diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 42f0a96..8797081 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ grain whoami
 grain logout
 ```
 
+Small interactive animations are enabled in TTY by default. Disable them with:
+
+```bash
+GRAIN_NO_ANIM=1 grain
+```
+
 Run `grain` with no subcommand to open the interactive upload wizard.
 
 ## Upload basics
diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 0c0813c..a03bbeb 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,24 @@ import { getAuthorizedAgent, loginWithOAuth, logoutOAuth } from "./oauth";
 import { promptForAltTextFallback, runUploadWizard } from "./tui";
 import type { AltAiConfig, MediaInput } from "./types";
 
+const LENS_FRAMES = ["[lens: .  ]", "[lens: .. ]", "[lens: ...]", "[lens: clear]"];
+
+function terminalAnimationEnabled(): boolean {
+  return Boolean(process.stdout.isTTY && process.env.CI !== "true" && process.env.TERM !== "dumb" && process.env.GRAIN_NO_ANIM !== "1");
+}
+
+async function animateStatus(label: string, frames: string[], delayMs = 70): Promise<void> {
+  if (!terminalAnimationEnabled()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  for (const frame of frames) {
+    process.stdout.write(`\r${label} ${frame}`);
+    await Bun.sleep(delayMs);
+  }
+  process.stdout.write(`\r${label} [ready]      \n`);
+}
+
 function printHelp(): void {
   console.log(`grain
 
@@ -96,7 +114,7 @@ async function cmdLogin(argv: string[]): Promise<void> {
     throw new GrainError("missing_handle", "Handle is required for login.");
   }
 
-  console.log("Starting secure browser login...");
+  await animateStatus("Starting secure browser login", LENS_FRAMES, 65);
   const result = await loginWithOAuth(handle);
 
   console.log(`Logged in as ${result.handle}`);
diff --git a/src/tui.ts b/src/tui.ts
index 62d2f00..ad59125 100644
--- a/src/tui.ts
+++ b/src/tui.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,25 @@ type Prompt = {
   askYesNo(message: string, defaultYes?: boolean): Promise<boolean>;
 };
 
+const FOCUS_FRAMES = ["[focus: .  ]", "[focus: .. ]", "[focus: ...]", "[focus: ok ]"];
+const SHUTTER_FRAMES = ["[shutter: open ]", "[shutter: half ]", "[shutter: click]", "[shutter: open ]"];
+
+function animationsEnabled(): boolean {
+  return Boolean(process.stdout.isTTY && process.env.CI !== "true" && process.env.TERM !== "dumb" && process.env.GRAIN_NO_ANIM !== "1");
+}
+
+async function animateLine(label: string, frames: string[], delayMs = 70): Promise<void> {
+  if (!animationsEnabled()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  for (const frame of frames) {
+    process.stdout.write(`\r${label} ${frame}`);
+    await Bun.sleep(delayMs);
+  }
+  process.stdout.write(`\r${label} [done]        \n`);
+}
+
 function normalizeAscii(value: string): string {
   return value
     .normalize("NFKD")
@@ -120,6 +139,7 @@ export async function runUploadWizard(): Promise<UploadWizardResult> {
   const prompt = buildPrompt();
 
   console.log("grain - interactive gallery upload");
+  await animateLine("Setting up your gallery", FOCUS_FRAMES);
   console.log("Tip: local paths must start with @, for example @photo.jpg or @./images/a.png");
 
   const title = await prompt.askText("Gallery title");
@@ -172,6 +192,7 @@ export async function runUploadWizard(): Promise<UploadWizardResult> {
     }
     try {
       mediaInputs.push(parseWizardMediaEntry(value));
+      await animateLine(`Framed image ${mediaInputs.length}`, SHUTTER_FRAMES, 60);
     } catch (error) {
       console.log(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
     }
@@ -215,6 +236,7 @@ export async function promptForAltTextFallback(context: {
     console.log(`AI alt text failed for ${context.sourceLabel}: ${context.errorMessage ?? "unknown error"}`);
   }
 
+  await animateLine("Opening preview", FOCUS_FRAMES, 60);
   await openInNativeViewer(context.bytes, context.mimeType);
   const value = await prompt.askText(`Alt text for image ${context.index + 1}/${context.total} (${context.sourceLabel})`, {
     allowEmpty: true,