diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Player/PlayerAvatar.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Player/PlayerAvatar.cs
index d8cf657..6c9eaaf 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/Player/PlayerAvatar.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Player/PlayerAvatar.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ namespace Jankenbots.Prototype
         [Tooltip("Run speed in m/s.")]
         public float moveSpeed = 5f;
 
+        [Tooltip("How fast the avatar ramps UP to full speed (m/s^2). Lower = floatier start.")]
+        public float acceleration = 45f;
+
+        [Tooltip("How fast the avatar ramps DOWN to a stop (m/s^2). Higher = snappier stop.")]
+        public float deceleration = 60f;
+
         [Tooltip("How fast the avatar turns to face its movement direction (deg/s).")]
         public float turnSpeed = 720f;
 
@@ -46,6 +52,7 @@ namespace Jankenbots.Prototype
         CharacterController _cc;
         Animator _anim;
         float _vy;                 // vertical velocity (gravity)
+        Vector3 _horizVel;         // smoothed horizontal velocity (ramped, not instant)
         Vector3 _lastPos;
         float _animSpeed;
         static readonly int SpeedHash = Animator.StringToHash("Speed");
@@ -98,16 +105,23 @@ namespace Jankenbots.Prototype
 
             Vector3 input = new Vector3(h, 0f, v);
             if (input.sqrMagnitude > 1f) input.Normalize();
-            Vector3 move = input * moveSpeed;
+            Vector3 desired = input * moveSpeed;
+
+            // Ramp velocity toward the target instead of snapping — this is what kills
+            // the "jerky/jarring" feel and lets the anim blend Idle→Walk→Run smoothly.
+            float rate = input.sqrMagnitude > 0.001f ? acceleration : deceleration;
+            _horizVel = Vector3.MoveTowards(_horizVel, desired, rate * Time.deltaTime);
 
             if (_cc.isGrounded && _vy < 0f) _vy = -2f;
             _vy += gravity * Time.deltaTime;
 
-            _cc.Move((move + new Vector3(0f, _vy, 0f)) * Time.deltaTime);
+            _cc.Move((_horizVel + new Vector3(0f, _vy, 0f)) * Time.deltaTime);
 
-            if (move.sqrMagnitude > 0.01f)
+            // Face the way we're actually moving (uses the smoothed velocity, so turns
+            // ease too rather than snapping on a key change).
+            if (_horizVel.sqrMagnitude > 0.05f)
             {
-                Quaternion target = Quaternion.LookRotation(new Vector3(move.x, 0f, move.z));
+                Quaternion target = Quaternion.LookRotation(new Vector3(_horizVel.x, 0f, _horizVel.z));
                 transform.rotation = Quaternion.RotateTowards(transform.rotation, target, turnSpeed * Time.deltaTime);
             }
         }