diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-03-08-anime-animation-design.md b/docs/plans/2026-03-08-anime-animation-design.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75b3d39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-03-08-anime-animation-design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+# Anime.js Animation Integration — Design
+
+**Date:** 2026-03-08
+**Status:** Approved
+**Branch:** feat/vue-label-tab
+
+## Problem
+
+The current animation system mixes CSS keyframes, CSS transitions, and imperative inline-style bindings across three files. The seams between systems produce:
+
+- Abrupt ball pickup (instant scale/borderRadius jump)
+- No spring snap-back on release to no target
+- Rigid CSS dismissals with no timing control
+- Bucket grid and badge pop on basic `@keyframes`
+
+## Decision
+
+Integrate **Anime.js v4** as a single animation layer. Vue reactive state is unchanged; Anime.js owns all DOM motion imperatively.
+
+## Architecture
+
+One new composable, minimal changes to two existing files, CSS cleanup in two files.
+
+```
+web/src/composables/useCardAnimation.ts   ← NEW
+web/src/components/EmailCardStack.vue     ← modify
+web/src/views/LabelView.vue              ← modify
+```
+
+**Data flow:**
+```
+pointer events → Vue refs (isHeld, deltaX, deltaY, dismissType)
+                     ↓  watched by
+             useCardAnimation(cardEl, stackEl, isHeld, ...)
+                     ↓  imperatively drives
+                Anime.js → DOM transforms
+```
+
+`useCardAnimation` is a pure side-effect composable — returns nothing to the template. The `cardStyle` computed in `EmailCardStack.vue` is removed; Anime.js owns the element's transform directly.
+
+## Animation Surfaces
+
+### Pickup morph
+```
+animate(cardEl, { scale: 0.55, borderRadius: '50%', y: -80 }, { duration: 200, ease: spring(1, 80, 10) })
+```
+Replaces the instant CSS transform jump on `onPointerDown`.
+
+### Drag tracking
+Raw `cardEl.style.translate` update on `onPointerMove` — no animation, just position. Easing only at boundaries (pickup / release), not during active drag.
+
+### Snap-back
+```
+animate(cardEl, { x: 0, y: 0, scale: 1, borderRadius: '1rem' }, { ease: spring(1, 80, 10) })
+```
+Fires on `onPointerUp` when no zone/bucket target was hit.
+
+### Dismissals (replace CSS `@keyframes`)
+- **fileAway** — `animate(cardEl, { y: '-120%', scale: 0.85, opacity: 0 }, { duration: 280, ease: 'out(3)' })`
+- **crumple** — 2-step timeline: shrink + redden → `scale(0)` + rotate
+- **slideUnder** — `animate(cardEl, { x: '110%', rotate: 5, opacity: 0 }, { duration: 260 })`
+
+### Bucket grid rise
+`animate(gridEl, { y: -8, opacity: 0.45 })` on `isHeld` → true; reversed on false. Spring easing.
+
+### Badge pop
+`animate(badgeEl, { scale: [0.6, 1], opacity: [0, 1] }, { ease: spring(1.5, 80, 8), duration: 300 })` triggered on badge mount via Vue's `onMounted` lifecycle hook in a `BadgePop` wrapper component or `v-enter-active` transition hook.
+
+## Constraints
+
+### Reduced motion
+`useCardAnimation` checks `motion.rich.value` before firing any Anime.js call. If false, all animations are skipped — instant state changes only. Consistent with existing `useMotion` pattern.
+
+### Bundle size
+Anime.js v4 core ~17KB gzipped. Only `animate`, `spring`, and `createTimeline` are imported — Vite ESM tree-shaking keeps footprint minimal. The `draggable` module is not used.
+
+### Tests
+Existing `EmailCardStack.test.ts` tests emit behavior, not animation — they remain passing. Anime.js mocked at module level in Vitest via `vi.mock('animejs')` where needed.
+
+### CSS cleanup
+Remove from `EmailCardStack.vue` and `LabelView.vue`:
+- `@keyframes fileAway`, `crumple`, `slideUnder`
+- `@keyframes badge-pop`
+- `.dismiss-label`, `.dismiss-skip`, `.dismiss-discard` classes (Anime.js fires on element refs directly)
+- The `dismissClass` computed in `EmailCardStack.vue`
+
+## Files Changed
+
+| File | Change |
+|------|--------|
+| `web/package.json` | Add `animejs` dependency |
+| `web/src/composables/useCardAnimation.ts` | New — all Anime.js animation logic |
+| `web/src/components/EmailCardStack.vue` | Remove `cardStyle` computed + dismiss classes; call `useCardAnimation` |
+| `web/src/views/LabelView.vue` | Badge pop + bucket grid rise via Anime.js |
+| `web/src/assets/avocet.css` | Remove any global animation keyframes if present |