[BUG] UI animations lack accessibility controls for motion sensitivity (epilepsy, migraines, vestibular disorders)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Description
The Claude Code VSCode extension displays animations (rotating/flashing UI elements) during tool execution that cannot be disabled. These animations are triggering motion sensitivity issues. I have tried interacting with the model and have gone through the settings.

Impact
This creates an accessibility barrier for users with:

• Epilepsy
• Migraines
• Vestibular disorders
• Other motion sensitivity conditions

Expected Behavior
UI animations should be:

1. Controllable via VSCode's prefers-reduced-motion accessibility setting
2. Configurable in extension settings
3. Disabled by default for accessibility compliance

Current Behavior
Animations play automatically without any option to disable them, making the extension unusable for motion-sensitive users.

Environment

• Extension: Claude Code (VSCode)
• Platform: macOS (likely affects all platforms)

Severity
High - This is an accessibility blocker preventing use by users with disabilities.

What Should Happen?

• Allow reducing/disabling motion in all Claude and Claude Code sessions.
• Allow removal of bright coloring
• Allow suppression of current "in progress" silliness with something industry tested and simple

Error Messages/Logs

No error messages

Steps to Reproduce

Do anything with Claude Code. Get a brightly lit moving icon (motion issues) that says distracting things about processing but using language that is intentionally supposed to be "cute" but acts as a cognitive destabilizer (design/ux issues).

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

N/A

Claude Code Version

Claude Sonnet 4.5 (model ID: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929) Knowledge cutoff: January 2025

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

VSCode, terminal, Web sessions.