diff --git a/src/public/stylesheets/theme-next.css b/src/public/stylesheets/theme-next.css
index 2fba805f8..bda81dab2 100644
--- a/src/public/stylesheets/theme-next.css
+++ b/src/public/stylesheets/theme-next.css
@@ -259,6 +259,14 @@
     color: var(--left-pane-item-selected-color) !important;
 }
 
+@keyframes left-pane-item-select {
+    from {
+        opacity: 0;
+    } to {
+        opacity: 1;
+    }
+}
+
 #left-pane span.fancytree-node.fancytree-active::before {
     position: absolute;
     content: "";
@@ -269,6 +277,7 @@
     background: var(--left-pane-item-selected-background) !important;
     box-shadow: var(--left-pane-item-selected-shadow);
     border-radius: 6px;
+    animation: left-pane-item-select 200ms ease-out;
 }
 
 #left-pane .fancytree-custom-icon {