diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/base.css b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/base.css
index d18b509..bceb6df 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/base.css
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/base.css
@@ -71,3 +71,23 @@ body.modal-open {
     margin: 0 auto;
     padding: 20px;
 }
+
+/* ── Smooth theme transitions ── */
+body,
+.card,
+.template-card,
+.modal-content,
+.dashboard-target,
+.perf-chart-card,
+header {
+    transition: background-color 0.3s ease, color 0.3s ease, border-color 0.3s ease;
+}
+
+/* ── Respect reduced motion preference ── */
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+    *, *::before, *::after {
+        animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
+        animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
+        transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/cards.css b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/cards.css
index bcb34f7..7a02860 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/cards.css
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/cards.css
@@ -23,12 +23,13 @@ section {
     border: 2px dashed var(--border-color);
     background: transparent;
     min-height: 160px;
-    transition: border-color 0.2s, background 0.2s;
+    transition: border-color 0.25s ease, background 0.25s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 .add-device-card:hover {
     border-color: var(--primary-color);
     background: rgba(33, 150, 243, 0.05);
+    transform: translateY(-2px);
 }
 
 .add-device-icon {
@@ -55,13 +56,24 @@ section {
     border-radius: 8px;
     padding: 12px 20px 20px;
     position: relative;
-    transition: transform 0.2s, box-shadow 0.2s;
+    transition: transform 0.2s ease, box-shadow 0.2s ease, border-color 0.2s ease;
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
 }
 
 .card:hover {
-    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px var(--shadow-color);
+    box-shadow: 0 8px 24px var(--shadow-color);
+    transform: translateY(-2px);
+}
+
+/* ── Card entrance animation ── */
+@keyframes cardEnter {
+    from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(12px); }
+    to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
+}
+
+.card-enter {
+    animation: cardEnter 0.25s ease-out both;
 }
 
 .card-tutorial-btn {
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/components.css b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/components.css
index 070b786..e205abe 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/components.css
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/components.css
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     cursor: pointer;
     font-size: 0.9rem;
     font-weight: 600;
-    transition: opacity 0.2s;
+    transition: opacity 0.2s ease, transform 0.15s ease, box-shadow 0.2s ease;
     flex: 1 1 auto;
     min-width: 100px;
 }
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@
     opacity: 0.9;
 }
 
+.btn:active:not(:disabled) {
+    transform: scale(0.97);
+    transition-duration: 0.06s;
+}
+
 .btn:disabled {
     opacity: 0.5;
     cursor: not-allowed;
@@ -100,6 +105,11 @@
     opacity: 1;
 }
 
+.btn-icon:active:not(:disabled) {
+    transform: scale(0.92);
+    transition-duration: 0.06s;
+}
+
 .form-group {
     margin-bottom: 15px;
 }
@@ -129,7 +139,7 @@
     inset: 0;
     background: var(--border-color);
     border-radius: 9px;
-    transition: background 0.2s;
+    transition: background 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
 }
 
 .settings-toggle-slider::after {
@@ -141,7 +151,7 @@
     height: 14px;
     background: white;
     border-radius: 50%;
-    transition: transform 0.2s;
+    transition: transform 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
 }
 
 .settings-toggle input:checked + .settings-toggle-slider {
@@ -172,7 +182,7 @@ select {
     color: var(--text-color);
     font-size: 1rem;
     font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, sans-serif;
-    transition: border-color 0.2s, box-shadow 0.2s, opacity 0.2s;
+    transition: border-color 0.25s ease, box-shadow 0.25s ease, opacity 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 input[type="number"]:disabled,
@@ -196,7 +206,7 @@ input:focus,
 select:focus {
     outline: none;
     border-color: var(--primary-color);
-    box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.2);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.15);
 }
 
 /* Remove browser autofill styling */
@@ -339,7 +349,7 @@ input:-webkit-autofill:focus {
     font-weight: 600;
     font-size: 15px;
     opacity: 0;
-    transition: opacity 0.3s, transform 0.3s;
+    transition: opacity 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1), transform 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
     z-index: 2500;
     box-shadow: 0 4px 20px var(--shadow-color);
     min-width: 300px;
@@ -349,13 +359,14 @@ input:-webkit-autofill:focus {
 .toast.show {
     opacity: 1;
     transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(0);
-    animation: toastShake 0.5s ease-in-out;
+    animation: toastBounceIn 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
 }
 
-@keyframes toastShake {
-    0%, 100% { transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(0); }
-    10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90% { transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(-5px); }
-    20%, 40%, 60%, 80% { transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(5px); }
+@keyframes toastBounceIn {
+    0% { transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(60px); opacity: 0; }
+    50% { transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(-4px); opacity: 1; }
+    70% { transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(2px); }
+    100% { transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(0); }
 }
 
 .toast.success {
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/dashboard.css b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/dashboard.css
index 083200a..532f4af 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/dashboard.css
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/dashboard.css
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     color: var(--text-secondary);
     width: 10px;
     display: inline-block;
+    transition: transform 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 .dashboard-section-count {
@@ -80,6 +81,11 @@
     border: 1px solid var(--border-color);
     border-radius: 6px;
     margin-bottom: 4px;
+    transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
+}
+
+.dashboard-target:hover {
+    box-shadow: 0 2px 8px var(--shadow-color);
 }
 
 .dashboard-target-info {
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/layout.css b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/layout.css
index 5f821da..fc44a24 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/layout.css
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/layout.css
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ h2 {
     cursor: pointer;
     border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;
     margin-bottom: -2px;
-    transition: color 0.2s, border-color 0.2s;
+    transition: color 0.2s ease, border-color 0.25s ease;
 }
 
 .tab-btn:hover {
@@ -171,6 +171,12 @@ h2 {
 
 .tab-panel.active {
     display: block;
+    animation: tabFadeIn 0.25s ease-out;
+}
+
+@keyframes tabFadeIn {
+    from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(8px); }
+    to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
 }
 
 /* Thin animated bar at top of tab panel during data refresh */
@@ -257,6 +263,7 @@ h2 {
     inset: 0;
     background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
     backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
+    animation: fadeIn 0.15s ease-out;
 }
 
 .cp-dialog {
@@ -272,6 +279,12 @@ h2 {
     flex-direction: column;
     overflow: hidden;
     align-self: flex-start;
+    animation: cpSlideDown 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
+}
+
+@keyframes cpSlideDown {
+    from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-12px) scale(0.98); }
+    to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0) scale(1); }
 }
 
 .cp-input {
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/modal.css b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/modal.css
index 7a510d4..9308666 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/modal.css
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/modal.css
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     align-items: center;
     justify-content: center;
     animation: fadeIn 0.2s ease-out;
+    backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
 }
 
 /* Confirm dialog must stack above all other modals */
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
     box-shadow: 0 8px 32px var(--shadow-color);
-    animation: slideUp 0.3s ease-out;
+    animation: slideUp 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
 }
 
 #template-modal .modal-content {
@@ -146,11 +147,11 @@
 
 @keyframes slideUp {
     from {
-        transform: translateY(20px);
+        transform: translateY(20px) scale(0.98);
         opacity: 0;
     }
     to {
-        transform: translateY(0);
+        transform: translateY(0) scale(1);
         opacity: 1;
     }
 }
@@ -479,7 +480,7 @@
     content: '▶';
     font-size: 0.6rem;
     opacity: 0.6;
-    transition: transform 0.15s;
+    transition: transform 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
     flex-shrink: 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/streams.css b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/streams.css
index e9fc18f..9e025a1 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/streams.css
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/css/streams.css
@@ -13,14 +13,15 @@
     border: 1px solid var(--border-color);
     border-radius: 8px;
     padding: 16px;
-    transition: box-shadow 0.2s;
+    transition: box-shadow 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
     position: relative;
 }
 
 .template-card:hover {
-    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
+    box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
+    transform: translateY(-2px);
 }
 
 .add-template-card {
@@ -32,13 +33,14 @@
     cursor: pointer;
     border: 2px dashed var(--border-color);
     background: transparent;
-    transition: border-color 0.2s, background 0.2s;
+    transition: border-color 0.25s ease, background 0.25s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 .add-template-card:hover {
     border-color: var(--primary-color);
     background: rgba(33, 150, 243, 0.05);
     box-shadow: none;
+    transform: translateY(-2px);
 }
 
 .add-template-icon {
@@ -550,7 +552,7 @@
     cursor: pointer;
     border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;
     margin-bottom: -2px;
-    transition: color 0.2s, border-color 0.2s;
+    transition: color 0.2s ease, border-color 0.25s ease;
 }
 
 .stream-tab-btn:hover {
@@ -610,6 +612,7 @@
 
 .stream-tab-panel.active {
     display: block;
+    animation: tabFadeIn 0.2s ease-out;
 }
 
 /* Sub-tab content sections */
@@ -649,12 +652,18 @@
     padding: 8px 0;
 }
 
+/* Prevent sticky header from clipping cards that lift on hover */
+[data-cs-content] {
+    padding-top: 4px;
+}
+
 .cs-chevron {
     font-size: 0.65rem;
     color: var(--text-secondary);
     width: 12px;
     display: inline-block;
     flex-shrink: 0;
+    transition: transform 0.25s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
 }
 
 .cs-title {
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/card-sections.js b/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/card-sections.js
index ca8adfe..5525766 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/card-sections.js
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/card-sections.js
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export class CardSection {
         const cardsHtml = items.map(i => i.html).join('');
 
         const isCollapsed = !!_getCollapsedMap()[this.sectionKey];
-        const chevron = isCollapsed ? '\u25B6' : '\u25BC';
+        const chevronStyle = isCollapsed ? '' : ' style="transform:rotate(90deg)"';
         const contentDisplay = isCollapsed ? ' style="display:none"' : '';
 
         const addCard = this.addCardOnclick
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export class CardSection {
         return `
         <div class="subtab-section" data-card-section="${this.sectionKey}">
             <div class="subtab-section-header cs-header" data-cs-toggle="${this.sectionKey}">
-                <span class="cs-chevron">${chevron}</span>
+                <span class="cs-chevron"${chevronStyle}>&#9654;</span>
                 <span class="cs-title">${t(this.titleKey)}</span>
                 <span class="cs-count">${count}</span>
                 <div class="cs-filter-wrap">
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ export class CardSection {
 
         // Tag card elements with their source HTML for future reconciliation
         this._tagCards(content);
+
+        // Stagger card entrance animation
+        this._animateEntrance(content);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -216,6 +219,19 @@ export class CardSection {
             }
         }
 
+        // Animate newly added cards
+        if (added.size > 0 && this.keyAttr && !window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches) {
+            let delay = 0;
+            for (const key of added) {
+                const card = content.querySelector(`[${this.keyAttr}="${key}"]`);
+                if (card) {
+                    card.style.animationDelay = `${delay}ms`;
+                    card.classList.add('card-enter');
+                    delay += 30;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         // Re-apply filter
         if (this._filterValue) {
             this._applyFilter(content, this._filterValue);
@@ -239,7 +255,7 @@ export class CardSection {
             if (content) content.style.display = '';
             if (header) {
                 const chevron = header.querySelector('.cs-chevron');
-                if (chevron) chevron.textContent = '\u25BC';
+                if (chevron) chevron.style.transform = 'rotate(90deg)';
             }
         }
         localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(map));
@@ -255,7 +271,7 @@ export class CardSection {
             if (content) content.style.display = 'none';
             if (header) {
                 const chevron = header.querySelector('.cs-chevron');
-                if (chevron) chevron.textContent = '\u25B6';
+                if (chevron) chevron.style.transform = '';
             }
         }
         localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(map));
@@ -272,12 +288,22 @@ export class CardSection {
             localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(map));
             content.style.display = '';
             const chevron = header.querySelector('.cs-chevron');
-            if (chevron) chevron.textContent = '\u25BC';
+            if (chevron) chevron.style.transform = 'rotate(90deg)';
         }
     }
 
     // ── private ──
 
+    _animateEntrance(content) {
+        if (window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches) return;
+        const selector = this.keyAttr ? `[${this.keyAttr}]` : '.card, .template-card:not(.add-template-card)';
+        const cards = content.querySelectorAll(selector);
+        cards.forEach((card, i) => {
+            card.style.animationDelay = `${i * 30}ms`;
+            card.classList.add('card-enter');
+        });
+    }
+
     _tagCards(content) {
         if (!this.keyAttr || !this._lastItems) return;
         const htmlMap = new Map(this._lastItems.map(i => [i.key, i.html]));
@@ -294,9 +320,45 @@ export class CardSection {
         map[this.sectionKey] = nowCollapsed;
         localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(map));
 
-        content.style.display = nowCollapsed ? 'none' : '';
         const chevron = header.querySelector('.cs-chevron');
-        if (chevron) chevron.textContent = nowCollapsed ? '\u25B6' : '\u25BC';
+        if (chevron) chevron.style.transform = nowCollapsed ? '' : 'rotate(90deg)';
+
+        // Cancel any running animation on this content
+        if (content._csAnim) { content._csAnim.cancel(); content._csAnim = null; }
+
+        // Skip animation when user prefers reduced motion
+        if (window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches) {
+            content.style.display = nowCollapsed ? 'none' : '';
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (nowCollapsed) {
+            const h = content.offsetHeight;
+            content.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+            const anim = content.animate(
+                [{ height: h + 'px', opacity: 1 }, { height: '0px', opacity: 0 }],
+                { duration: 200, easing: 'ease-in-out' }
+            );
+            content._csAnim = anim;
+            anim.onfinish = () => {
+                content.style.display = 'none';
+                content.style.overflow = '';
+                content._csAnim = null;
+            };
+        } else {
+            content.style.display = '';
+            content.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+            const h = content.scrollHeight;
+            const anim = content.animate(
+                [{ height: '0px', opacity: 0 }, { height: h + 'px', opacity: 1 }],
+                { duration: 200, easing: 'ease-in-out' }
+            );
+            content._csAnim = anim;
+            anim.onfinish = () => {
+                content.style.overflow = '';
+                content._csAnim = null;
+            };
+        }
     }
 
     _applyFilter(content, query) {
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/navigation.js b/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/navigation.js
index e7e1d0e..64f0d19 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/navigation.js
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/core/navigation.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export function navigateToCard(tab, subTab, sectionKey, cardAttr, cardValue) {
             if (content && content.style.display === 'none') {
                 content.style.display = '';
                 const chevron = header?.querySelector('.cs-chevron');
-                if (chevron) chevron.textContent = '\u25BC';
+                if (chevron) chevron.style.transform = 'rotate(90deg)';
                 const map = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('sections_collapsed') || '{}');
                 map[sectionKey] = false;
                 localStorage.setItem('sections_collapsed', JSON.stringify(map));
diff --git a/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/features/dashboard.js b/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/features/dashboard.js
index b3d2f2f..b58a520 100644
--- a/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/features/dashboard.js
+++ b/server/src/wled_controller/static/js/features/dashboard.js
@@ -304,21 +304,43 @@ export function toggleDashboardSection(sectionKey) {
     if (!header) return;
     const content = header.nextElementSibling;
     const chevron = header.querySelector('.dashboard-section-chevron');
-    if (collapsed[sectionKey]) {
-        content.style.display = 'none';
-        chevron.textContent = '\u25B6';
+    const nowCollapsed = collapsed[sectionKey];
+    if (chevron) chevron.style.transform = nowCollapsed ? '' : 'rotate(90deg)';
+
+    // Animate collapse/expand unless reduced motion
+    if (window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches) {
+        content.style.display = nowCollapsed ? 'none' : '';
+        return;
+    }
+    if (content._dsAnim) { content._dsAnim.cancel(); content._dsAnim = null; }
+    if (nowCollapsed) {
+        const h = content.offsetHeight;
+        content.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+        const anim = content.animate(
+            [{ height: h + 'px', opacity: 1 }, { height: '0px', opacity: 0 }],
+            { duration: 200, easing: 'ease-in-out' }
+        );
+        content._dsAnim = anim;
+        anim.onfinish = () => { content.style.display = 'none'; content.style.overflow = ''; content._dsAnim = null; };
     } else {
         content.style.display = '';
-        chevron.textContent = '\u25BC';
+        content.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+        const h = content.scrollHeight;
+        const anim = content.animate(
+            [{ height: '0px', opacity: 0 }, { height: h + 'px', opacity: 1 }],
+            { duration: 200, easing: 'ease-in-out' }
+        );
+        content._dsAnim = anim;
+        anim.onfinish = () => { content.style.overflow = ''; content._dsAnim = null; };
     }
 }
 
 function _sectionHeader(sectionKey, label, count, extraHtml = '') {
     const collapsed = _getCollapsedSections();
     const isCollapsed = !!collapsed[sectionKey];
-    const chevron = isCollapsed ? '\u25B6' : '\u25BC';
+    const chevronStyle = isCollapsed ? '' : ' style="transform:rotate(90deg)"';
     return `<div class="dashboard-section-header" data-dashboard-section="${sectionKey}" onclick="toggleDashboardSection('${sectionKey}')">
-        <span class="dashboard-section-chevron">${chevron}</span>
+        <span class="dashboard-section-chevron"${chevronStyle}>&#9654;</span>
         ${label}
         <span class="dashboard-section-count">${count}</span>
         ${extraHtml}