diff --git a/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-agents.ts b/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-agents.ts
index 5c97774b..6a4d4ed8 100644
--- a/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-agents.ts
+++ b/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-agents.ts
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ export function drawAgents(
     // Hexagonal body with interior fill
     drawHexBody(ctx, x, y, r, color, node.state, time, isSelected, isHovered);
 
-    // Breathing animation
-    drawBreathing(ctx, x, y, r, node.state, time);
+    // Breathing animation + spawn/waiting effects
+    drawBreathing(ctx, x, y, r, node.state, time, node.spawnStatus);
 
     // Name label
     drawLabel(ctx, x, y, r, node.label, color);
@@ -150,7 +150,34 @@ function drawBreathing(
   r: number,
   state: string,
   time: number,
+  spawnStatus?: GraphNode['spawnStatus'],
 ): void {
+  // Spawning: rotating dashed ring (loading spinner)
+  if (spawnStatus === 'spawning') {
+    const ringR = r + AGENT_DRAW.orbitParticleOffset;
+    const rotation = time * ANIM.orbitSpeed * 2;
+    ctx.save();
+    ctx.beginPath();
+    ctx.arc(x, y, ringR, rotation, rotation + Math.PI * 1.4);
+    ctx.strokeStyle = COLORS.holoBase + alphaHex(0.5);
+    ctx.lineWidth = 2;
+    ctx.setLineDash([6, 4]);
+    ctx.stroke();
+    ctx.setLineDash([]);
+    ctx.restore();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Waiting: pulsing hex outline (breathing border)
+  if (spawnStatus === 'waiting') {
+    const pulse = 0.12 + 0.12 * Math.sin(time * AGENT_DRAW.waitingBreatheSpeed);
+    drawHexagon(ctx, x, y, r + AGENT_DRAW.outerRingOffset);
+    ctx.strokeStyle = COLORS.holoBase + alphaHex(pulse);
+    ctx.lineWidth = 1.5;
+    ctx.stroke();
+    return;
+  }
+
   const isActive = state === 'active' || state === 'thinking' || state === 'tool_calling';
   const speed = isActive ? ANIM.breathe.activeSpeed : ANIM.breathe.idleSpeed;
   const amp = isActive ? ANIM.breathe.activeAmp : ANIM.breathe.idleAmp;
diff --git a/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-edges.ts b/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-edges.ts
index 7b764797..9982168b 100644
--- a/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-edges.ts
+++ b/packages/agent-graph/src/canvas/draw-edges.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,10 @@ export function drawEdges(
 
     const style = EDGE_STYLES[edge.type] ?? EDGE_STYLES['parent-child'];
     const isActive = hasActiveParticles.has(edge.id);
-    const alpha = isActive ? BEAM.activeAlpha : BEAM.idleAlpha;
+    // Pulse alpha when particles are travelling: base 0.3 + 0.2 * sin wave
+    const alpha = isActive
+      ? BEAM.activeAlpha + 0.2 * Math.sin(_time * 6)
+      : BEAM.idleAlpha;
 
     if (alpha < MIN_VISIBLE_OPACITY) continue;
 
@@ -92,6 +95,12 @@ export function drawEdges(
     ctx.save();
     ctx.globalAlpha = alpha;
 
+    // Subtle glow pass when edge has active particles
+    if (isActive) {
+      ctx.shadowColor = edge.color ?? style.color;
+      ctx.shadowBlur = 12;
+    }
+
     // Draw tapered bezier
     drawTaperedBezier(
       ctx,
diff --git a/packages/agent-graph/src/layout/kanbanLayout.ts b/packages/agent-graph/src/layout/kanbanLayout.ts
index 6528c542..b49b8b85 100644
--- a/packages/agent-graph/src/layout/kanbanLayout.ts
+++ b/packages/agent-graph/src/layout/kanbanLayout.ts
@@ -87,8 +87,11 @@ export class KanbanLayoutEngine {
           task.fy = task.y;
           continue;
         }
-        task.x = baseX + colIdx * columnWidth;
-        task.y = baseY + rowIdx * rowHeight;
+        const targetX = baseX + colIdx * columnWidth;
+        const targetY = baseY + rowIdx * rowHeight;
+        // Smooth slide: LERP toward target; instant on first appearance
+        task.x = task.x != null ? task.x + (targetX - task.x) * 0.15 : targetX;
+        task.y = task.y != null ? task.y + (targetY - task.y) * 0.15 : targetY;
         task.fx = task.x;
         task.fy = task.y;
         task.vx = 0;
@@ -120,8 +123,10 @@ export class KanbanLayoutEngine {
   static #layoutUnassigned(tasks: GraphNode[]): void {
     const { columnWidth, rowHeight } = KANBAN_ZONE;
     for (const [idx, task] of tasks.entries()) {
-      task.x = -400 + (idx % 3) * columnWidth;
-      task.y = 400 + Math.floor(idx / 3) * rowHeight;
+      const targetX = -400 + (idx % 3) * columnWidth;
+      const targetY = 400 + Math.floor(idx / 3) * rowHeight;
+      task.x = task.x != null ? task.x + (targetX - task.x) * 0.15 : targetX;
+      task.y = task.y != null ? task.y + (targetY - task.y) * 0.15 : targetY;
       task.fx = task.x;
       task.fy = task.y;
       task.vx = 0;
diff --git a/src/renderer/features/agent-graph/adapters/TeamGraphAdapter.ts b/src/renderer/features/agent-graph/adapters/TeamGraphAdapter.ts
index 1d2291ad..52eaebc6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/features/agent-graph/adapters/TeamGraphAdapter.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/features/agent-graph/adapters/TeamGraphAdapter.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ export class TeamGraphAdapter {
   readonly #seenRelated = new Set<string>();
   readonly #seenMessageIds = new Set<string>();
   #initialMessagesSeen = false;
+  readonly #seenCommentCounts = new Map<string, number>();
+  #initialCommentsSeen = false;
 
   // ─── Static factory ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   static create(): TeamGraphAdapter {
@@ -54,7 +56,8 @@ export class TeamGraphAdapter {
     }
 
     // Simple hash for change detection (avoids full deep equality)
-    const hash = `${teamData.teamName}:${teamData.members.length}:${teamData.tasks.length}:${teamData.messages.length}:${teamData.isAlive}:${leadContext?.percent}`;
+    const totalComments = teamData.tasks.reduce((sum, t) => sum + (t.comments?.length ?? 0), 0);
+    const hash = `${teamData.teamName}:${teamData.members.length}:${teamData.tasks.length}:${teamData.messages.length}:${teamData.isAlive}:${leadContext?.percent}:${totalComments}`;
     if (hash === this.#lastDataHash && teamName === this.#lastTeamName) {
       return this.#cachedResult;
     }
@@ -63,6 +66,8 @@ export class TeamGraphAdapter {
     if (teamName !== this.#lastTeamName) {
       this.#seenMessageIds.clear();
       this.#initialMessagesSeen = false;
+      this.#seenCommentCounts.clear();
+      this.#initialCommentsSeen = false;
     }
 
     this.#lastTeamName = teamName;
@@ -80,6 +85,7 @@ export class TeamGraphAdapter {
     this.#buildTaskNodes(nodes, edges, teamData, teamName);
     this.#buildProcessNodes(nodes, edges, teamData, teamName);
     this.#buildMessageParticles(particles, teamData.messages, teamName, leadId, edges);
+    this.#buildCommentParticles(particles, teamData, teamName, edges);
 
     this.#cachedResult = {
       nodes,
@@ -100,6 +106,8 @@ export class TeamGraphAdapter {
     this.#seenRelated.clear();
     this.#seenMessageIds.clear();
     this.#initialMessagesSeen = false;
+    this.#seenCommentCounts.clear();
+    this.#initialCommentsSeen = false;
     this.#lastDataHash = '';
   }
 
@@ -299,6 +307,57 @@ export class TeamGraphAdapter {
     }
   }
 
+  #buildCommentParticles(
+    particles: GraphParticle[],
+    data: TeamData,
+    teamName: string,
+    edges: GraphEdge[]
+  ): void {
+    // First call: record current comment counts without creating particles.
+    // This prevents pre-existing comments from spawning particles when the graph opens.
+    if (!this.#initialCommentsSeen) {
+      this.#initialCommentsSeen = true;
+      for (const task of data.tasks) {
+        this.#seenCommentCounts.set(task.id, task.comments?.length ?? 0);
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Build a member color lookup for assigning particle colors
+    const memberColors = new Map<string, string>();
+    for (const member of data.members) {
+      if (member.color) memberColors.set(member.name, member.color);
+    }
+
+    for (const task of data.tasks) {
+      if (task.status === 'deleted') continue;
+
+      const prevCount = this.#seenCommentCounts.get(task.id) ?? 0;
+      const currentCount = task.comments?.length ?? 0;
+
+      if (currentCount > prevCount && prevCount > 0) {
+        // New comment(s) detected — create a particle from the author to the task
+        const newComment = task.comments![currentCount - 1];
+        const authorNodeId = `member:${teamName}:${newComment.author}`;
+        const taskNodeId = `task:${teamName}:${task.id}`;
+        const authorEdge = edges.find((e) => e.source === authorNodeId && e.target === taskNodeId);
+
+        if (authorEdge) {
+          particles.push({
+            id: `particle:comment:${task.id}:${currentCount}`,
+            edgeId: authorEdge.id,
+            progress: 0,
+            kind: 'message',
+            color: memberColors.get(newComment.author) ?? '#cc88ff',
+            label: '\u{1F4AC}',
+          });
+        }
+      }
+
+      this.#seenCommentCounts.set(task.id, currentCount);
+    }
+  }
+
   // ─── Static mappers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   static #mapMemberStatus(status: string, spawnStatus?: string): GraphNodeState {