diff --git a/scenes/splash.gd b/scenes/splash.gd
index ddfeab8..a7fab4a 100644
--- a/scenes/splash.gd
+++ b/scenes/splash.gd
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 extends Control
 
 
-@onready var zoom_node: Node2D = %ZoomNode
-@onready var wrapper: Control = %Wrapper
 @onready var v_label: Label = %VLabel
 @onready var panel_label: Label = %PanelLabel
 @onready var transition_overlay: ColorRect = %TransitionOverlay
+@onready var vbox: VBoxContainer = %VBox
+
+var _v_end_size: int
+var _p_end_size: int
 
 
 func _ready() -> void:
@@ -14,48 +16,37 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 
 	var screen_size: Vector2 = get_viewport_rect().size
 
-	# Position Node2D at screen center — its transform (scale) will
-	# zoom everything from this point, giving a proper zoom-in effect.
-	zoom_node.position = screen_size * 0.5
+	# Enormous end font sizes — a large fraction of screen height.
+	_v_end_size = maxi(1, int(screen_size.y * 0.55))
+	_p_end_size = maxi(1, int(screen_size.y * 0.30))
 
-	# Size wrapper to cover the screen, offset so its center aligns
-	# with the Node2D origin at screen center.
-	wrapper.size = screen_size
-	wrapper.position = -screen_size * 0.5
-
-	# Set font sizes proportional to viewport height so they look
-	# consistently large at any resolution.
-	var v_size: int = maxi(1, int(screen_size.y * 0.42))
-	var p_size: int = maxi(1, int(screen_size.y * 0.22))
-	v_label.add_theme_font_size_override("normal_font_size", v_size)
-	panel_label.add_theme_font_size_override("normal_font_size", p_size)
-
-	# Initial state: tiny + invisible inside the zoom node
-	zoom_node.scale = Vector2(0.01, 0.01)
-	zoom_node.modulate = Color(1, 1, 1, 0)
+	# Start tiny and invisible
+	v_label.add_theme_font_size_override("normal_font_size", 4)
+	panel_label.add_theme_font_size_override("normal_font_size", 4)
+	vbox.modulate = Color(1, 1, 1, 0)
 	transition_overlay.color = Color(0, 0, 0, 1)
 
 	await get_tree().process_frame
 
-	# Fade overlay away (reveal clean background)
+	# Reveal background
 	var reveal := create_tween()
 	reveal.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 0), 0.4)
 	await reveal.finished
 
-	# Phase 1: Zoom in + fade in (parallel)
-	# Node2D scale produces a true zoom, not just font-size growth.
-	var zoom_in := create_tween()
-	zoom_in.set_parallel(true)
-	zoom_in.tween_property(zoom_node, "scale", Vector2(1.0, 1.0), 2.0).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT).set_trans(Tween.TRANS_BACK)
-	zoom_in.tween_property(zoom_node, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 1), 1.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT)
-	await zoom_in.finished
+	# Phase 1: Grow font sizes + fade in (parallel)
+	# Pure font-size animation — no transforms, no containers to fight.
+	var grow := create_tween()
+	grow.set_parallel(true)
+	grow.tween_method(_set_sizes, 0.0, 1.0, 2.0).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT).set_trans(Tween.TRANS_BACK)
+	grow.tween_property(vbox, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 1), 1.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT)
+	await grow.finished
 
 	# Phase 2: Hold
 	await get_tree().create_timer(1.0).timeout
 
 	# Phase 3: Fade out
 	var fade_out := create_tween()
-	fade_out.tween_property(zoom_node, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 0), 0.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN)
+	fade_out.tween_property(vbox, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 0), 0.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN)
 	await fade_out.finished
 
 	# Phase 4: Crossfade to dashboard
@@ -73,3 +64,10 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	remove_child(dashboard)
 	get_tree().root.add_child(dashboard)
 	queue_free()
+
+
+func _set_sizes(progress: float) -> void:
+	var v_size: int = maxi(1, int(round(4 + progress * (_v_end_size - 4))))
+	var p_size: int = maxi(1, int(round(4 + progress * (_p_end_size - 4))))
+	v_label.add_theme_font_size_override("normal_font_size", v_size)
+	panel_label.add_theme_font_size_override("normal_font_size", p_size)
diff --git a/scenes/splash.tscn b/scenes/splash.tscn
index 1d2f85c..129abc9 100644
--- a/scenes/splash.tscn
+++ b/scenes/splash.tscn
@@ -30,25 +30,18 @@ anchor_bottom = 1.0
 mouse_filter = 2
 color = Color(0.08, 0.08, 0.12, 1.0)
 
-[node name="ZoomNode" type="Node2D" parent="."]
-unique_name_in_owner = true
-
-[node name="Wrapper" type="Control" parent="ZoomNode"]
-unique_name_in_owner = true
-mouse_filter = 2
-
-[node name="Center" type="CenterContainer" parent="ZoomNode/Wrapper"]
-layout_mode = 1
+[node name="Center" type="CenterContainer" parent="."]
 anchors_preset = 15
 anchor_right = 1.0
 anchor_bottom = 1.0
 mouse_filter = 2
 
-[node name="VBox" type="VBoxContainer" parent="ZoomNode/Wrapper/Center"]
+[node name="VBox" type="VBoxContainer" parent="Center"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
 layout_mode = 2
 theme_override_constants/separation = 0
 
-[node name="VLabel" type="Label" parent="ZoomNode/Wrapper/Center/VBox"]
+[node name="VLabel" type="Label" parent="Center/VBox"]
 unique_name_in_owner = true
 layout_mode = 2
 theme_override_fonts/normal_font = SubResource("FontVariation_ijphb")
@@ -59,7 +52,7 @@ text = "V"
 horizontal_alignment = 1
 vertical_alignment = 1
 
-[node name="PanelLabel" type="Label" parent="ZoomNode/Wrapper/Center/VBox"]
+[node name="PanelLabel" type="Label" parent="Center/VBox"]
 unique_name_in_owner = true
 layout_mode = 2
 theme_override_fonts/normal_font = SubResource("FontVariation_boeqg")