diff --git a/tools/sprite-generation/gui/src/pages/SpriteTheaterPage.tsx b/tools/sprite-generation/gui/src/pages/SpriteTheaterPage.tsx
index d4598cdb..e1f70cc4 100644
--- a/tools/sprite-generation/gui/src/pages/SpriteTheaterPage.tsx
+++ b/tools/sprite-generation/gui/src/pages/SpriteTheaterPage.tsx
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ const gridStyle: CSSProperties = {
   padding: '16px',
 }
 
+const CARD_ENTER_DURATION = 400
+const CARD_SHIFT_DURATION = 300
+
 function ScoreBadge({ label, value }: { label: string; value: number }) {
   const bg = value >= 0.7 ? 'rgba(16,185,129,0.2)' : value >= 0.5 ? 'rgba(245,158,11,0.2)' : 'rgba(239,68,68,0.2)'
   const fg = value >= 0.7 ? '#10b981' : value >= 0.5 ? '#f59e0b' : '#ef4444'
@@ -62,12 +65,18 @@ function ScoreBadge({ label, value }: { label: string; value: number }) {
   )
 }
 
-function Card({ v }: { v: RecentVariant }) {
+function Card({ v, isNew, index }: { v: RecentVariant; isNew: boolean; index: number }) {
   const conf = confidence(v)
   const scores = parseScores(v.notes)
   const passing = conf >= 0.7
   const filename = extractFilename(v.raw_path)
 
+  const enterDelay = isNew ? 0 : index * 30
+  const animStyle: CSSProperties = {
+    transition: `transform ${CARD_SHIFT_DURATION}ms ease ${enterDelay}ms, opacity ${CARD_ENTER_DURATION}ms ease`,
+    ...(isNew ? { animation: `fadeScaleIn ${CARD_ENTER_DURATION}ms ease forwards` } : {}),
+  }
+
   return (
     <div style={{
       background: colors.surface,
@@ -75,6 +84,7 @@ function Card({ v }: { v: RecentVariant }) {
       overflow: 'hidden',
       border: passing ? '2px solid #10b981' : v.is_approved ? '2px solid #8b5cf6' : '1px solid #1e293b',
       position: 'relative',
+      ...animStyle,
     }}>
       <div style={{ position: 'relative' }}>
         <img
@@ -121,11 +131,19 @@ function Card({ v }: { v: RecentVariant }) {
 
 export default function SpriteTheaterPage() {
   const [variants, setVariants] = useState<RecentVariant[]>([])
+  const [newIds, setNewIds] = useState<Set<number>>(new Set())
   const [connected, setConnected] = useState(false)
   const eventSourceRef = useRef<EventSource | null>(null)
 
+  // Clear "new" flags after animation completes
   useEffect(() => {
-    fetchRecentVariants(100).then(setVariants).catch(() => { /* initial load failed — will retry via SSE */ })
+    if (newIds.size === 0) return
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => setNewIds(new Set()), CARD_ENTER_DURATION + 200)
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer)
+  }, [newIds])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    fetchRecentVariants(200).then(setVariants).catch(() => { /* initial load failed */ })
   }, [])
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -137,25 +155,24 @@ export default function SpriteTheaterPage() {
 
     es.onmessage = (event: MessageEvent<string>) => {
       try {
-        const newVariants: RecentVariant[] = JSON.parse(event.data) as RecentVariant[]
+        const incoming: RecentVariant[] = JSON.parse(event.data) as RecentVariant[]
         setVariants(prev => {
-          const ids = new Set(prev.map(v => v.variant_id))
-          const fresh = newVariants.filter(v => !ids.has(v.variant_id))
+          const existingIds = new Set(prev.map(v => v.variant_id))
+          const fresh = incoming.filter(v => !existingIds.has(v.variant_id))
           if (fresh.length === 0) return prev
+          setNewIds(new Set(fresh.map(v => v.variant_id)))
           return [...fresh, ...prev]
         })
-      } catch { /* keepalive or malformed — ignore */ }
+      } catch { /* keepalive or malformed */ }
     }
 
     return () => es.close()
   }, [])
 
-  const sorted = [...variants].sort((a, b) => {
-    const ca = confidence(a)
-    const cb = confidence(b)
-    if (ca !== cb) return cb - ca
-    return new Date(b.created_at).getTime() - new Date(a.created_at).getTime()
-  })
+  // Sort by recency: newest first (top-left), oldest last (bottom-right)
+  const sorted = [...variants].sort((a, b) =>
+    new Date(b.created_at).getTime() - new Date(a.created_at).getTime()
+  )
 
   return (
     <div style={page}>