diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/app/globals.css b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/app/globals.css
index c510cac..de2fef0 100644
--- a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/app/globals.css
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/app/globals.css
@@ -274,6 +274,27 @@
   animation: stepIn 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1) forwards;
 }
 
+@keyframes cardIn {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: translateY(10px);
+  }
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: translateY(0);
+  }
+}
+
+.animate-card-in {
+  animation: cardIn 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.23, 1, 0.32, 1) forwards;
+}
+
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .animate-card-in {
+    animation: none !important;
+  }
+}
+
 .animate-text-glow {
   animation: textGlow 2.2s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/ai-elements/todo-checkbox.tsx b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/ai-elements/todo-checkbox.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..62a4c46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/ai-elements/todo-checkbox.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { memo, type ComponentProps } from "react";
+import {
+  getTodoCheckboxContainerClass,
+  IN_PROGRESS_TODO_GLYPH,
+  type TodoCheckboxStatus,
+} from "./todoCheckboxModel";
+
+export type TodoCheckboxProps = ComponentProps<"span"> & {
+  status?: TodoCheckboxStatus;
+};
+
+export const TodoCheckbox = memo(
+  ({ status = "pending", className, ...props }: TodoCheckboxProps) => (
+    <span
+      aria-hidden
+      className={cn(
+        "inline-flex h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-[3px] transition-all duration-300",
+        getTodoCheckboxContainerClass(status),
+        className
+      )}
+      {...props}
+    >
+      {status === "in_progress" ? (
+        <span className="text-[9px] leading-none text-muted-foreground">
+          {IN_PROGRESS_TODO_GLYPH}
+        </span>
+      ) : null}
+      {status === "completed" ? (
+        <svg
+          className="h-2.5 w-2.5"
+          fill="none"
+          viewBox="0 0 10 10"
+          xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+        >
+          <path
+            d="M2 5.4L4.1 7.4L8 3.2"
+            stroke="currentColor"
+            strokeLinecap="round"
+            strokeLinejoin="round"
+            strokeWidth="1.6"
+          />
+        </svg>
+      ) : null}
+    </span>
+  )
+);
+
+TodoCheckbox.displayName = "TodoCheckbox";
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/ai-elements/todoCheckboxModel.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/ai-elements/todoCheckboxModel.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f00892e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/ai-elements/todoCheckboxModel.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+export type TodoCheckboxStatus = "pending" | "in_progress" | "completed";
+
+export const IN_PROGRESS_TODO_GLYPH = "\u2734\uFE0E";
+
+export function getTodoCheckboxContainerClass(
+  status: TodoCheckboxStatus
+): string {
+  if (status === "completed") {
+    return "border-0 bg-muted-foreground/60 text-white";
+  }
+  if (status === "in_progress") {
+    return "border-[1.5px] border-muted-foreground/50 bg-transparent";
+  }
+  return "border-[1.5px] border-muted-foreground/30 bg-transparent";
+}
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ApprovalRenderer.tsx b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ApprovalRenderer.tsx
index 83d75eb..cdea799 100644
--- a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ApprovalRenderer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ApprovalRenderer.tsx
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ export const ApprovalRenderer = memo(function ApprovalRenderer({
   const isPending = item.decision === 'pending';
 
   return (
-    <div className="rounded-lg border border-border bg-card px-3 py-2">
+    <div className="animate-card-in rounded-2xl border border-border bg-card px-5 py-4">
       <div className="mb-2 flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
-        <span className="text-sm font-medium">Approval</span>
+        <span className="text-[0.88rem] font-semibold">Approval</span>
         <span
           className={cn(
             'inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full border px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] font-medium',
@@ -40,20 +40,22 @@ export const ApprovalRenderer = memo(function ApprovalRenderer({
         </span>
       </div>
 
-      <p className="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-sm text-muted-foreground">{summary}</p>
+      <p className="whitespace-pre-wrap break-words text-[0.8rem] leading-relaxed text-muted-foreground">
+        {summary}
+      </p>
 
       {isPending && (
         <div className="mt-3 flex items-center justify-end gap-2">
           <button
             type="button"
-            className="inline-flex h-8 items-center rounded-md border border-border px-3 text-xs font-medium hover:bg-muted"
+            className="inline-flex items-center rounded-[10px] border border-border px-4 py-2 text-[0.8rem] font-medium hover:bg-muted"
             onClick={() => dispatchApprovalDecision(onDecision, item.id, item.runId, 'rejected')}
           >
             Reject
           </button>
           <button
             type="button"
-            className="inline-flex h-8 items-center rounded-md bg-foreground px-3 text-xs font-medium text-background hover:bg-foreground/90"
+            className="inline-flex items-center rounded-[10px] bg-foreground px-4 py-2 text-[0.8rem] font-medium text-background transition-transform hover:bg-foreground/90 active:scale-[0.97]"
             onClick={() => dispatchApprovalDecision(onDecision, item.id, item.runId, 'approved')}
           >
             Approve
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ToolRenderer.tsx b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ToolRenderer.tsx
index ebd36e3..65bfeef 100644
--- a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ToolRenderer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/ToolRenderer.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use client';
 
 import { memo } from 'react';
+import { ChevronDownIcon } from 'lucide-react';
 import {
   Tool,
   ToolHeader,
@@ -8,15 +9,20 @@ import {
   ToolInput,
   ToolOutput,
 } from '../../ai-elements/tool';
+import { StepDot } from '../../ai-elements/step-dot';
+import { TodoCheckbox } from '../../ai-elements/todo-checkbox';
 import {
-  Queue,
-  QueueList,
-  QueueItem,
-  QueueItemIndicator,
-  QueueItemContent,
-} from '../../ai-elements/queue';
+  Collapsible,
+  CollapsibleContent,
+  CollapsibleTrigger,
+} from '../../ui/collapsible';
 import type { ToolItem } from '../../../types/chatRenderItem';
 import { parseTodosFromToolPayload } from './toolTodoParser';
+import {
+  getToolTodoStepPhase,
+  getToolTodoTextClass,
+  shouldShowToolTodoChevron,
+} from './toolTodoViewModel';
 
 /**
  * Convert snake_case or camelCase to Title Case
@@ -94,11 +100,14 @@ function shortenParam(value: string, fieldType: string): string {
 /**
  * Extract actual content from ToolMessage wrapper
  */
-function extractContent(output: any): any {
-  if (!output) return null;
+function extractContent(output: unknown): unknown {
+  if (output == null) return null;
   // Handle ToolMessage wrapper: { type: "tool", content: "...", tool_call_id: "..." }
-  if (typeof output === 'object' && output.content !== undefined) {
-    return output.content;
+  if (typeof output === 'object') {
+    const toolMessage = output as { content?: unknown };
+    if (toolMessage.content !== undefined) {
+      return toolMessage.content;
+    }
   }
   return output;
 }
@@ -106,11 +115,16 @@ function extractContent(output: any): any {
 /**
  * Get first meaningful item from tool output for preview
  */
-function getFirstMeaningfulItem(output: any): string | null {
+function getFirstMeaningfulItem(output: unknown): string | null {
   const content = extractContent(output);
-  if (!content) return null;
+  if (content == null) return null;
 
-  const str = typeof content === 'string' ? content : JSON.stringify(content);
+  const serializedContent =
+    typeof content === 'string' ? content : JSON.stringify(content);
+  if (typeof serializedContent !== 'string' || !serializedContent.trim()) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const str = serializedContent;
 
   // Array format: try to parse and get first element
   if (str.startsWith('[')) {
@@ -154,38 +168,44 @@ export const ToolRenderer = memo(function ToolRenderer({
   // Special handling for write_todos tool
   if (item.toolName === 'write_todos') {
     const todos = parseTodosFromToolPayload(item.input, item.output);
-    const completedCount = todos.filter(t => t.status === 'completed').length;
-    const isLoading = item.state === 'pending';
+    const showChevron = shouldShowToolTodoChevron(item.state);
 
     return (
-      <Queue>
-        <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm text-muted-foreground px-1">
-          <span className="font-medium">
-            {isLoading ? 'Updating todos...' : `Tasks (${completedCount}/${todos.length})`}
+      <Collapsible className="not-prose text-xs group" defaultOpen={true}>
+        <CollapsibleTrigger
+          className="group/step flex w-full items-center gap-2.5 rounded-[10px] px-2 py-2 pr-3 transition-colors hover:bg-muted/50 disabled:cursor-default"
+          disabled={!showChevron}
+        >
+          <StepDot phase={getToolTodoStepPhase(item.state)} />
+          <span className="font-semibold text-[0.85rem] shrink-0">
+            Update Todos
           </span>
-        </div>
+          {showChevron ? (
+            <ChevronDownIcon className="size-3 text-muted-foreground opacity-40 transition-[opacity,transform] shrink-0 ml-auto group-hover/step:opacity-70 group-data-[state=open]/step:rotate-180 group-data-[state=open]/step:opacity-70" />
+          ) : null}
+        </CollapsibleTrigger>
         {todos.length > 0 && (
-          <QueueList>
-            {todos.map((todo) => (
-              <QueueItem key={todo.id} className="flex-row items-start gap-2">
-                <QueueItemIndicator
-                  completed={todo.status === 'completed'}
-                  inProgress={todo.status === 'in_progress'}
-                />
-                <QueueItemContent
-                  completed={todo.status === 'completed'}
-                  inProgress={todo.status === 'in_progress'}
-                >
-                  {todo.title}
-                </QueueItemContent>
-              </QueueItem>
-            ))}
-          </QueueList>
+          <CollapsibleContent className="overflow-hidden text-popover-foreground outline-none data-[state=open]:animate-collapsible-down data-[state=closed]:animate-collapsible-up">
+            <div className="pl-[38px] pr-2 pb-2">
+              {todos.map((todo) => (
+                <div key={todo.id} className="flex items-start gap-2 py-1">
+                  <TodoCheckbox status={todo.status} />
+                  <span
+                    className={`text-[0.8rem] break-words ${getToolTodoTextClass(todo.status)}`}
+                  >
+                    {todo.title}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              ))}
+            </div>
+          </CollapsibleContent>
         )}
         {item.error && (
-          <div className="text-xs text-destructive px-1">{item.error}</div>
+          <div className="pl-[38px] pr-2 pb-2 text-xs text-destructive">
+            {item.error}
+          </div>
         )}
-      </Queue>
+      </Collapsible>
     );
   }
 
@@ -195,6 +215,9 @@ export const ToolRenderer = memo(function ToolRenderer({
   const keyParam = extractKeyParam(item.input);
   const preview = item.state !== 'pending' ? getFirstMeaningfulItem(item.output) : null;
   const actualOutput = extractContent(item.output);
+  const hasInput = item.input !== null && item.input !== undefined;
+  const hasOutput = actualOutput !== null && actualOutput !== undefined;
+  const hasError = Boolean(item.error);
 
   return (
     <Tool defaultOpen={false}>
@@ -205,10 +228,10 @@ export const ToolRenderer = memo(function ToolRenderer({
         preview={preview}
       />
       <ToolContent>
-        {item.input && <ToolInput input={item.input} />}
-        {(actualOutput || item.error) && (
+        {hasInput && <ToolInput input={item.input} />}
+        {(hasOutput || hasError) && (
           <ToolOutput
-            output={actualOutput ? JSON.stringify(actualOutput, null, 2) : undefined}
+            output={hasOutput ? JSON.stringify(actualOutput, null, 2) : undefined}
             errorText={item.error}
           />
         )}
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/chatItemPadding.test.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/chatItemPadding.test.ts
index 86def03..4c619f9 100644
--- a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/chatItemPadding.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/chatItemPadding.test.ts
@@ -43,5 +43,5 @@ test('removes extra bottom spacing when next item is not reasoning/tool', () =>
 });
 
 test('keeps approval spacing unchanged', () => {
-  assert.equal(getChatItemPadding(buildItem('approval'), undefined), 'pl-2 pr-2 pt-2 pb-4');
+  assert.equal(getChatItemPadding(buildItem('approval'), undefined), 'pl-2 pr-2 pt-3 pb-4');
 });
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/todoCheckboxModel.test.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/todoCheckboxModel.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6fd067
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/todoCheckboxModel.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import test from 'node:test';
+
+import {
+  getTodoCheckboxContainerClass,
+  IN_PROGRESS_TODO_GLYPH,
+} from '../../../ai-elements/todoCheckboxModel.ts';
+
+test('completed todo checkbox has no border class', () => {
+  const cls = getTodoCheckboxContainerClass('completed');
+  assert.equal(cls.includes('border-0'), true);
+  assert.equal(cls.includes('border-[1.5px]'), false);
+});
+
+test('in-progress todo checkbox uses border + eight pointed black star', () => {
+  const cls = getTodoCheckboxContainerClass('in_progress');
+  assert.equal(cls.includes('border-[1.5px]'), true);
+  assert.equal(IN_PROGRESS_TODO_GLYPH, '✴︎');
+});
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/toolTodoViewModel.test.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/toolTodoViewModel.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6d5a7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/__tests__/toolTodoViewModel.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import test from 'node:test';
+
+import {
+  getToolTodoStepPhase,
+  getToolTodoTextClass,
+  shouldShowToolTodoChevron,
+} from '../toolTodoViewModel.ts';
+
+test('maps tool todo state to step dot phase', () => {
+  assert.equal(getToolTodoStepPhase('pending'), 'running');
+  assert.equal(getToolTodoStepPhase('completed'), 'complete');
+  assert.equal(getToolTodoStepPhase('error'), 'error');
+});
+
+test('shows chevron only when tool todo state is completed', () => {
+  assert.equal(shouldShowToolTodoChevron('pending'), false);
+  assert.equal(shouldShowToolTodoChevron('completed'), true);
+  assert.equal(shouldShowToolTodoChevron('error'), false);
+});
+
+test('returns text classes by todo item status', () => {
+  assert.equal(getToolTodoTextClass('pending'), 'text-muted-foreground');
+  assert.equal(getToolTodoTextClass('in_progress'), 'text-foreground');
+  assert.equal(
+    getToolTodoTextClass('completed'),
+    'text-muted-foreground line-through'
+  );
+  assert.equal(getToolTodoTextClass(undefined), 'text-muted-foreground');
+});
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/assistantActionsPolicy.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/assistantActionsPolicy.ts
index f866708..8d8d202 100644
--- a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/assistantActionsPolicy.ts
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/assistantActionsPolicy.ts
@@ -33,5 +33,6 @@ export function shouldShowAssistantActions(
 export function getAssistantActionsClassName(
   params: AssistantActionPolicyParams
 ): string | null {
+  // Remove this class tuple only when actions entry motion/spacing is redesigned and tests are updated.
   return shouldShowAssistantActions(params) ? "mt-2 animate-step-in" : null;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/chatItemPadding.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/chatItemPadding.ts
index 68fde14..11f2290 100644
--- a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/chatItemPadding.ts
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/chatItemPadding.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export function getChatItemPadding(
     case 'assistant-message':
       return 'pl-[14px] pr-3 pt-1 pb-3';
     case 'approval':
-      return 'pl-2 pr-2 pt-2 pb-4';
+      return 'pl-2 pr-2 pt-3 pb-4';
     default:
       return assertNever(item);
   }
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/toolTodoParser.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/toolTodoParser.ts
index 9ca4e70..f47e03e 100644
--- a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/toolTodoParser.ts
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/toolTodoParser.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
-import type { QueueTodo } from '../../ai-elements/queue';
+import type { TodoCheckboxStatus } from '../../ai-elements/todoCheckboxModel';
 
 type TodoRecord = Record<string, unknown>;
-type TodoStatus = QueueTodo['status'];
+type TodoStatus = TodoCheckboxStatus;
+export type ToolTodo = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  description?: string;
+  status?: TodoCheckboxStatus;
+};
 const MAX_TODO_UNWRAP_DEPTH = 24;
 
 function isRecord(value: unknown): value is TodoRecord {
@@ -174,7 +180,7 @@ function mapTodoStatus(value: unknown): TodoStatus {
   return 'pending';
 }
 
-function normalizeTodoItem(todo: unknown, index: number): QueueTodo {
+function normalizeTodoItem(todo: unknown, index: number): ToolTodo {
   if (!isRecord(todo)) {
     return {
       id: String(index),
@@ -198,13 +204,13 @@ function normalizeTodoItem(todo: unknown, index: number): QueueTodo {
   };
 }
 
-function parseTodos(payload: unknown): QueueTodo[] | null {
+function parseTodos(payload: unknown): ToolTodo[] | null {
   const todoArray = resolveTodoArray(payload);
   if (todoArray === null) return null;
   return todoArray.map((todo, index) => normalizeTodoItem(todo, index));
 }
 
-export function parseTodosFromToolPayload(input: unknown, output: unknown): QueueTodo[] {
+export function parseTodosFromToolPayload(input: unknown, output: unknown): ToolTodo[] {
   const fromInput = parseTodos(input);
   if (fromInput !== null) return fromInput;
 
diff --git a/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/toolTodoViewModel.ts b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/toolTodoViewModel.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0adbe6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/pluto_duck_frontend/components/chat/renderers/toolTodoViewModel.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+export type ToolTodoState = "pending" | "completed" | "error";
+export type ToolTodoStatus = "pending" | "in_progress" | "completed";
+
+export function getToolTodoStepPhase(
+  state: ToolTodoState
+): "running" | "complete" | "error" {
+  if (state === "error") {
+    return "error";
+  }
+  if (state === "pending") {
+    return "running";
+  }
+  return "complete";
+}
+
+export function shouldShowToolTodoChevron(state: ToolTodoState): boolean {
+  return state === "completed";
+}
+
+export function getToolTodoTextClass(status: ToolTodoStatus | undefined): string {
+  if (status === "completed") {
+    return "text-muted-foreground line-through";
+  }
+  if (status === "in_progress") {
+    return "text-foreground";
+  }
+  return "text-muted-foreground";
+}