphic's strokes. I want them to stay as strokes so I can utilize Trim paths. What am I missing here?

I want to be able to animate each individual stroke drawing on. If I bring it in as an illustrator file I would have to animate all that by hand with masks following the strokes or using the draw on tool. All of which would take forever. Having the strokes as individual strokes in AE allows you to use the trim paths feature to automatically draw on the strokes. I do it all the time but for some reason this illustrator file's paths get converted to filled shapes in AE.

Yep. if you have anything but constant width and basic brush, it's going to be convert to fill.

this doesn't mean you need to compromise your creative vision. you can still draw a path in the middle of your illustrator fill and use this as a base for a reveal either by stroke effect or even trim path via Alpha Matte.

Roei Tzoref
After Effects Artist & Instructor
♫ Ae Blues Tutorials