diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index b549577..485320f 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { OrbitControls } from 'three/addons/controls/OrbitControls.js';
 import { EffectComposer } from 'three/addons/postprocessing/EffectComposer.js';
 import { RenderPass } from 'three/addons/postprocessing/RenderPass.js';
 import { BokehPass } from 'three/addons/postprocessing/BokehPass.js';
+import { LoadingManager } from 'three';
 
 // === COLOR PALETTE ===
 const NEXUS = {
@@ -16,6 +17,26 @@ const NEXUS = {
   }
 };
 
+// === ASSET LOADER ===
+const loadedAssets = new Map();
+
+const loadingManager = new THREE.LoadingManager(() => {
+  document.getElementById('loading-bar').style.width = '100%';
+  document.getElementById('loading').style.display = 'none';
+  animate();
+});
+
+loadingManager.onProgress = (url, itemsLoaded, itemsTotal) => {
+  const progress = (itemsLoaded / itemsTotal) * 100;
+  document.getElementById('loading-bar').style.width = `${progress}%`;
+};
+
+// Simulate loading a texture for demonstration
+const textureLoader = new THREE.TextureLoader(loadingManager);
+textureLoader.load('placeholder-texture.jpg', (texture) => {
+  loadedAssets.set('placeholder-texture', texture);
+});
+
 // === SCENE SETUP ===
 const scene = new THREE.Scene();
 scene.background = new THREE.Color(NEXUS.colors.bg);
@@ -327,6 +348,7 @@ const clock = new THREE.Clock();
  * @returns {void}
  */
 function animate() {
+  // Only start animation after assets are loaded
   requestAnimationFrame(animate);
   const elapsed = clock.getElapsedTime();
 
@@ -591,6 +613,9 @@ async function initCommitBanners() {
       { hash: 'm0n1o2p', message: 'feat: overview mode bird\'s-eye view' },
       { hash: 'q3r4s5t', message: 'feat: star field and constellation lines' },
     ];
+
+    // Load commit banners after assets are ready
+    initCommitBanners();
   }
 
   const spreadX = [-7, -3.5, 0, 3.5, 7];
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 5e67846..795f24e 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -49,5 +49,8 @@
   <div id="sovereignty-msg">⚡ SOVEREIGNTY ⚡</div>
 
   <script type="module" src="app.js"></script>
+<div id="loading" style="position: fixed; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; height: 4px; background: #222; z-index: 1000;">
+  <div id="loading-bar" style="height: 100%; background: var(--color-accent); width: 0;"></div>
+</div>
 </body>
 </html>