diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs
index 079f70e226..e44081f761 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::time::Duration;
+use std::time::Instant;
 
 use super::ChatWidget;
 use crate::app_event::AppEvent;
@@ -7,6 +9,9 @@ use crate::bottom_pane::SelectionItem;
 use crate::bottom_pane::SelectionViewParams;
 use crate::history_cell;
 use crate::render::renderable::ColumnRenderable;
+use crate::render::renderable::Renderable;
+use crate::shimmer::shimmer_spans;
+use crate::tui::FrameRequester;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginDetail;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginInstallPolicy;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginInstallResponse;
@@ -17,10 +22,76 @@ use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginSummary;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginUninstallResponse;
 use codex_features::Feature;
 use codex_utils_absolute_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
+use ratatui::buffer::Buffer;
+use ratatui::layout::Rect;
 use ratatui::style::Stylize;
 use ratatui::text::Line;
+use ratatui::widgets::Paragraph;
+use ratatui::widgets::WidgetRef;
 
 const PLUGINS_SELECTION_VIEW_ID: &str = "plugins-selection";
+const LOADING_ANIMATION_DELAY: Duration = Duration::from_secs(1);
+const LOADING_ANIMATION_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(100);
+
+struct DelayedLoadingHeader {
+    started_at: Instant,
+    frame_requester: FrameRequester,
+    animations_enabled: bool,
+    loading_text: String,
+    note: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl DelayedLoadingHeader {
+    fn new(
+        frame_requester: FrameRequester,
+        animations_enabled: bool,
+        loading_text: String,
+        note: Option<String>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            started_at: Instant::now(),
+            frame_requester,
+            animations_enabled,
+            loading_text,
+            note,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Renderable for DelayedLoadingHeader {
+    fn render(&self, area: Rect, buf: &mut Buffer) {
+        if area.is_empty() {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let mut lines = Vec::with_capacity(3);
+        lines.push(Line::from("Plugins".bold()));
+
+        let now = Instant::now();
+        let elapsed = now.saturating_duration_since(self.started_at);
+        if elapsed < LOADING_ANIMATION_DELAY {
+            self.frame_requester
+                .schedule_frame_in(LOADING_ANIMATION_DELAY - elapsed);
+            lines.push(Line::from(self.loading_text.as_str().dim()));
+        } else if self.animations_enabled {
+            self.frame_requester
+                .schedule_frame_in(LOADING_ANIMATION_INTERVAL);
+            lines.push(Line::from(shimmer_spans(self.loading_text.as_str())));
+        } else {
+            lines.push(Line::from(self.loading_text.as_str().dim()));
+        }
+
+        if let Some(note) = &self.note {
+            lines.push(Line::from(note.as_str().dim()));
+        }
+
+        Paragraph::new(lines).render_ref(area, buf);
+    }
+
+    fn desired_height(&self, _width: u16) -> u16 {
+        2 + u16::from(self.note.is_some())
+    }
+}
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 pub(super) enum PluginsCacheState {
@@ -474,16 +545,14 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     }
 
     fn plugins_loading_popup_params(&self) -> SelectionViewParams {
-        let mut header = ColumnRenderable::new();
-        header.push(Line::from("Plugins".bold()));
-        header.push(Line::from("Loading available plugins...".dim()));
-        header.push(Line::from(
-            "Available marketplaces will appear here when ready.".dim(),
-        ));
-
         SelectionViewParams {
             view_id: Some(PLUGINS_SELECTION_VIEW_ID),
-            header: Box::new(header),
+            header: Box::new(DelayedLoadingHeader::new(
+                self.frame_requester.clone(),
+                self.config.animations,
+                "Loading available plugins...".to_string(),
+                Some("This first pass shows the ChatGPT marketplace only.".to_string()),
+            )),
             items: vec![SelectionItem {
                 name: "Loading plugins...".to_string(),
                 description: Some("This updates when the marketplace list is ready.".to_string()),
@@ -495,15 +564,14 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     }
 
     fn plugin_detail_loading_popup_params(&self, plugin_display_name: &str) -> SelectionViewParams {
-        let mut header = ColumnRenderable::new();
-        header.push(Line::from("Plugins".bold()));
-        header.push(Line::from(
-            format!("Loading details for {plugin_display_name}...").dim(),
-        ));
-
         SelectionViewParams {
             view_id: Some(PLUGINS_SELECTION_VIEW_ID),
-            header: Box::new(header),
+            header: Box::new(DelayedLoadingHeader::new(
+                self.frame_requester.clone(),
+                self.config.animations,
+                format!("Loading details for {plugin_display_name}..."),
+                /*note*/ None,
+            )),
             items: vec![SelectionItem {
                 name: "Loading plugin details...".to_string(),
                 description: Some("This updates when plugin details load.".to_string()),
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap
index 42eff7f81f..2b0f6837eb 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@ expression: popup
 ---
   Plugins
   Loading available plugins...
-  Available marketplaces will appear here when ready.
+  This first pass shows the ChatGPT marketplace only.
 
 ›    Loading plugins...  This updates when the marketplace list is ready.
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs b/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs
index 079f70e226..e44081f761 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/plugins.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::time::Duration;
+use std::time::Instant;
 
 use super::ChatWidget;
 use crate::app_event::AppEvent;
@@ -7,6 +9,9 @@ use crate::bottom_pane::SelectionItem;
 use crate::bottom_pane::SelectionViewParams;
 use crate::history_cell;
 use crate::render::renderable::ColumnRenderable;
+use crate::render::renderable::Renderable;
+use crate::shimmer::shimmer_spans;
+use crate::tui::FrameRequester;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginDetail;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginInstallPolicy;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginInstallResponse;
@@ -17,10 +22,76 @@ use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginSummary;
 use codex_app_server_protocol::PluginUninstallResponse;
 use codex_features::Feature;
 use codex_utils_absolute_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
+use ratatui::buffer::Buffer;
+use ratatui::layout::Rect;
 use ratatui::style::Stylize;
 use ratatui::text::Line;
+use ratatui::widgets::Paragraph;
+use ratatui::widgets::WidgetRef;
 
 const PLUGINS_SELECTION_VIEW_ID: &str = "plugins-selection";
+const LOADING_ANIMATION_DELAY: Duration = Duration::from_secs(1);
+const LOADING_ANIMATION_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(100);
+
+struct DelayedLoadingHeader {
+    started_at: Instant,
+    frame_requester: FrameRequester,
+    animations_enabled: bool,
+    loading_text: String,
+    note: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl DelayedLoadingHeader {
+    fn new(
+        frame_requester: FrameRequester,
+        animations_enabled: bool,
+        loading_text: String,
+        note: Option<String>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            started_at: Instant::now(),
+            frame_requester,
+            animations_enabled,
+            loading_text,
+            note,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Renderable for DelayedLoadingHeader {
+    fn render(&self, area: Rect, buf: &mut Buffer) {
+        if area.is_empty() {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let mut lines = Vec::with_capacity(3);
+        lines.push(Line::from("Plugins".bold()));
+
+        let now = Instant::now();
+        let elapsed = now.saturating_duration_since(self.started_at);
+        if elapsed < LOADING_ANIMATION_DELAY {
+            self.frame_requester
+                .schedule_frame_in(LOADING_ANIMATION_DELAY - elapsed);
+            lines.push(Line::from(self.loading_text.as_str().dim()));
+        } else if self.animations_enabled {
+            self.frame_requester
+                .schedule_frame_in(LOADING_ANIMATION_INTERVAL);
+            lines.push(Line::from(shimmer_spans(self.loading_text.as_str())));
+        } else {
+            lines.push(Line::from(self.loading_text.as_str().dim()));
+        }
+
+        if let Some(note) = &self.note {
+            lines.push(Line::from(note.as_str().dim()));
+        }
+
+        Paragraph::new(lines).render_ref(area, buf);
+    }
+
+    fn desired_height(&self, _width: u16) -> u16 {
+        2 + u16::from(self.note.is_some())
+    }
+}
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 pub(super) enum PluginsCacheState {
@@ -474,16 +545,14 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     }
 
     fn plugins_loading_popup_params(&self) -> SelectionViewParams {
-        let mut header = ColumnRenderable::new();
-        header.push(Line::from("Plugins".bold()));
-        header.push(Line::from("Loading available plugins...".dim()));
-        header.push(Line::from(
-            "Available marketplaces will appear here when ready.".dim(),
-        ));
-
         SelectionViewParams {
             view_id: Some(PLUGINS_SELECTION_VIEW_ID),
-            header: Box::new(header),
+            header: Box::new(DelayedLoadingHeader::new(
+                self.frame_requester.clone(),
+                self.config.animations,
+                "Loading available plugins...".to_string(),
+                Some("This first pass shows the ChatGPT marketplace only.".to_string()),
+            )),
             items: vec![SelectionItem {
                 name: "Loading plugins...".to_string(),
                 description: Some("This updates when the marketplace list is ready.".to_string()),
@@ -495,15 +564,14 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     }
 
     fn plugin_detail_loading_popup_params(&self, plugin_display_name: &str) -> SelectionViewParams {
-        let mut header = ColumnRenderable::new();
-        header.push(Line::from("Plugins".bold()));
-        header.push(Line::from(
-            format!("Loading details for {plugin_display_name}...").dim(),
-        ));
-
         SelectionViewParams {
             view_id: Some(PLUGINS_SELECTION_VIEW_ID),
-            header: Box::new(header),
+            header: Box::new(DelayedLoadingHeader::new(
+                self.frame_requester.clone(),
+                self.config.animations,
+                format!("Loading details for {plugin_display_name}..."),
+                /*note*/ None,
+            )),
             items: vec![SelectionItem {
                 name: "Loading plugin details...".to_string(),
                 description: Some("This updates when plugin details load.".to_string()),
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui_app_server__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap b/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui_app_server__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap
index 846c73fe47..f1f18c1eaf 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui_app_server__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap
+++ b/codex-rs/tui_app_server/src/chatwidget/snapshots/codex_tui_app_server__chatwidget__tests__plugins_popup_loading_state.snap
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@ expression: popup
 ---
   Plugins
   Loading available plugins...
-  Available marketplaces will appear here when ready.
+  This first pass shows the ChatGPT marketplace only.
 
 ›    Loading plugins...  This updates when the marketplace list is ready.