ActionScript 2.0 :: Changing MovieClip Color On Stage

I have a problem, no I already have the code and here is what I am using (MC is the original movieclip on the stage while MC1 and MC2 are child movieclips within MC)

Code:
var ob1color = new color("_root.MC.MC1");
var ob2color = new color("_root.MC.MC2");
ob1color.setRGB(0x00FF00);
ob2color.setRGB(0x00FF00);

That code works perfectly fine it's just that if I animate MC1 and MC2 within MC it doesn't work I would have to group those 2 into a seperate movieclip called MC3 in order for the animation to work. I mean it's great I found a way around it but is there anyway to NOT have to have that MC3 in order for the animation to work? Because working with so many Movieclips can get so annoying this is my hierarchy.

Code:
[Stage] > [MC] > [MC3] > [MC1 MC2 animation]
That MC3 is an un-needed movieclip other than to work the animation. Is there any way I can fix that? I Also have to change the code to look like this
Code:
var obcolor = new color("_root.MC.MC3");
It's looking like you can't apply a color change AND animate an object.