diff --git a/scenes/splash.gd b/scenes/splash.gd
index 70c91c6..c520af1 100644
--- a/scenes/splash.gd
+++ b/scenes/splash.gd
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 
 	# Initial state: hidden text container, black overlay
 	text_container.modulate = Color(1, 1, 1, 0)
-	text_container.scale = Vector2(0.25, 0.25)
+	text_container.scale = Vector2(0.05, 0.05)
 	transition_overlay.color = Color(0, 0, 0, 1)
 
 	# Let the layout settle
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	reveal.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 0), 0.4)
 	await reveal.finished
 
-	# Phase 1: Zoom in and fade in
+	# Phase 1: Dramatic zoom in + fade in
 	var zoom_in := create_tween()
 	zoom_in.set_parallel(true)
-	zoom_in.tween_property(text_container, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 1), 1.5).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT)
-	zoom_in.tween_property(text_container, "scale", Vector2(1.0, 1.0), 1.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT).set_trans(Tween.TRANS_CUBIC)
+	zoom_in.tween_property(text_container, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 1), 1.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT)
+	zoom_in.tween_property(text_container, "scale", Vector2(1.0, 1.0), 2.0).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT).set_trans(Tween.TRANS_BACK)
 	await zoom_in.finished
 
 	# Phase 2: Hold
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 
 	# Phase 3: Fade out
 	var fade_out := create_tween()
-	fade_out.tween_property(text_container, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 0), 1.0).set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN)
+	fade_out.tween_property(text_container, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 0), 0.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN)
 	await fade_out.finished
 
 	# Phase 4: Crossfade to dashboard
 	var to_black := create_tween()
-	to_black.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 1), 0.4)
+	to_black.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 1), 0.3)
 	await to_black.finished
 
 	var dashboard := preload("res://scenes/dashboard.tscn").instantiate()
@@ -50,4 +50,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	from_black.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 0), 0.6)
 	await from_black.finished
 
+	# Reparent dashboard to scene root so it survives splash's queue_free
+	remove_child(dashboard)
+	get_tree().root.add_child(dashboard)
 	queue_free()
diff --git a/scenes/splash.tscn b/scenes/splash.tscn
index 9ffa1ea..b80a06d 100644
--- a/scenes/splash.tscn
+++ b/scenes/splash.tscn
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ theme_override_constants/separation = 0
 unique_name_in_owner = true
 layout_mode = 2
 theme_override_fonts/normal_font = SubResource("FontVariation_ijphb")
-theme_override_font_sizes/normal_font_size = 128
+theme_override_font_sizes/normal_font_size = 256
 theme_override_colors/font_color = Color(0.933, 0.271, 0.376, 1.0)
-theme_override_constants/outline_size = 4
+theme_override_constants/outline_size = 6
 theme_override_colors/font_outline_color = Color(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.6)
 text = "V"
 horizontal_alignment = 1
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ horizontal_alignment = 1
 [node name="PanelLabel" type="Label" parent="Center/TextContainer"]
 layout_mode = 2
 theme_override_fonts/normal_font = SubResource("FontVariation_boeqg")
-theme_override_font_sizes/normal_font_size = 72
+theme_override_font_sizes/normal_font_size = 144
 theme_override_colors/font_color = Color(0.7, 0.7, 0.8, 1.0)
-theme_override_constants/outline_size = 2
+theme_override_constants/outline_size = 4
 theme_override_colors/font_outline_color = Color(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.5)
 text = "Panel"
 horizontal_alignment = 1