diff --git a/src/app/_components/Animated/AnimatedBackGroundContainer.tsx b/src/app/_components/Animated/AnimatedBackGroundContainer.tsx
index 76eb714..6a954ea 100644
--- a/src/app/_components/Animated/AnimatedBackGroundContainer.tsx
+++ b/src/app/_components/Animated/AnimatedBackGroundContainer.tsx
@@ -1,16 +1,10 @@
 "use client";
 
-import React, { useRef, useEffect, useCallback, useState } from "react";
-import { useGSAP } from "@gsap/react";
-import gsap from "gsap";
+import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { useTheme } from "next-themes";
 
-/* ─────────────────────────────────────────────
- *  Config — grayscale palettes
- * ───────────────────────────────────────────── */
 const PALETTES = {
   dark: {
-    base: "#0a0a0a",
     particles: [
       "rgba(255,255,255,0.70)",
       "rgba(255,255,255,0.45)",
@@ -18,9 +12,9 @@ const PALETTES = {
       "rgba(200,200,200,0.35)",
       "rgba(255,255,255,0.22)",
     ],
+    grainOpacity: 0.05,
   },
   light: {
-    base: "#f5f5f5",
     particles: [
       "rgba(0,0,0,0.55)",
       "rgba(0,0,0,0.35)",
@@ -28,22 +22,10 @@ const PALETTES = {
       "rgba(80,80,80,0.25)",
       "rgba(0,0,0,0.18)",
     ],
+    grainOpacity: 0.03,
   },
 } as const;
 
-/* ─────────────────────────────────────────────
- *  Helpers
- * ───────────────────────────────────────────── */
-const isMobileDevice = (): boolean => {
-  if (typeof window === "undefined") return false;
-  return window.matchMedia("(pointer: coarse)").matches || window.innerWidth < 768;
-};
-
-const rand = (min: number, max: number) => Math.random() * (max - min) + min;
-
-/* ─────────────────────────────────────────────
- *  Particle
- * ───────────────────────────────────────────── */
 interface Particle {
   angle: number;
   radius: number;
@@ -55,33 +37,43 @@ interface Particle {
   wobblePhase: number;
 }
 
-const spawnParticle = (): Particle => ({
-  angle: rand(0, Math.PI * 2),
-  radius: rand(30, 240),
-  speed: rand(0.003, 0.002) * (Math.random() > 0.5 ? 1 : -1),
-  size: rand(1.2, 4),
-  colorIndex: Math.floor(rand(0, 5)),
-  wobbleAmp: rand(6, 30),
-  wobbleSpeed: rand(0.008, 0.035),
-  wobblePhase: rand(0, Math.PI * 2),
-});
-
-/* ─────────────────────────────────────────────
- *  Component
- * ───────────────────────────────────────────── */
 interface AnimatedBackgroundContainerProps {
   children: React.ReactNode;
   className?: string;
-  /** Number of orbiting particles. Default 60 */
   particleCount?: number;
-  /** Max orbit radius in px — controls how far particles spread from the cursor. Default 240 */
   orbitRadius?: number;
-  /** How quickly particles catch up to cursor (0–1). Default 0.06 */
   followSpeed?: number;
-  /** Speed multiplier for mobile random anchor drift. Default 1 */
   mobileSpeed?: number;
 }
 
+const DEFAULT_PARTICLE_COLORS: readonly string[] = PALETTES.dark.particles;
+const PARTICLE_COLOR_COUNT = DEFAULT_PARTICLE_COLORS.length;
+
+const rand = (min: number, max: number) => Math.random() * (max - min) + min;
+
+const isMobileDevice = () => {
+  if (typeof window === "undefined") {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return window.matchMedia("(pointer: coarse)").matches || window.innerWidth < 768;
+};
+
+const createParticle = (orbitRadius: number): Particle => {
+  const minRadius = Math.max(10, orbitRadius * 0.12);
+
+  return {
+    angle: rand(0, Math.PI * 2),
+    radius: rand(minRadius, orbitRadius),
+    speed: rand(0.002, 0.003) * (Math.random() > 0.5 ? 1 : -1),
+    size: rand(1.2, 4),
+    colorIndex: Math.floor(rand(0, PARTICLE_COLOR_COUNT)),
+    wobbleAmp: rand(orbitRadius * 0.025, orbitRadius * 0.12),
+    wobbleSpeed: rand(0.008, 0.035),
+    wobblePhase: rand(0, Math.PI * 2),
+  };
+};
+
 export default function AnimatedBackgroundContainer({
   children,
   className = "",
@@ -92,172 +84,225 @@ export default function AnimatedBackgroundContainer({
 }: AnimatedBackgroundContainerProps) {
   const canvasRef = useRef<HTMLCanvasElement>(null);
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
-  const mousePos = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
-  const smoothMouse = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
-  const mobileAnchor = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
-  const mobileTarget = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
-  const isMobile = useRef(false);
-  const particles = useRef<Particle[]>([]);
-  const frame = useRef(0);
+  const frameRef = useRef(0);
+  const animationFrameRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
+  const isMobileRef = useRef(false);
+  const particlesRef = useRef<Particle[]>([]);
+  const mousePosRef = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
+  const smoothMouseRef = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
+  const mobileAnchorRef = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
+  const mobileTargetRef = useRef({ x: 0, y: 0 });
+  const followSpeedRef = useRef(followSpeed);
+  const mobileSpeedRef = useRef(mobileSpeed);
+  const particleColorsRef = useRef<readonly string[]>(DEFAULT_PARTICLE_COLORS);
   const [mounted, setMounted] = useState(false);
 
   const { resolvedTheme } = useTheme();
-  let isDark = resolvedTheme === "dark";
-  if (resolvedTheme == undefined) {
-    isDark = true;
-  }
+  const isDark = resolvedTheme === undefined || resolvedTheme === "dark";
   const palette = isDark ? PALETTES.dark : PALETTES.light;
 
-  /* Spawn particles */
   useEffect(() => {
-    const minR = Math.max(10, orbitRadius * 0.12);
-    particles.current = Array.from({ length: particleCount }, () => ({
-      ...spawnParticle(),
-      radius: rand(minR, orbitRadius),
-      wobbleAmp: rand(orbitRadius * 0.025, orbitRadius * 0.12),
-    }));
+    particleColorsRef.current = palette.particles;
+  }, [palette]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    followSpeedRef.current = followSpeed;
+  }, [followSpeed]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    mobileSpeedRef.current = mobileSpeed;
+  }, [mobileSpeed]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    particlesRef.current = Array.from({ length: particleCount }, () =>
+      createParticle(orbitRadius),
+    );
   }, [particleCount, orbitRadius]);
 
-  /* Detect mobile & seed positions */
+  const seedPositions = useCallback(() => {
+    const container = containerRef.current;
+    if (!container) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const centerX = container.clientWidth / 2;
+    const centerY = container.clientHeight / 2;
+
+    mousePosRef.current = { x: centerX, y: centerY };
+    smoothMouseRef.current = { x: centerX, y: centerY };
+    mobileAnchorRef.current = { x: centerX, y: centerY };
+    mobileTargetRef.current = {
+      x: rand(centerX * 0.4, centerX * 1.6),
+      y: rand(centerY * 0.4, centerY * 1.6),
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  const resizeCanvas = useCallback(() => {
+    const canvas = canvasRef.current;
+    const container = containerRef.current;
+    if (!canvas || !container) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const width = container.clientWidth;
+    const height = container.clientHeight;
+    const dpr = window.devicePixelRatio || 1;
+
+    canvas.width = width * dpr;
+    canvas.height = height * dpr;
+    canvas.style.width = `${width}px`;
+    canvas.style.height = `${height}px`;
+
+    const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
+    if (!ctx) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    ctx.setTransform(1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0);
+    ctx.scale(dpr, dpr);
+
+    if (!mounted) {
+      seedPositions();
+    }
+  }, [mounted, seedPositions]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     setMounted(true);
-    isMobile.current = isMobileDevice();
-    if (containerRef.current) {
-      const cx = containerRef.current.clientWidth / 2;
-      const cy = containerRef.current.clientHeight / 2;
-      mousePos.current = { x: cx, y: cy };
-      smoothMouse.current = { x: cx, y: cy };
-      mobileAnchor.current = { x: cx, y: cy };
-      mobileTarget.current = {
-        x: rand(cx * 0.4, cx * 1.6),
-        y: rand(cy * 0.4, cy * 1.6),
-      };
+    isMobileRef.current = isMobileDevice();
+    resizeCanvas();
+
+    const handleResize = () => {
+      isMobileRef.current = isMobileDevice();
+      resizeCanvas();
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener("resize", handleResize);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener("resize", handleResize);
+  }, [resizeCanvas]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!mounted) {
+      return;
     }
-  }, []);
 
-  /* Resize canvas to match container */
-  useEffect(() => {
-    const resize = () => {
-      const canvas = canvasRef.current;
-      const container = containerRef.current;
-      if (!canvas || !container) return;
-      const dpr = window.devicePixelRatio || 1;
-      const w = container.clientWidth;
-      const h = container.clientHeight;
-      canvas.width = w * dpr;
-      canvas.height = h * dpr;
-      canvas.style.width = `${w}px`;
-      canvas.style.height = `${h}px`;
-      const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
-      if (ctx) ctx.scale(dpr, dpr);
-    };
-    resize();
-    window.addEventListener("resize", resize);
-    return () => window.removeEventListener("resize", resize);
-  }, []);
+    seedPositions();
+  }, [mounted, seedPositions]);
 
-  /* Mouse tracking (desktop only) */
-  const handleMouseMove = useCallback((e: MouseEvent) => {
-    if (!containerRef.current || isMobile.current) return;
-    const rect = containerRef.current.getBoundingClientRect();
-    mousePos.current = {
-      x: e.clientX - rect.left,
-      y: e.clientY - rect.top,
+  const handleMouseMove = useCallback((event: MouseEvent) => {
+    const container = containerRef.current;
+    if (!container || isMobileRef.current) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const rect = container.getBoundingClientRect();
+    mousePosRef.current = {
+      x: event.clientX - rect.left,
+      y: event.clientY - rect.top,
     };
   }, []);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    const el = containerRef.current;
-    if (!el) return;
-    el.addEventListener("mousemove", handleMouseMove, { passive: true });
-    return () => el.removeEventListener("mousemove", handleMouseMove);
+    const container = containerRef.current;
+    if (!container) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    container.addEventListener("mousemove", handleMouseMove, { passive: true });
+    return () => container.removeEventListener("mousemove", handleMouseMove);
   }, [handleMouseMove]);
 
-  /* ── GSAP ticker — draw loop ── */
-  useGSAP(
-    () => {
-      if (!mounted) return;
-      const canvas = canvasRef.current;
-      const container = containerRef.current;
-      if (!canvas || !container) return;
-      const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
-      if (!ctx) return;
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!mounted) {
+      return;
+    }
 
-      const tick = () => {
-        const w = container.clientWidth;
-        const h = container.clientHeight;
-        frame.current++;
+    const canvas = canvasRef.current;
+    const container = containerRef.current;
+    if (!canvas || !container) {
+      return;
+    }
 
-        /* Anchor: smooth-follow cursor or drift on mobile */
-        if (isMobile.current) {
-          mobileAnchor.current.x +=
-            (mobileTarget.current.x - mobileAnchor.current.x) * 0.008 * mobileSpeed;
-          mobileAnchor.current.y +=
-            (mobileTarget.current.y - mobileAnchor.current.y) * 0.008 * mobileSpeed;
+    const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
+    if (!ctx) {
+      return;
+    }
 
-          const dx = mobileTarget.current.x - mobileAnchor.current.x;
-          const dy = mobileTarget.current.y - mobileAnchor.current.y;
-          if (Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy) < 30) {
-            mobileTarget.current = {
-              x: rand(w * 0.15, w * 0.85),
-              y: rand(h * 0.15, h * 0.85),
-            };
-          }
-          smoothMouse.current.x = mobileAnchor.current.x;
-          smoothMouse.current.y = mobileAnchor.current.y;
-        } else {
-          smoothMouse.current.x +=
-            (mousePos.current.x - smoothMouse.current.x) * followSpeed;
-          smoothMouse.current.y +=
-            (mousePos.current.y - smoothMouse.current.y) * followSpeed;
+    const draw = () => {
+      const width = container.clientWidth;
+      const height = container.clientHeight;
+      frameRef.current += 1;
+
+      if (isMobileRef.current) {
+        const mobileLerp = 0.008 * mobileSpeedRef.current;
+        mobileAnchorRef.current.x +=
+          (mobileTargetRef.current.x - mobileAnchorRef.current.x) * mobileLerp;
+        mobileAnchorRef.current.y +=
+          (mobileTargetRef.current.y - mobileAnchorRef.current.y) * mobileLerp;
+
+        const dx = mobileTargetRef.current.x - mobileAnchorRef.current.x;
+        const dy = mobileTargetRef.current.y - mobileAnchorRef.current.y;
+        if (Math.hypot(dx, dy) < 30) {
+          mobileTargetRef.current = {
+            x: rand(width * 0.15, width * 0.85),
+            y: rand(height * 0.15, height * 0.85),
+          };
         }
 
-        const cx = smoothMouse.current.x;
-        const cy = smoothMouse.current.y;
+        smoothMouseRef.current = { ...mobileAnchorRef.current };
+      } else {
+        const desktopLerp = followSpeedRef.current;
+        smoothMouseRef.current.x +=
+          (mousePosRef.current.x - smoothMouseRef.current.x) * desktopLerp;
+        smoothMouseRef.current.y +=
+          (mousePosRef.current.y - smoothMouseRef.current.y) * desktopLerp;
+      }
 
-        /* Clear frame */
-        ctx.clearRect(0, 0, w, h);
+      const centerX = smoothMouseRef.current.x;
+      const centerY = smoothMouseRef.current.y;
+      const colors = particleColorsRef.current;
 
-        /* Draw each particle */
-        particles.current.forEach((p) => {
-          p.angle += p.speed;
+      ctx.clearRect(0, 0, width, height);
 
-          const wobble =
-            Math.sin(frame.current * p.wobbleSpeed + p.wobblePhase) * p.wobbleAmp;
-          const r = p.radius + wobble;
+      for (const particle of particlesRef.current) {
+        particle.angle += particle.speed;
 
-          const x = cx + Math.cos(p.angle) * r;
-          const y = cy + Math.sin(p.angle) * r;
+        const wobble =
+          Math.sin(frameRef.current * particle.wobbleSpeed + particle.wobblePhase) *
+          particle.wobbleAmp;
+        const radius = particle.radius + wobble;
+        const x = centerX + Math.cos(particle.angle) * radius;
+        const y = centerY + Math.sin(particle.angle) * radius;
 
-          /* Soft fade near viewport edges */
-          const edgeFade = Math.max(
-            0,
-            Math.min(x / 80, (w - x) / 80, y / 80, (h - y) / 80, 1),
-          );
-          if (edgeFade <= 0) return;
+        const edgeFade = Math.max(
+          0,
+          Math.min(x / 80, (width - x) / 80, y / 80, (height - y) / 80, 1),
+        );
 
-          ctx.globalAlpha = edgeFade;
-          ctx.fillStyle = palette.particles[p.colorIndex];
-          ctx.beginPath();
-          ctx.arc(x, y, p.size, 0, Math.PI * 2);
-          ctx.fill();
-        });
+        if (edgeFade <= 0) {
+          continue;
+        }
 
-        ctx.globalAlpha = 1;
-      };
+        ctx.globalAlpha = edgeFade;
+        ctx.fillStyle = colors[particle.colorIndex] ?? colors[0] ?? "#ffffff";
+        ctx.beginPath();
+        ctx.arc(x, y, particle.size, 0, Math.PI * 2);
+        ctx.fill();
+      }
 
-      gsap.ticker.add(tick);
-      return () => {
-        gsap.ticker.remove(tick);
-      };
-    },
-    {
-      scope: containerRef,
-      dependencies: [mounted, isDark, followSpeed, mobileSpeed, orbitRadius, palette],
-    },
-  );
+      ctx.globalAlpha = 1;
+      animationFrameRef.current = window.requestAnimationFrame(draw);
+    };
+
+    animationFrameRef.current = window.requestAnimationFrame(draw);
+
+    return () => {
+      if (animationFrameRef.current !== null) {
+        window.cancelAnimationFrame(animationFrameRef.current);
+        animationFrameRef.current = null;
+      }
+    };
+  }, [mounted]);
 
-  /* ── Render ── */
   return (
     <div
       ref={containerRef}
@@ -281,14 +326,13 @@ export default function AnimatedBackgroundContainer({
         }}
       />
 
-      {/* Grain texture */}
       <div
         aria-hidden
         style={{
           position: "absolute",
           inset: 0,
           zIndex: 1,
-          opacity: isDark ? 0.05 : 0.03,
+          opacity: palette.grainOpacity,
           pointerEvents: "none",
           backgroundImage: `url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg viewBox='0 0 256 256' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cfilter id='n'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='0.85' numOctaves='4' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23n)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")`,
           backgroundRepeat: "repeat",
diff --git a/src/app/projects/page.tsx b/src/app/projects/page.tsx
index 40e115c..599fa6c 100644
--- a/src/app/projects/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/projects/page.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export default function ProjectsPage() {
 
   return (
     <ScrollArea className="px-10 lg:px-0 w-full h-full max-w-4xl mx-auto pt-10">
-      <AnimatedPageTitle position={0}><span>Project I've Been</span><span> Working on</span> </AnimatedPageTitle>
+      <AnimatedPageTitle position={0}><span>Projects I've Been</span><span> Working on</span> </AnimatedPageTitle>
       <div className="pt-10" />
       {projects.map((project, i) => (
         <div id={project.id} key={i} className="scroll-mt-10">