After Effects - Shape layer obscures graphics layer unless positioned at bottom

Question

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?

Answer 1

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.