diff --git a/frontend/src/components/discovery/MasonryGrid.vue b/frontend/src/components/discovery/MasonryGrid.vue
index ecc43dc..7375be6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/discovery/MasonryGrid.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/discovery/MasonryGrid.vue
@@ -117,22 +117,35 @@ onUnmounted(() => observer && observer.disconnect())
 }
 .fc-masonry__end { text-align: center; padding: 32px 0; }
 
-/* IR-parity stagger fade-in for showcase entry / shuffle. 60ms between
-   items, 250ms each — matches IR's `itemFadeIn` keyframe (style.css
-   ~line 1834). Honors prefers-reduced-motion. */
+/* Cascade entry: each tile flips up out of a backward tilt and settles
+   into place, one at a time — more pronounced than a plain fade so the
+   showcase reads as an "experience" (operator-flagged 2026-05-28). The
+   `both` fill holds the hidden/tilted 0% state until each tile's staggered
+   turn; the cubic-bezier overshoots slightly past flat then settles.
+   Honors prefers-reduced-motion. Tunables: tilt (-28deg), stagger (70ms),
+   duration (0.6s). */
 @keyframes fc-masonry-item-in {
-  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(12px); }
-  to   { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
+  0% {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: perspective(1000px) rotateX(-28deg) translateY(26px) scale(0.95);
+  }
+  55% { opacity: 1; }
+  100% {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: perspective(1000px) rotateX(0deg) translateY(0) scale(1);
+  }
 }
 .fc-masonry__item--anim {
-  animation: fc-masonry-item-in 0.25s ease forwards;
-  animation-delay: calc(var(--stagger-index, 0) * 60ms);
-  opacity: 0;
+  transform-origin: center top;
+  backface-visibility: hidden;
+  animation: fc-masonry-item-in 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.45, 0.64, 1) both;
+  animation-delay: calc(var(--stagger-index, 0) * 70ms);
 }
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
   .fc-masonry__item--anim {
     animation: none;
     opacity: 1;
+    transform: none;
   }
   .fc-masonry__item img { transition: none; }
   .fc-masonry__item:hover img { transform: none; }