diff --git a/bskyweb/templates/base.html b/bskyweb/templates/base.html
index 0c4a91df6b..e33479e697 100644
--- a/bskyweb/templates/base.html
+++ b/bskyweb/templates/base.html
@@ -148,11 +148,11 @@
 </head>
 <body>
 {%- block body_all %}
+  <div id="splash">
+    <!-- Bluesky SVG -->
+    <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 57"><path fill="#006AFF" d="M13.873 3.805C21.21 9.332 29.103 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338-.13.044-.41.867-1.512 4.456-7.418 21.847-20.923 7.944-7.111-7.32-3.819-14.64 9.125-16.85-7.405 1.264-15.73-.825-18.014-9.015C1.12 23.022 0 8.51 0 6.55 0-3.268 8.579-.182 13.873 3.805ZM50.127 3.805C42.79 9.332 34.897 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338.13.044.41.867 1.512 4.456 7.418 21.847 20.923 7.944 7.111-7.32 3.819-14.64-9.125-16.85 7.405 1.264 15.73-.825 18.014-9.015C62.88 23.022 64 8.51 64 6.55c0-9.818-8.578-6.732-13.873-2.745Z"/></svg>
+  </div>
   <div id="root">
-    <div id="splash">
-      <!-- Bluesky SVG -->
-      <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 57"><path fill="#006AFF" d="M13.873 3.805C21.21 9.332 29.103 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338-.13.044-.41.867-1.512 4.456-7.418 21.847-20.923 7.944-7.111-7.32-3.819-14.64 9.125-16.85-7.405 1.264-15.73-.825-18.014-9.015C1.12 23.022 0 8.51 0 6.55 0-3.268 8.579-.182 13.873 3.805ZM50.127 3.805C42.79 9.332 34.897 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338.13.044.41.867 1.512 4.456 7.418 21.847 20.923 7.944 7.111-7.32 3.819-14.64-9.125-16.85 7.405 1.264 15.73-.825 18.014-9.015C62.88 23.022 64 8.51 64 6.55c0-9.818-8.578-6.732-13.873-2.745Z"/></svg>
-    </div>
   </div>
 
   <noscript>
diff --git a/src/App.web.tsx b/src/App.web.tsx
index a0eff936f5..abf188ea28 100644
--- a/src/App.web.tsx
+++ b/src/App.web.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import '#/logger/sentry/setup' // must be near top
 import '#/view/icons'
 import './style.css'
 
-import React, {useEffect, useState} from 'react'
+import {Fragment, useEffect, useState} from 'react'
 import {SafeAreaProvider} from 'react-native-safe-area-context'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ prefetchAgeAssuranceConfig()
 prefetchLiveEvents()
 
 function InnerApp() {
-  const [isReady, setIsReady] = React.useState(false)
+  const [isReady, setIsReady] = useState(false)
   const {currentAccount} = useSession()
   const {resumeSession} = useSessionApi()
   const theme = useColorModeTheme()
@@ -116,68 +116,67 @@ function InnerApp() {
     })
   }, [_])
 
-  // wait for session to resume
-  if (!isReady || !hasCheckedReferrer) return <Splash isReady />
-
   return (
     <Alf theme={theme}>
       <ThemeProvider theme={theme}>
         <ContextMenuProvider>
-          <VideoVolumeProvider>
-            <ActiveVideoProvider>
-              <React.Fragment
-                // Resets the entire tree below when it changes:
-                key={currentAccount?.did}>
-                <AnalyticsFeaturesContext>
-                  <QueryProvider currentDid={currentAccount?.did}>
-                    <PolicyUpdateOverlayProvider>
-                      <LiveEventsProvider>
-                        <AgeAssuranceV2Provider>
-                          <ComposerProvider>
-                            <MessagesProvider>
-                              {/* LabelDefsProvider MUST come before ModerationOptsProvider */}
-                              <LabelDefsProvider>
-                                <ModerationOptsProvider>
-                                  <LoggedOutViewProvider>
-                                    <SelectedFeedProvider>
-                                      <HiddenRepliesProvider>
-                                        <HomeBadgeProvider>
-                                          <UnreadNotifsProvider>
-                                            <BackgroundNotificationPreferencesProvider>
-                                              <MutedThreadsProvider>
-                                                <SafeAreaProvider>
-                                                  <ProgressGuideProvider>
-                                                    <ServiceConfigProvider>
-                                                      <EmailVerificationProvider>
-                                                        <HideBottomBarBorderProvider>
-                                                          <IntentDialogProvider>
-                                                            <Shell />
-                                                            <ToastOutlet />
-                                                          </IntentDialogProvider>
-                                                        </HideBottomBarBorderProvider>
-                                                      </EmailVerificationProvider>
-                                                    </ServiceConfigProvider>
-                                                  </ProgressGuideProvider>
-                                                </SafeAreaProvider>
-                                              </MutedThreadsProvider>
-                                            </BackgroundNotificationPreferencesProvider>
-                                          </UnreadNotifsProvider>
-                                        </HomeBadgeProvider>
-                                      </HiddenRepliesProvider>
-                                    </SelectedFeedProvider>
-                                  </LoggedOutViewProvider>
-                                </ModerationOptsProvider>
-                              </LabelDefsProvider>
-                            </MessagesProvider>
-                          </ComposerProvider>
-                        </AgeAssuranceV2Provider>
-                      </LiveEventsProvider>
-                    </PolicyUpdateOverlayProvider>
-                  </QueryProvider>
-                </AnalyticsFeaturesContext>
-              </React.Fragment>
-            </ActiveVideoProvider>
-          </VideoVolumeProvider>
+          <Splash isReady={isReady && hasCheckedReferrer}>
+            <VideoVolumeProvider>
+              <ActiveVideoProvider>
+                <Fragment
+                  // Resets the entire tree below when it changes:
+                  key={currentAccount?.did}>
+                  <AnalyticsFeaturesContext>
+                    <QueryProvider currentDid={currentAccount?.did}>
+                      <PolicyUpdateOverlayProvider>
+                        <LiveEventsProvider>
+                          <AgeAssuranceV2Provider>
+                            <ComposerProvider>
+                              <MessagesProvider>
+                                {/* LabelDefsProvider MUST come before ModerationOptsProvider */}
+                                <LabelDefsProvider>
+                                  <ModerationOptsProvider>
+                                    <LoggedOutViewProvider>
+                                      <SelectedFeedProvider>
+                                        <HiddenRepliesProvider>
+                                          <HomeBadgeProvider>
+                                            <UnreadNotifsProvider>
+                                              <BackgroundNotificationPreferencesProvider>
+                                                <MutedThreadsProvider>
+                                                  <SafeAreaProvider>
+                                                    <ProgressGuideProvider>
+                                                      <ServiceConfigProvider>
+                                                        <EmailVerificationProvider>
+                                                          <HideBottomBarBorderProvider>
+                                                            <IntentDialogProvider>
+                                                              <Shell />
+                                                              <ToastOutlet />
+                                                            </IntentDialogProvider>
+                                                          </HideBottomBarBorderProvider>
+                                                        </EmailVerificationProvider>
+                                                      </ServiceConfigProvider>
+                                                    </ProgressGuideProvider>
+                                                  </SafeAreaProvider>
+                                                </MutedThreadsProvider>
+                                              </BackgroundNotificationPreferencesProvider>
+                                            </UnreadNotifsProvider>
+                                          </HomeBadgeProvider>
+                                        </HiddenRepliesProvider>
+                                      </SelectedFeedProvider>
+                                    </LoggedOutViewProvider>
+                                  </ModerationOptsProvider>
+                                </LabelDefsProvider>
+                              </MessagesProvider>
+                            </ComposerProvider>
+                          </AgeAssuranceV2Provider>
+                        </LiveEventsProvider>
+                      </PolicyUpdateOverlayProvider>
+                    </QueryProvider>
+                  </AnalyticsFeaturesContext>
+                </Fragment>
+              </ActiveVideoProvider>
+            </VideoVolumeProvider>
+          </Splash>
         </ContextMenuProvider>
       </ThemeProvider>
     </Alf>
@@ -187,14 +186,14 @@ function InnerApp() {
 function App() {
   const [isReady, setReady] = useState(false)
 
-  React.useEffect(() => {
+  useEffect(() => {
     Promise.all([initPersistedState(), Geo.resolve(), setupDeviceId]).then(() =>
       setReady(true),
     )
   }, [])
 
   if (!isReady) {
-    return <Splash isReady />
+    return null
   }
 
   /*
diff --git a/src/Splash.web.tsx b/src/Splash.web.tsx
index eb4a405c85..ff86c9a770 100644
--- a/src/Splash.web.tsx
+++ b/src/Splash.web.tsx
@@ -4,26 +4,94 @@
  * the app is ready to go.
  */
 
-import {View} from 'react-native'
+import {useEffect, useRef, useState} from 'react'
 import Svg, {Path} from 'react-native-svg'
 
-import {atoms as a} from '#/alf'
+import {atoms as a, flatten} from '#/alf'
 
 const size = 100
 const ratio = 57 / 64
 
-export function Splash() {
+export function Splash({
+  isReady,
+  children,
+}: React.PropsWithChildren<{
+  isReady: boolean
+}>) {
+  const [isAnimationComplete, setIsAnimationComplete] = useState(false)
+  const splashRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+
+  // hide the static one that's baked into the HTML - gets replaced by our React version below
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // double rAF ensures that the React version gets painted first
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        const splash = document.getElementById('splash')
+        if (splash) {
+          splash.remove()
+        }
+      })
+    })
+  }, [])
+
+  // when ready, we fade/scale out
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isReady) return
+
+    const reduceMotion = window.matchMedia(
+      '(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)',
+    ).matches
+    const node = splashRef.current
+    if (!node || reduceMotion) {
+      setIsAnimationComplete(true)
+      return
+    }
+
+    const animation = node.animate(
+      [
+        {opacity: 1, transform: 'scale(1)'},
+        {opacity: 0, transform: 'scale(1.5)'},
+      ],
+      {
+        duration: 300,
+        easing: 'cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94)',
+        fill: 'forwards',
+      },
+    )
+    animation.onfinish = () => setIsAnimationComplete(true)
+
+    return () => {
+      animation.cancel()
+    }
+  }, [isReady])
+
   return (
-    <View style={[a.fixed, a.inset_0, a.align_center, a.justify_center]}>
-      <Svg
-        fill="none"
-        viewBox="0 0 64 57"
-        style={[a.relative, {width: size, height: size * ratio, top: -50}]}>
-        <Path
-          fill="#006AFF"
-          d="M13.873 3.805C21.21 9.332 29.103 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338-.13.044-.41.867-1.512 4.456-7.418 21.847-20.923 7.944-7.111-7.32-3.819-14.64 9.125-16.85-7.405 1.264-15.73-.825-18.014-9.015C1.12 23.022 0 8.51 0 6.55 0-3.268 8.579-.182 13.873 3.805ZM50.127 3.805C42.79 9.332 34.897 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338.13.044.41.867 1.512 4.456 7.418 21.847 20.923 7.944 7.111-7.32 3.819-14.64-9.125-16.85 7.405 1.264 15.73-.825 18.014-9.015C62.88 23.022 64 8.51 64 6.55c0-9.818-8.578-6.732-13.873-2.745Z"
-        />
-      </Svg>
-    </View>
+    <>
+      {isReady && children}
+
+      {!isAnimationComplete && (
+        <div
+          ref={splashRef}
+          style={flatten([
+            a.fixed,
+            a.inset_0,
+            a.flex,
+            a.align_center,
+            a.justify_center,
+            // to compensate for the `top: -50px` below
+            {transformOrigin: 'center calc(50% - 50px)'},
+          ])}>
+          <Svg
+            fill="none"
+            viewBox="0 0 64 57"
+            style={[a.relative, {width: size, height: size * ratio, top: -50}]}>
+            <Path
+              fill="#006AFF"
+              d="M13.873 3.805C21.21 9.332 29.103 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338-.13.044-.41.867-1.512 4.456-7.418 21.847-20.923 7.944-7.111-7.32-3.819-14.64 9.125-16.85-7.405 1.264-15.73-.825-18.014-9.015C1.12 23.022 0 8.51 0 6.55 0-3.268 8.579-.182 13.873 3.805ZM50.127 3.805C42.79 9.332 34.897 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338.13.044.41.867 1.512 4.456 7.418 21.847 20.923 7.944 7.111-7.32 3.819-14.64-9.125-16.85 7.405 1.264 15.73-.825 18.014-9.015C62.88 23.022 64 8.51 64 6.55c0-9.818-8.578-6.732-13.873-2.745Z"
+            />
+          </Svg>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </>
   )
 }
diff --git a/web/index.html b/web/index.html
index 89d5d955f9..cd399378df 100644
--- a/web/index.html
+++ b/web/index.html
@@ -189,11 +189,11 @@
     </noscript>
 
     <!-- The root element for your Expo app. -->
+    <div id="splash">
+      <!-- Bluesky SVG -->
+      <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 57"><path fill="#006AFF" d="M13.873 3.805C21.21 9.332 29.103 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338-.13.044-.41.867-1.512 4.456-7.418 21.847-20.923 7.944-7.111-7.32-3.819-14.64 9.125-16.85-7.405 1.264-15.73-.825-18.014-9.015C1.12 23.022 0 8.51 0 6.55 0-3.268 8.579-.182 13.873 3.805ZM50.127 3.805C42.79 9.332 34.897 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338.13.044.41.867 1.512 4.456 7.418 21.847 20.923 7.944 7.111-7.32 3.819-14.64-9.125-16.85 7.405 1.264 15.73-.825 18.014-9.015C62.88 23.022 64 8.51 64 6.55c0-9.818-8.578-6.732-13.873-2.745Z"/></svg>
+    </div>
     <div id="root">
-      <div id="splash">
-        <!-- Bluesky SVG -->
-        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 57"><path fill="#006AFF" d="M13.873 3.805C21.21 9.332 29.103 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338-.13.044-.41.867-1.512 4.456-7.418 21.847-20.923 7.944-7.111-7.32-3.819-14.64 9.125-16.85-7.405 1.264-15.73-.825-18.014-9.015C1.12 23.022 0 8.51 0 6.55 0-3.268 8.579-.182 13.873 3.805ZM50.127 3.805C42.79 9.332 34.897 20.537 32 26.55v15.882c0-.338.13.044.41.867 1.512 4.456 7.418 21.847 20.923 7.944 7.111-7.32 3.819-14.64-9.125-16.85 7.405 1.264 15.73-.825 18.014-9.015C62.88 23.022 64 8.51 64 6.55c0-9.818-8.578-6.732-13.873-2.745Z"/></svg>
-      </div>
     </div>
   </body>
 </html>
