user10481: 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?

user4426: 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.

10481: <p>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.</p>

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

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/MZ4Gh.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/MZ4Gh.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>and the following is displayed:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/RMVUE.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/RMVUE.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>When I do the same, the circle obstructs the rocket layer:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Oxlm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Oxlm.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>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:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/buKSr.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/buKSr.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>It's as if the two layers of the original .ai file are behaving as one.  What could be the problem?</p>
 4426: <p>Probably a dumb question, but is your circle the same colour as the rocket?
Then it would appear to obscure the rocket...</p>

<p>Alternatively - 
There could be some kind of <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/alpha-channels-masks-mattes.html" rel="nofollow">matte</a> 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.</p>
