diff --git a/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/main.tsx b/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/main.tsx
index 42adab9..d125c74 100644
--- a/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/main.tsx
+++ b/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/main.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { validateAvatarDefinition, type AvatarDefinition } from '@bible-strong/avatar-core'
-import { Avatar, type AvatarController } from '@bible-strong/avatar-react'
+import { Avatar } from '@bible-strong/avatar-react'
 import '@bible-strong/avatar-react/styles.css'
-import { StrictMode, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { StrictMode, useState } from 'react'
 import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client'
 
 import definitionJson from './strobi.avatar.json'
@@ -10,39 +10,79 @@ import './styles.css'
 const validation = validateAvatarDefinition(definitionJson)
 if (!validation.ok) throw new Error(validation.errors[0]?.message)
 const definition = validation.value as AvatarDefinition
+const expressions = Object.keys(definition.expressions)
+const horizontalPosition = (expression: string) =>
+  expression.includes('left') ? 'left' : expression.includes('right') ? 'right' : 'center'
+const verticalPosition = (expression: string) =>
+  expression.includes('up') ? 'up' : expression.includes('down') ? 'down' : 'middle'
+const expressionGroups = [
+  ['up', 'left', 'Up left'],
+  ['up', 'center', 'Up'],
+  ['up', 'right', 'Up right'],
+  ['middle', 'left', 'Left'],
+  ['middle', 'center', 'Neutral'],
+  ['middle', 'right', 'Right'],
+  ['down', 'left', 'Down left'],
+  ['down', 'center', 'Down'],
+  ['down', 'right', 'Down right'],
+].map(([vertical, horizontal, label]) => ({
+  key: `${vertical}-${horizontal}`,
+  label,
+  expressions: expressions.filter(
+    expression =>
+      verticalPosition(expression) === vertical && horizontalPosition(expression) === horizontal
+  ),
+}))
+
+const formatExpressionName = (expression: string) =>
+  expression.replaceAll('-', ' ').replace(/\b\w/g, letter => letter.toUpperCase())
 
 function Demo() {
-  const controller = useRef<AvatarController>(null)
-  const [status, setStatus] = useState('neutral')
-  const play = () => {
-    const result = controller.current?.play('idle')
-    setStatus(result?.ok ? 'idle' : (result?.error.code ?? 'unavailable'))
-  }
-  const setNeutral = () => {
-    const result = controller.current?.setExpression('neutral')
-    setStatus(result?.ok ? 'neutral' : (result?.error.code ?? 'unavailable'))
-  }
+  const [expression, setExpression] = useState('neutral')
+
   return (
     <main>
       <h1>Avatar package consumer</h1>
       <section className="avatar-host" aria-label="Embedded avatar example">
         <Avatar
-          ref={controller}
           definition={definition}
+          expression={expression}
           size={240}
-          onExpressionChange={setStatus}
           ariaLabel="Embedded Strobi avatar"
         />
       </section>
-      <button type="button" onClick={play}>
-        Play idle
-      </button>
-      <button type="button" onClick={setNeutral}>
-        Set neutral
-      </button>
-      <output aria-live="polite">{status}</output>
+      <section className="expression-picker" aria-labelledby="expression-picker-title">
+        <div className="expression-picker__heading">
+          <h2 id="expression-picker-title">Available expressions ({expressions.length})</h2>
+          <output aria-live="polite">Active: {formatExpressionName(expression)}</output>
+        </div>
+        <div className="expression-picker__list">
+          {expressionGroups.map(group => (
+            <section
+              key={group.key}
+              className={`expression-picker__group expression-picker__group--${group.key}`}
+            >
+              <h3>{group.label}</h3>
+              <div className="expression-picker__group-list">
+                {group.expressions.map(key => (
+                  <button
+                    key={key}
+                    type="button"
+                    className={key === expression ? 'is-selected' : undefined}
+                    aria-pressed={key === expression}
+                    onClick={() => setExpression(key)}
+                  >
+                    {formatExpressionName(key)}
+                  </button>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </section>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      </section>
       <Avatar
         definition={definition}
+        expression={expression}
         mode="floating"
         draggable
         size={128}
diff --git a/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/styles.css b/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/styles.css
index 7cc3566..0324c1e 100644
--- a/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/styles.css
+++ b/examples/react-vite-consumer/src/styles.css
@@ -27,6 +27,136 @@ main {
   background: white;
 }
 
+.expression-picker {
+  width: min(100%, 720px);
+}
+
+.expression-picker__heading {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: baseline;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 16px;
+}
+
+.expression-picker h2 {
+  margin: 0;
+  font-size: 1.125rem;
+}
+
+.expression-picker output {
+  color: #475569;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__list {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-areas:
+    'up-left up-center up-right'
+    'middle-left middle-center middle-right'
+    'down-left down-center down-right';
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
+  grid-template-rows: 1fr 3fr 1fr;
+  align-items: center;
+  aspect-ratio: 1;
+  min-height: 640px;
+  gap: 12px;
+  margin-top: 16px;
+  padding: 32px;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  border: 1px solid #cbd5e1;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: radial-gradient(circle, #ffffff 0 28%, #eef2ff 28.25% 100%);
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group {
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group h3 {
+  margin: 0 0 8px;
+  color: #475569;
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
+  text-align: center;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--up-left {
+  grid-area: up-left;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--up-center {
+  grid-area: up-center;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--up-right {
+  grid-area: up-right;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--middle-left {
+  grid-area: middle-left;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--middle-center {
+  grid-area: middle-center;
+  padding: 16px;
+  border-radius: 24px;
+  background: white;
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgb(15 23 42 / 8%);
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--middle-center .expression-picker__group-list {
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--middle-right {
+  grid-area: middle-right;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--down-left {
+  grid-area: down-left;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--down-center {
+  grid-area: down-center;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group--down-right {
+  grid-area: down-right;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group-list {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 8px;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group button {
+  width: 100%;
+  min-height: 52px;
+  padding: 8px 12px;
+  border: 1px solid #cbd5e1;
+  border-radius: 12px;
+  color: #1e293b;
+  background: white;
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  line-height: 1.25;
+  transition:
+    border-color 160ms ease,
+    background-color 160ms ease,
+    color 160ms ease,
+    transform 160ms ease;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group button:hover {
+  border-color: #818cf8;
+  background: #eef2ff;
+}
+
+.expression-picker__group button:active {
+  transform: scale(0.98);
+}
+
 button {
   min-height: 44px;
   padding: 0 20px;
@@ -38,7 +168,46 @@ button {
   cursor: pointer;
 }
 
+button.is-selected {
+  border-color: #312e81;
+  background: #312e81;
+  color: white;
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px #c7d2fe;
+}
+
 button:focus-visible {
   outline: 3px solid #4338ca;
   outline-offset: 3px;
 }
+
+@media (max-width: 640px) {
+  .expression-picker__heading {
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: 4px;
+  }
+
+  .expression-picker__list {
+    grid-template-areas: none;
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+    grid-template-rows: none;
+    aspect-ratio: auto;
+    min-height: 0;
+    gap: 20px;
+    padding: 0;
+    border: 0;
+    border-radius: 0;
+    background: none;
+  }
+
+  .expression-picker__group {
+    grid-area: auto;
+  }
+
+  .expression-picker__group--middle-center {
+    padding: 0;
+    border-radius: 0;
+    background: none;
+    box-shadow: none;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/avatar-core/src/__tests__/core-test.ts b/packages/avatar-core/src/__tests__/core-test.ts
index b0de46f..1e491b8 100644
--- a/packages/avatar-core/src/__tests__/core-test.ts
+++ b/packages/avatar-core/src/__tests__/core-test.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,30 @@ describe('@bible-strong/avatar-core', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('interpolates and completes a direct expression transition', () => {
+    const state = {
+      ...createAvatarPlaybackState(),
+      activeExpression: 'curious-left',
+      status: 'playing' as const,
+      directTransition: {
+        from: 'neutral',
+        startedAt: 1_000,
+        durationMs: 400,
+        transition: 'smooth' as const,
+      },
+    }
+    const start = renderAvatarFrame(definition, state, 1_000, { random: () => 0.5 })
+    const midway = renderAvatarFrame(definition, state, 1_200, { random: () => 0.5 })
+    const end = renderAvatarFrame(definition, state, 1_400, { random: () => 0.5 })
+
+    expect(midway.geometry).not.toEqual(start.geometry)
+    expect(midway.geometry).not.toEqual(end.geometry)
+    expect(advanceAvatarPlayback(definition, state, 1_400, { random: () => 0.5 })).toMatchObject({
+      activeExpression: 'curious-left',
+      status: 'stopped',
+    })
+  })
+
   it('generates the same geometry through the public definition adapter', () => {
     const scene = renderAvatarDefinition(definition, 'curious-left')
     const body = bodyFromDefinition(definition.body)
diff --git a/packages/avatar-core/src/runtime.ts b/packages/avatar-core/src/runtime.ts
index eade0e1..83f0354 100644
--- a/packages/avatar-core/src/runtime.ts
+++ b/packages/avatar-core/src/runtime.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ export type AvatarPlaybackState = {
   pausedAt?: number
   blinkDueAt?: number
   blinkStartedAt?: number
+  directTransition?: {
+    from: ExpressionKey
+    startedAt: number
+    durationMs: number
+    transition: AvatarAnimationDefinition['steps'][number]['transition']
+  }
 }
 
 export type AvatarRuntimeEnvironment = {
@@ -141,6 +147,13 @@ export const advanceAvatarPlayback = (
   now: number,
   environment: AvatarRuntimeEnvironment
 ): AvatarPlaybackState => {
+  if (state.directTransition) {
+    if (now < state.directTransition.startedAt + state.directTransition.durationMs) {
+      return { ...state }
+    }
+    const { directTransition: _directTransition, ...next } = state
+    return { ...next, status: 'stopped' }
+  }
   if (state.status !== 'playing' || !state.activeAnimation) return { ...state }
   const resolved = resolveAnimation(definition, state.activeAnimation)
   if (!resolved.ok || !resolved.value.steps.length) return { ...createAvatarPlaybackState() }
@@ -241,7 +254,21 @@ export const renderAvatarFrame = (
     )
   let expression = expressionFromDefinition(state.activeExpression, targetDefinition)
   let blink = 1
-  if (state.activeAnimation) {
+  if (state.directTransition && !environment.reduceMotion) {
+    const fromDefinition = definition.expressions[state.directTransition.from]
+    if (fromDefinition) {
+      const from = expressionFromDefinition(state.directTransition.from, fromDefinition)
+      const progress = easing(
+        state.directTransition.transition,
+        (now - state.directTransition.startedAt) / Math.max(state.directTransition.durationMs, 1)
+      )
+      expression = interpolatePose(
+        poseFromExpression(from),
+        poseFromExpression(expression),
+        progress
+      ).expression
+    }
+  } else if (state.activeAnimation) {
     const resolved = resolveAnimation(definition, state.activeAnimation)
     if (resolved.ok) {
       const step = resolved.value.steps[state.stepIndex]
diff --git a/packages/avatar-react/src/Avatar.tsx b/packages/avatar-react/src/Avatar.tsx
index 1dda4cd..cd5bc53 100644
--- a/packages/avatar-react/src/Avatar.tsx
+++ b/packages/avatar-react/src/Avatar.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import { createPortal } from 'react-dom'
 import './styles.css'
 
 const validatedDefinitions = new WeakSet<object>()
+const controlledExpressionTransitionMs = 420
 
 const assertValidDefinition = (definition: AvatarDefinition) => {
   if (validatedDefinitions.has(definition)) return
@@ -107,7 +108,11 @@ const samePlayback = (left: CorePlaybackState, right: CorePlaybackState) =>
   left.phaseStartedAt === right.phaseStartedAt &&
   left.transitionFrom === right.transitionFrom &&
   left.blinkDueAt === right.blinkDueAt &&
-  left.blinkStartedAt === right.blinkStartedAt
+  left.blinkStartedAt === right.blinkStartedAt &&
+  left.directTransition?.from === right.directTransition?.from &&
+  left.directTransition?.startedAt === right.directTransition?.startedAt &&
+  left.directTransition?.durationMs === right.directTransition?.durationMs &&
+  left.directTransition?.transition === right.directTransition?.transition
 
 const samePosition = (left: AvatarPosition, right: AvatarPosition) =>
   left.x === right.x && left.y === right.y
@@ -332,7 +337,24 @@ export function Avatar({
     if (expression !== undefined) {
       const resolved = resolveExpression(definition, expression)
       if (resolved.ok) {
-        setPlayback({ ...createAvatarPlaybackState(), activeExpression: expression })
+        const current = playbackRef.current
+        const next = {
+          ...createAvatarPlaybackState(),
+          activeExpression: expression,
+          ...(current.activeExpression === expression
+            ? {}
+            : {
+                status: 'playing' as const,
+                directTransition: {
+                  from: current.activeExpression,
+                  startedAt: performance.now(),
+                  durationMs: controlledExpressionTransitionMs,
+                  transition: 'smooth' as const,
+                },
+              }),
+        }
+        playbackRef.current = next
+        setPlayback(next)
       }
       return
     }
@@ -470,6 +492,12 @@ export function Avatar({
 
   const startDrag = (event: ReactPointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
     if (!draggable || event.button !== 0) return
+    if (
+      mode === 'floating' &&
+      !(event.target instanceof Element && event.target.closest('.bs-avatar__drag-grip'))
+    ) {
+      return
+    }
     event.currentTarget.setPointerCapture(event.pointerId)
     drag.current = {
       pointerId: event.pointerId,
@@ -545,7 +573,9 @@ export function Avatar({
       role={draggable ? 'group' : 'img'}
       aria-label={ariaLabel}
       aria-description={
-        draggable ? 'Use arrow keys or move controls to reposition the avatar.' : undefined
+        draggable
+          ? 'Use the drag handle, arrow keys or move controls to reposition the avatar.'
+          : undefined
       }
       tabIndex={draggable ? 0 : undefined}
       onPointerDown={startDrag}
@@ -565,6 +595,7 @@ export function Avatar({
         event.preventDefault()
       }}
     >
+      {draggable && <div className="bs-avatar__drag-grip" aria-hidden="true" title="Drag avatar" />}
       <svg className="bs-avatar__svg" viewBox="-150 -150 300 300" aria-hidden="true">
         <defs>
           <clipPath id={clipId}>
diff --git a/packages/avatar-react/src/__tests__/avatar-test.tsx b/packages/avatar-react/src/__tests__/avatar-test.tsx
index b2ffbcd..32c632f 100644
--- a/packages/avatar-react/src/__tests__/avatar-test.tsx
+++ b/packages/avatar-react/src/__tests__/avatar-test.tsx
@@ -137,6 +137,18 @@ describe('@bible-strong/avatar-react', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('smoothly transitions when a controlled expression changes', () => {
+    const controller = createRef<AvatarController>()
+    const view = render(<Avatar definition={definition} expression="neutral" ref={controller} />)
+
+    view.rerender(<Avatar definition={definition} expression="smile" ref={controller} />)
+
+    expect(controller.current?.getState()).toEqual({
+      activeExpression: 'smile',
+      status: 'playing',
+    })
+  })
+
   it('rejects simultaneous controlled animation and expression props', () => {
     const errors = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => undefined)
     expect(() =>
@@ -226,6 +238,29 @@ describe('@bible-strong/avatar-react', () => {
     expect(previews.length).toBeLessThanOrEqual(1)
   })
 
+  it('uses the visible grip as the floating avatar drag target', () => {
+    const view = render(
+      <Avatar
+        definition={definition}
+        mode="floating"
+        draggable
+        constrainTo="none"
+        initialPosition={{ x: 0, y: 0 }}
+      />
+    )
+    const avatar = view.getByRole('group')
+    const grip = avatar.querySelector('.bs-avatar__drag-grip')
+    expect(grip).not.toBeNull()
+
+    fireEvent.pointerDown(avatar, { pointerId: 8, button: 0, clientX: 0, clientY: 0 })
+    fireEvent.pointerMove(avatar, { pointerId: 8, clientX: 20, clientY: 20 })
+    expect(avatar.style.transform).toBe('translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)')
+
+    fireEvent.pointerDown(grip!, { pointerId: 9, button: 0, clientX: 0, clientY: 0 })
+    fireEvent.pointerMove(avatar, { pointerId: 9, clientX: 20, clientY: 20 })
+    expect(avatar.style.transform).toBe('translate3d(20px, 20px, 0)')
+  })
+
   it('limits drag previews to one callback per animation frame with the latest position', () => {
     let nextFrame = 0
     const frames = new Map<number, FrameRequestCallback>()
diff --git a/packages/avatar-react/src/styles.css b/packages/avatar-react/src/styles.css
index 86caa5f..efd3cbb 100644
--- a/packages/avatar-react/src/styles.css
+++ b/packages/avatar-react/src/styles.css
@@ -27,6 +27,55 @@
   cursor: grabbing;
 }
 
+.bs-avatar--floating.bs-avatar--draggable {
+  cursor: default;
+}
+
+.bs-avatar__drag-grip {
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 1;
+  top: 4px;
+  left: 50%;
+  width: 44px;
+  height: 28px;
+  border: 1px solid rgb(15 23 42 / 18%);
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  background: rgb(255 255 255 / 92%);
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgb(15 23 42 / 14%);
+  cursor: grab;
+  opacity: 0;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  touch-action: none;
+  transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(-4px);
+  transition:
+    opacity 160ms ease,
+    transform 160ms ease;
+}
+
+.bs-avatar__drag-grip::before {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 8px;
+  left: 13px;
+  width: 18px;
+  height: 12px;
+  content: '';
+  background-image: radial-gradient(circle, #475569 1.5px, transparent 1.7px);
+  background-size: 6px 6px;
+}
+
+.bs-avatar--dragging .bs-avatar__drag-grip {
+  cursor: grabbing;
+}
+
+.bs-avatar:hover .bs-avatar__drag-grip,
+.bs-avatar:focus-visible .bs-avatar__drag-grip,
+.bs-avatar:focus-within .bs-avatar__drag-grip,
+.bs-avatar--dragging .bs-avatar__drag-grip {
+  opacity: 1;
+  pointer-events: auto;
+  transform: translateX(-50%);
+}
+
 .bs-avatar:focus-visible {
   outline: 3px solid currentColor;
   outline-offset: 3px;
@@ -89,6 +138,14 @@
   opacity: 0.75;
 }
 
+@media (hover: none) {
+  .bs-avatar__drag-grip {
+    opacity: 1;
+    pointer-events: auto;
+    transform: translateX(-50%);
+  }
+}
+
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
   .bs-avatar,
   .bs-avatar * {