diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.test.ts
index 74822de145..221fbebffa 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // @vitest-environment happy-dom
 
-import { describe, expect, it, beforeEach } from "vitest";
+import { describe, expect, it, beforeEach, vi } from "vitest";
 import type { GsapAnimation } from "@hyperframes/core/gsap-parser";
 import type { DomEditSelection } from "../components/editor/domEditingTypes";
 import { commitGsapPositionFromDrag } from "./gsapDragPositionCommit";
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   commitStaticGsapRotation,
   commitStaticGsapSize,
   findExistingPositionWrite,
+  materializeIfDynamic,
   parkPlayheadOnKeyframe,
   type GsapDragCommitCallbacks,
 } from "./gsapDragCommit";
@@ -27,6 +28,43 @@ const selection = (): DomEditSelection =>
     },
   }) as unknown as DomEditSelection;
 
+function selectorlessSelection(): DomEditSelection {
+  return {
+    selector: ".shared",
+    element: document.createElement("div"),
+  } as unknown as DomEditSelection;
+}
+
+describe("lower GSAP commit helpers fail closed", () => {
+  it("rejects instead of silently dropping a static position write without a stable selector", async () => {
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+    await expect(
+      commitStaticGsapPosition(
+        selectorlessSelection(),
+        { x: 10, y: 20 },
+        { x: 0, y: 0 },
+        ".shared",
+        null,
+        { commitMutation },
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toMatchObject({ name: "GsapEditBlockedError", reason: "no-selector" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects runtime-dynamic materialization instead of rewriting source during a gesture", async () => {
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+    await expect(
+      materializeIfDynamic(
+        { ...flatTween(), hasUnresolvedKeyframes: true },
+        null,
+        commitMutation,
+        selection(),
+      ),
+    ).rejects.toMatchObject({ name: "GsapEditBlockedError", reason: "source-uneditable" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
+
 const flatTween = (): GsapAnimation =>
   ({
     id: "#puck-a-to",
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.ts
index 62fd190e75..e6f4197987 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapDragCommit.ts
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@ import {
   STUDIO_ORIGINAL_HEIGHT_ATTR,
 } from "../components/editor/manualEditsTypes";
 import { usePlayerStore } from "../player/store/playerStore";
-import { readRuntimeKeyframes, scanAllRuntimeKeyframes } from "./gsapRuntimeKeyframes";
 import { resolveTweenStart, resolveTweenDuration } from "../utils/globalTimeCompiler";
 import { roundTo3 } from "../utils/rounding";
-import { computeElementPercentage, idSelector, writeTargetSelector } from "./gsapShared";
+import { computeElementPercentage, writeTargetSelector } from "./gsapShared";
 import { computeDraggedGsapPosition } from "./draggedGsapPosition";
 import type { RuntimeTweenChange } from "./gsapRuntimePatch";
 import { isGestureTransactionCommit, runGestureTransaction } from "./gestureTransaction";
 import { setPatchFromUpdateProperty } from "./gsapDragStaticSetHelpers";
+import { GsapEditBlockedError } from "./gsapEditOutcome";
 export {
   findExistingPositionWrite,
   findRotationSetAnimation,
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ async function replaceKeyframedPositionHold(
   commitMutation: GsapDragCommitCallbacks["commitMutation"],
 ): Promise<void> {
   const target = newTweenTarget(selection);
-  if (!target) return;
+  if (!target) throw new GsapEditBlockedError("no-selector");
   const persist = async (commit: GsapDragCommitCallbacks["commitMutation"]) => {
     await commit(
       selection,
@@ -130,40 +130,12 @@ export async function materializeIfDynamic(
   selection: DomEditSelection,
 ): Promise<string | void> {
   if (!anim.hasUnresolvedKeyframes && !anim.hasUnresolvedSelector) return;
-
-  if (anim.hasUnresolvedSelector) {
-    const allScanned = scanAllRuntimeKeyframes(iframe);
-    if (allScanned.size === 0) return;
-    const allElements = Array.from(allScanned.entries()).map(([id, data]) => ({
-      selector: idSelector(id),
-      keyframes: data.keyframes,
-      easeEach: data.easeEach,
-    }));
-    await commitMutation(
-      selection,
-      {
-        type: "materialize-keyframes",
-        animationId: anim.id,
-        keyframes: allScanned.get(selection.id ?? "")?.keyframes ?? [],
-        allElements,
-      },
-      { label: "Unroll dynamic animations", skipReload: true },
-    );
-    return `${anim.targetSelector}-to-0`;
-  }
-
-  const runtime = readRuntimeKeyframes(iframe, anim.targetSelector);
-  if (!runtime || runtime.keyframes.length === 0) return;
-  await commitMutation(
-    selection,
-    {
-      type: "materialize-keyframes",
-      animationId: anim.id,
-      keyframes: runtime.keyframes,
-      easeEach: runtime.easeEach,
-    },
-    { label: "Materialize dynamic keyframes", skipReload: true },
-  );
+  // Geometry commits must never rewrite runtime/computed source implicitly.
+  // The explicit Unroll action owns that source-destructive transition.
+  void iframe;
+  void commitMutation;
+  void selection;
+  throw new GsapEditBlockedError("source-uneditable");
 }
 
 // ── Drag → GSAP position math ──────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -219,7 +191,7 @@ export async function commitStaticGsapPosition(
   // The patch reuses the WRITTEN target so the runtime moves exactly the element
   // the source write names.
   const target = newTweenTarget(selection);
-  if (!target) return;
+  if (!target) throw new GsapEditBlockedError("no-selector");
   await callbacks.commitMutation(
     selection,
     {
@@ -277,7 +249,7 @@ export async function commitStaticGsapRotation(
   }
   // New static hold → off-timeline `gsap.set` (no 0% keyframe marker) + instant patch.
   const target = newTweenTarget(selection);
-  if (!target) return;
+  if (!target) throw new GsapEditBlockedError("no-selector");
   await callbacks.commitMutation(
     selection,
     {
@@ -331,7 +303,7 @@ export async function commitStaticGsapSize(
     return;
   }
   const target = newTweenTarget(selection);
-  if (!target) return;
+  if (!target) throw new GsapEditBlockedError("no-selector");
   await callbacks.commitMutation(
     selection,
     {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapEditOutcome.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapEditOutcome.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..183a6659ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapEditOutcome.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { editabilityForProvenance, type GsapAnimation } from "@hyperframes/core/gsap-parser";
+
+export type GsapEditBlockReason = "no-selector" | "unroll-required" | "source-uneditable";
+
+export type GsapEditOutcome =
+  | { status: "persisted" }
+  | { status: "blocked"; reason: GsapEditBlockReason };
+
+const COPY: Record<GsapEditBlockReason, string> = {
+  "no-selector": "This layer needs a stable selector before Studio can save the edit.",
+  "unroll-required":
+    "This motion comes from a helper or loop. Choose Unroll to edit it explicitly.",
+  "source-uneditable": "This animation is computed at runtime. Edit the animation in the Code tab.",
+};
+
+export class GsapEditBlockedError extends Error {
+  constructor(readonly reason: GsapEditBlockReason) {
+    super(COPY[reason]);
+    this.name = "GsapEditBlockedError";
+  }
+}
+
+export function assertGsapEditPersisted(outcome: GsapEditOutcome): void {
+  if (outcome.status === "blocked") throw new GsapEditBlockedError(outcome.reason);
+}
+
+function assertGsapAnimationDirectlyEditable(animation: GsapAnimation): void {
+  const editability = editabilityForProvenance(animation.provenance);
+  if (editability === "unroll") throw new GsapEditBlockedError("unroll-required");
+  if (
+    editability === "source" ||
+    animation.hasUnresolvedKeyframes ||
+    animation.hasUnresolvedSelector
+  ) {
+    throw new GsapEditBlockedError("source-uneditable");
+  }
+}
+
+export function isGsapEditBlockedError(error: unknown): error is GsapEditBlockedError {
+  return error instanceof GsapEditBlockedError;
+}
+
+export function animationWritesAnyProperty(
+  animation: GsapAnimation,
+  properties: ReadonlySet<string>,
+): boolean {
+  return (
+    Object.keys(animation.properties ?? {}).some((property) => properties.has(property)) ||
+    Object.keys(animation.fromProperties ?? {}).some((property) => properties.has(property)) ||
+    !!animation.keyframes?.keyframes.some((keyframe) =>
+      Object.keys(keyframe.properties).some((property) => properties.has(property)),
+    )
+  );
+}
+
+/** Fail-closed ownership check shared by drag, resize, rotate, and inspector edits. */
+export function directEditOutcomeForProperties(
+  animations: GsapAnimation[],
+  properties: ReadonlySet<string>,
+): GsapEditOutcome {
+  try {
+    for (const animation of animations) {
+      if (animationWritesAnyProperty(animation, properties)) {
+        assertGsapAnimationDirectlyEditable(animation);
+      }
+    }
+    return { status: "persisted" };
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (isGsapEditBlockedError(error)) return { status: "blocked", reason: error.reason };
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.test.ts
index 4ed179dd66..cc1e241129 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.test.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ function keyframedScaleFixture(): GsapAnimation {
   } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
 }
 
+// Resize/rotation hold tests intentionally pin the same no-conversion contract.
+// fallow-ignore-next-line code-duplication
 it("updates a duration-zero size hold in place instead of converting it to keyframes", async () => {
   const el = document.createElement("div");
   el.id = "box";
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ it("updates a duration-zero size hold in place instead of converting it to keyfr
     commitMutation,
   );
 
-  expect(handled).toBe(true);
+  expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
   expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   expect(commitMutation.mock.calls[0]![1]).toEqual({
     type: "update-properties",
@@ -115,6 +117,92 @@ it("updates a duration-zero size hold in place instead of converting it to keyfr
   );
 });
 
+// fallow-ignore-next-line code-duplication
+it("requires explicit unroll for helper-authored resize before mutating", async () => {
+  const el = document.createElement("div");
+  el.id = "box";
+  document.body.append(el);
+  const selection = { id: "box", selector: "#box", element: el } as DomEditSelection;
+  const helperSize = {
+    id: "#box-to-size",
+    targetSelector: "#box",
+    propertyGroup: "size",
+    method: "to",
+    properties: { width: 150, height: 150 },
+    duration: 1,
+    provenance: { kind: "helper", fn: "grow", callSite: 1 },
+  } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
+  const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+  await expect(
+    tryGsapResizeIntercept(
+      selection,
+      { width: 344, height: 344 },
+      [helperSize],
+      null,
+      commitMutation,
+    ),
+  ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "unroll-required" });
+  expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+});
+
+// fallow-ignore-next-line code-duplication
+it("reuses the ownership parse instead of fetching a resolved size group twice", async () => {
+  const el = document.createElement("div");
+  el.id = "box";
+  document.body.append(el);
+  const selection = { id: "box", selector: "#box", element: el } as DomEditSelection;
+  const sizeHold = {
+    id: "#box-set-size",
+    targetSelector: "#box",
+    propertyGroup: "size",
+    method: "set",
+    properties: { width: 150, height: 150 },
+  } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
+  const fetchAnimations = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([sizeHold]);
+  const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+  await expect(
+    tryGsapResizeIntercept(
+      selection,
+      { width: 344, height: 344 },
+      [],
+      null,
+      commitMutation,
+      fetchAnimations,
+    ),
+  ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
+  expect(fetchAnimations).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    selection,
+    expect.objectContaining({ type: "update-properties", animationId: sizeHold.id }),
+    expect.anything(),
+  );
+});
+
+it("blocks when runtime size motion exists but the authored tween cannot be resolved", async () => {
+  const el = document.createElement("div");
+  el.id = "box";
+  document.body.append(el);
+  const selection = { id: "box", selector: "#box", element: el } as DomEditSelection;
+  const liveSizeTween = {
+    targets: () => [el],
+    vars: { width: 300, duration: 1 },
+    duration: () => 1,
+    startTime: () => 0,
+  };
+  const iframe = {
+    contentWindow: { __timelines: { main: { getChildren: () => [liveSizeTween] } } },
+    contentDocument: document,
+  } as unknown as HTMLIFrameElement;
+  const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+  await expect(
+    tryGsapResizeIntercept(selection, { width: 344, height: 344 }, [], iframe, commitMutation),
+  ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" });
+  expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+});
+
 it("computes a finite zero percentage for a zero-duration tween", () => {
   const animation = {
     id: "#box-to-0-size",
@@ -158,7 +246,7 @@ async function runResize(
     commitMutation as never,
     async () => [keyframedScaleFixture()],
   );
-  expect(handled).toBe(true);
+  expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
   return committed;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.ts
index e9eecef829..04eac1fc4d 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapResizeIntercept.ts
@@ -24,11 +24,16 @@ import type { GsapDragCommitCallbacks } from "./gsapDragCommit";
 import { pickClosestToPlayhead, readGsapPositionFromIframe } from "./gsapPositionDetection";
 import { commitWholePropertyOffset } from "./gsapWholePropertyOffsetCommit";
 import { resolveTweenStart, resolveTweenDuration } from "../utils/globalTimeCompiler";
-import { isInstantHold, selectorFromSelection } from "./gsapShared";
+import { isInstantHold, selectorFromSelection, writeTargetSelector } from "./gsapShared";
 import { roundTo3 } from "../utils/rounding";
 import { resolveGroupTween, POSITION_CHANNELS } from "./gsapRuntimeBridge";
 import { hasNonHoldTweenForElement } from "./gsapRuntimeKeyframes";
 import { logResize } from "../utils/resizeDebug";
+import {
+  animationWritesAnyProperty,
+  directEditOutcomeForProperties,
+  type GsapEditOutcome,
+} from "./gsapEditOutcome";
 
 const IDENTITY_ONE_PROPS = new Set(["opacity", "autoAlpha", "scale", "scaleX", "scaleY"]);
 
@@ -54,21 +59,44 @@ export async function tryGsapResizeIntercept(
   iframe: HTMLIFrameElement | null,
   commitMutation: GsapDragCommitCallbacks["commitMutation"],
   fetchFallbackAnimations?: () => Promise<GsapAnimation[]>,
-): Promise<boolean> {
+): Promise<GsapEditOutcome> {
+  const fetchedAnimations = fetchFallbackAnimations ? await fetchFallbackAnimations() : [];
+  const allKnownAnimations = [...animations, ...fetchedAnimations];
   // If the element already has a scale-group tween, resize should modify scale
   // (the user is resizing something whose visual size is driven by scale).
   // Otherwise, use the size group (width/height).
-  const hasScaleGroup = animations.some((a) => a.propertyGroup === "scale");
+  const hasScaleGroup = allKnownAnimations.some((a) => a.propertyGroup === "scale");
   const resizeGroup: PropertyGroupName = hasScaleGroup ? "scale" : "size";
+  const resizeProperties =
+    resizeGroup === "scale" ? new Set(["scale", "scaleX", "scaleY"]) : new Set(["width", "height"]);
+  const editability = directEditOutcomeForProperties(allKnownAnimations, resizeProperties);
+  if (editability.status === "blocked") return editability;
+  const workingAnimations = animations.length > 0 ? animations : fetchedAnimations;
+  // The initial ownership fetch already supplied the complete parse. Only retain
+  // the fetch callback when a legacy mixed tween may be split and must then be
+  // re-read; otherwise resolveGroupTween would perform the same network read twice.
+  const postSplitFetch = workingAnimations.some((animation) => !animation.propertyGroup)
+    ? fetchFallbackAnimations
+    : undefined;
   const resolved = await resolveGroupTween(
     resizeGroup,
-    animations,
+    workingAnimations,
     selection,
     commitMutation,
-    fetchFallbackAnimations,
+    postSplitFetch,
   );
 
-  let anim = resolved?.anim ?? null;
+  let anim =
+    resolved?.anim && animationWritesAnyProperty(resolved.anim, resizeProperties)
+      ? resolved.anim
+      : null;
+  const liveSelector = selectorFromSelection(selection);
+  const hasLiveResizeTween = liveSelector
+    ? hasNonHoldTweenForElement(iframe, liveSelector, undefined, [...resizeProperties])
+    : false;
+  if (!anim && hasLiveResizeTween) {
+    return { status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" };
+  }
   logResize("intercept-enter", {
     hasScaleGroup,
     resizeGroup,
@@ -77,16 +105,16 @@ export async function tryGsapResizeIntercept(
     size,
   });
   if (!anim || isInstantHold(anim)) {
-    const sel = selectorFromSelection(selection);
-    if (!sel) return false;
-    const sizeSet = anim ?? findSizeSetAnimation(animations, sel, selection.element);
+    const sel = selectorFromSelection(selection) ?? writeTargetSelector(selection);
+    if (!sel) return { status: "blocked", reason: "no-selector" };
+    const sizeSet = anim ?? findSizeSetAnimation(workingAnimations, sel, selection.element);
 
     // If the element is animated (has a real tween, not just a static size
     // hold), keyframe the size at the playhead so other keyframes keep theirs —
     // instead of a global set that resizes every frame.
     if (resizeGroup === "size") {
       const animatedTween = pickClosestToPlayhead(
-        animations.filter((a) => !isInstantHold(a) && resolveTweenDuration(a) > 0),
+        workingAnimations.filter((a) => !isInstantHold(a) && resolveTweenDuration(a) > 0),
       );
       if (animatedTween) {
         logResize("intercept-route", { route: "keyframed-size", tweenId: animatedTween.id });
@@ -98,7 +126,7 @@ export async function tryGsapResizeIntercept(
           animatedTween,
           { commitMutation, fetchAnimations: fetchFallbackAnimations },
         );
-        if (handled) return true;
+        if (handled) return { status: "persisted" };
       }
     }
 
@@ -107,11 +135,11 @@ export async function tryGsapResizeIntercept(
       commitMutation,
       fetchAnimations: fetchFallbackAnimations,
     });
-    return true;
+    return { status: "persisted" };
   }
 
   const tweenDuration = resolveTweenDuration(anim);
-  if (tweenDuration <= 0) return false;
+  if (tweenDuration <= 0) return { status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" };
 
   const { activeKeyframePct, setActiveKeyframePct } = usePlayerStore.getState();
   const pct = activeKeyframePct ?? computeCurrentPercentage(selection, anim);
@@ -273,7 +301,7 @@ export async function tryGsapResizeIntercept(
       "Resize animation",
     );
     await finalizeScaleResizeCommit();
-    return true;
+    return { status: "persisted" };
   }
 
   const ct = usePlayerStore.getState().currentTime;
@@ -385,7 +413,7 @@ export async function tryGsapResizeIntercept(
       },
     );
     await finalizeScaleResizeCommit();
-    return true;
+    return { status: "persisted" };
   }
 
   const SIZE_PROPS = new Set(["width", "height"]);
@@ -407,7 +435,7 @@ export async function tryGsapResizeIntercept(
     { label: `Resize (keyframe ${pct}%)`, softReload: true },
   );
   await finalizeScaleResizeCommit();
-  return true;
+  return { status: "persisted" };
 }
 
 // ── Rotation intercept ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.test.ts
index de5c5ef78d..bc79366dfc 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.test.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,67 @@ const stalePositionAnim = {
 afterEach(() => vi.restoreAllMocks());
 
 describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — stale-parse guard (no resurrection after delete-all)", () => {
+  async function runHelperOwnedDrag(fetchFallbackAnimations?: () => Promise<GsapAnimation[]>) {
+    const helperTween = {
+      ...stalePositionAnim,
+      provenance: { kind: "helper", fn: "slam", callSite: 1 },
+    } as GsapAnimation;
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+    const result = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
+      selection,
+      { x: 10, y: 10 },
+      [helperTween],
+      fakeIframe("puck-b", []),
+      commitMutation,
+      fetchFallbackAnimations,
+    );
+    return { result, commitMutation };
+  }
+
+  it("blocks a live runtime position tween when no editable source mapping exists", async () => {
+    const liveTween = {
+      targets: () => [{ id: "puck-b" }],
+      vars: { y: 18, duration: 1 },
+      duration: () => 1,
+      startTime: () => 0,
+    };
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+    const result = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
+      selection,
+      { x: 25, y: -10 },
+      [],
+      fakeIframe("puck-b", [liveTween]),
+      commitMutation,
+      vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
+    );
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("blocks a selector that cannot safely address one writable element", async () => {
+    const selectorless = {
+      ...selection,
+      id: undefined,
+      selector: undefined,
+    } as unknown as DomEditSelection;
+    const result = await tryGsapDragIntercept(selectorless, { x: 1, y: 1 }, [], null, vi.fn());
+    expect(result).toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "no-selector" });
+  });
+
+  it("requires explicit unroll for helper-authored source and performs no mutation", async () => {
+    const { result, commitMutation } = await runHelperOwnedDrag();
+    expect(result).toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "unroll-required" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("does not let an empty fallback response bypass cached helper provenance", async () => {
+    const { result, commitMutation } = await runHelperOwnedDrag(vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]));
+    expect(result).toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "unroll-required" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("commits a static set (not the stale tween) when the runtime has no live position motion", async () => {
     const commitMutation = vi.fn();
     // Runtime empty (tween deleted) — readRuntimeKeyframes returns null, so the
@@ -73,7 +134,7 @@ describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — stale-parse guard (no resurrection after dele
       commitMutation,
     );
 
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     // No existing `set` for the selector → one `add` mutation with `method:"set"`.
     expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     const [, mutation] = commitMutation.mock.calls[0];
@@ -112,7 +173,7 @@ describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — stale-parse guard (no resurrection after dele
       commitMutation,
     );
 
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     const updates = commitMutation.mock.calls.filter(([, m]) => m.type === "update-properties");
     expect(updates).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(updates[0][1]).toEqual({
@@ -151,7 +212,7 @@ describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — stale-parse guard (no resurrection after dele
       commitMutation,
     );
 
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     // One atomic in-place update, NOT an `add`/`add-keyframe`.
     const types = commitMutation.mock.calls.map(([, m]) => m.type);
     expect(types).toEqual(["update-properties"]);
@@ -179,6 +240,124 @@ describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — stale-parse guard (no resurrection after dele
 });
 
 describe("tryGsapRotationIntercept — instant holds", () => {
+  it("requires explicit unroll for helper-authored rotation before mutating", async () => {
+    const helperRotation = {
+      id: "#puck-b-to-rotation",
+      targetSelector: "#puck-b",
+      propertyGroup: "rotation",
+      method: "to",
+      properties: { rotation: 45 },
+      position: 0,
+      duration: 1,
+      provenance: { kind: "helper", fn: "spin", callSite: 1 },
+    } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      tryGsapRotationIntercept(selection, 75, [helperRotation], null, commitMutation),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "unroll-required" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  // Mirrors resize by design: both geometry routes must reuse one ownership parse.
+  // fallow-ignore-next-line code-duplication
+  it("reuses the ownership parse instead of fetching a resolved rotation group twice", async () => {
+    const rotationHold = {
+      id: "#puck-b-set-rotation",
+      targetSelector: "#puck-b",
+      propertyGroup: "rotation",
+      method: "set",
+      properties: { rotation: 45 },
+    } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
+    const fetchAnimations = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([rotationHold]);
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      tryGsapRotationIntercept(selection, 75, [], null, commitMutation, fetchAnimations),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
+    expect(fetchAnimations).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      selection,
+      expect.objectContaining({ type: "update-property", animationId: rotationHold.id }),
+      expect.anything(),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("rejects a selectorless rotation instead of reporting a handled no-op", async () => {
+    const selectorless = {
+      ...selection,
+      id: undefined,
+      selector: undefined,
+    } as unknown as DomEditSelection;
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      tryGsapRotationIntercept(selectorless, 75, [], null, commitMutation),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "no-selector" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("blocks helper-authored 3D rotation channels before mutating the group", async () => {
+    const helperRotationX = {
+      id: "#puck-b-to-rotation",
+      targetSelector: "#puck-b",
+      propertyGroup: "rotation",
+      method: "to",
+      properties: { rotationX: 45 },
+      duration: 1,
+      provenance: { kind: "helper", fn: "tilt", callSite: 1 },
+    } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      tryGsapRotationIntercept(selection, 75, [helperRotationX], null, commitMutation),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "unroll-required" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("does not let an unrelated helper-authored skew tween block 2D rotation", async () => {
+    const helperSkew = {
+      id: "#puck-b-to-rotation",
+      targetSelector: "#puck-b",
+      propertyGroup: "rotation",
+      method: "to",
+      properties: { skewX: 12 },
+      duration: 1,
+      provenance: { kind: "helper", fn: "skew", callSite: 1 },
+    } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      tryGsapRotationIntercept(selection, 75, [helperSkew], null, commitMutation),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
+    expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      selection,
+      expect.objectContaining({ type: "add", properties: { rotation: 75 } }),
+      expect.anything(),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("blocks when runtime rotation exists but the authored tween cannot be resolved", async () => {
+    const liveRotation = {
+      targets: () => [{ id: "puck-b" }],
+      vars: { rotation: 45, duration: 1 },
+      duration: () => 1,
+      startTime: () => 0,
+    };
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
+
+    await expect(
+      tryGsapRotationIntercept(
+        selection,
+        75,
+        [],
+        fakeIframe("puck-b", [liveRotation]),
+        commitMutation,
+      ),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("updates a duration-zero fromTo hold instead of converting it to keyframes", async () => {
     const rotationHold = {
       id: "#puck-b-fromTo-0-rotation",
@@ -201,7 +380,7 @@ describe("tryGsapRotationIntercept — instant holds", () => {
       commitMutation,
     );
 
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(commitMutation.mock.calls[0]![1]).toEqual({
       type: "update-property",
@@ -243,40 +422,29 @@ describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — autoKeyframeEnabled toggle (#1808)", () => {
     },
   } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
 
-  it("shifts the whole tween instead of adding a keyframe when the toggle is off", async () => {
-    usePlayerStore.setState({ autoKeyframeEnabled: false, currentTime: 2 }); // playhead at 100%
+  async function runAutoKeyframeDrag(enabled: boolean) {
+    usePlayerStore.setState({ autoKeyframeEnabled: enabled, currentTime: 2 });
     const commitMutation = vi.fn();
-    const iframe = fakeIframe("puck-b", []);
-
     const handled = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
       selection,
       { x: -50, y: 0 },
       [keyframedPositionAnim],
-      iframe,
+      fakeIframe("puck-b", []),
       commitMutation,
     );
+    return { handled, types: commitMutation.mock.calls.map(([, mutation]) => mutation.type) };
+  }
 
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
-    const types = commitMutation.mock.calls.map(([, m]) => m.type);
+  it("shifts the whole tween instead of adding a keyframe when the toggle is off", async () => {
+    const { handled, types } = await runAutoKeyframeDrag(false);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     expect(types).toContain("replace-with-keyframes");
     expect(types).not.toContain("add-keyframe");
   });
 
   it("still adds/updates a keyframe at the playhead when the toggle is on (default)", async () => {
-    usePlayerStore.setState({ autoKeyframeEnabled: true, currentTime: 2 });
-    const commitMutation = vi.fn();
-    const iframe = fakeIframe("puck-b", []);
-
-    const handled = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
-      selection,
-      { x: -50, y: 0 },
-      [keyframedPositionAnim],
-      iframe,
-      commitMutation,
-    );
-
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
-    const types = commitMutation.mock.calls.map(([, m]) => m.type);
+    const { handled, types } = await runAutoKeyframeDrag(true);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     expect(types).not.toContain("replace-with-keyframes");
   });
 });
@@ -336,7 +504,7 @@ describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — motion paths", () => {
   it("creates a temporal keyframe at the exact playhead instead of redistributing path waypoints", async () => {
     const { commitMutation, handled } = await dragMotionPath(null);
 
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       selection,
       {
@@ -363,7 +531,7 @@ describe("tryGsapDragIntercept — motion paths", () => {
   it("keeps an explicitly selected path waypoint as a spatial edit", async () => {
     const { commitMutation, handled } = await dragMotionPath(50);
 
-    expect(handled).toBe(true);
+    expect(handled).toEqual({ status: "persisted" });
     expect(commitMutation).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       selection,
       {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.ts
index 5f8514630a..a35fb6d3f1 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/gsapRuntimeBridge.ts
@@ -26,18 +26,23 @@ import {
 import { commitWholePropertyOffset } from "./gsapWholePropertyOffsetCommit";
 import { resolveTweenDuration } from "../utils/globalTimeCompiler";
 import type { GsapDragCommitCallbacks } from "./gsapDragCommit";
-import { isInstantHold, selectorFromSelection } from "./gsapShared";
+import { isInstantHold, selectorFromSelection, writeTargetSelector } from "./gsapShared";
 import {
   findGsapPositionAnimation,
   pickClosestToPlayhead,
   readGsapPositionFromIframe,
 } from "./gsapPositionDetection";
 import { hasNonHoldTweenForElement } from "./gsapRuntimeKeyframes";
+import {
+  animationWritesAnyProperty,
+  directEditOutcomeForProperties,
+  type GsapEditOutcome,
+} from "./gsapEditOutcome";
 
 // Position channels — used to scope the "has a live position tween?" check so a
 // sibling rotation/scale animation never forces a static position hold into the
 // keyframe branch (which corrupts it into a frozen duration-0 keyframed tween).
-export const POSITION_CHANNELS = [
+export const POSITION_CHANNELS: string[] = [
   "x",
   "y",
   "xPercent",
@@ -50,6 +55,10 @@ export const POSITION_CHANNELS = [
   "translateX",
   "translateY",
 ];
+const POSITION_CHANNEL_SET = new Set<string>(POSITION_CHANNELS);
+
+const ROTATION_CHANNELS: string[] = ["rotation", "rotationX", "rotationY", "rotationZ"];
+const ROTATION_CHANNEL_SET = new Set<string>(ROTATION_CHANNELS);
 
 // ── Property-group tween resolution ───────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -121,11 +130,40 @@ export type { GsapDragCommitCallbacks };
 /**
  * Attempt to handle a drag commit via the GSAP script mutation path.
  *
- * Returns a Promise that resolves to true if the drag was handled via GSAP
- * (caller should skip the CSS path), or false if no GSAP position animation
- * exists.
+ * Returns an explicit persisted/blocked outcome. Callers must reject blocked
+ * outcomes so the gesture layer restores its runtime and overlay drafts.
  */
 // fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
+async function preflightGsapDragIntercept(
+  selection: DomEditSelection,
+  animations: GsapAnimation[],
+  iframe: HTMLIFrameElement | null,
+  fetchFallbackAnimations?: () => Promise<GsapAnimation[]>,
+): Promise<GsapEditOutcome> {
+  const selector = selectorFromSelection(selection);
+  if (!selector) return { status: "blocked", reason: "no-selector" };
+
+  const fetchedAnimations = fetchFallbackAnimations ? await fetchFallbackAnimations() : [];
+  // The fallback API currently represents both a definitive empty parse and an
+  // exhausted fetch failure as `[]`. Keep the selected cache in the preflight
+  // set as well: ignoring it would let a transient fetch failure bypass helper /
+  // runtime-source ownership and reach a destructive split or property write.
+  const allKnownAnimations = [...animations, ...fetchedAnimations];
+  const editability = directEditOutcomeForProperties(allKnownAnimations, POSITION_CHANNEL_SET);
+  if (editability.status === "blocked") return editability;
+  const sourceAnimations = fetchedAnimations.length > 0 ? fetchedAnimations : animations;
+  const posAnim = findGsapPositionAnimation(sourceAnimations, selector);
+  const hasLivePosition = hasNonHoldTweenForElement(iframe, selector, undefined, POSITION_CHANNELS);
+
+  if (hasLivePosition && !posAnim) {
+    return { status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" };
+  }
+  if (!posAnim && !writeTargetSelector(selection)) {
+    return { status: "blocked", reason: "no-selector" };
+  }
+  return { status: "persisted" };
+}
+
 export async function tryGsapDragIntercept(
   selection: DomEditSelection,
   offset: { x: number; y: number },
@@ -133,12 +171,20 @@ export async function tryGsapDragIntercept(
   iframe: HTMLIFrameElement | null,
   commitMutation: GsapDragCommitCallbacks["commitMutation"],
   fetchFallbackAnimations?: () => Promise<GsapAnimation[]>,
-  options?: { altKey?: boolean },
-): Promise<boolean> {
-  const selector = selectorFromSelection(selection);
-  if (!selector) {
-    return false;
+  options?: { altKey?: boolean; preflightOnly?: boolean; preflightPassed?: boolean },
+): Promise<GsapEditOutcome> {
+  if (!options?.preflightPassed) {
+    const preflight = await preflightGsapDragIntercept(
+      selection,
+      animations,
+      iframe,
+      fetchFallbackAnimations,
+    );
+    if (preflight.status === "blocked" || options?.preflightOnly) return preflight;
   }
+  const selector = selectorFromSelection(selection);
+  // The preflight above proves this; retain a defensive result for DOM churn.
+  if (!selector) return { status: "blocked", reason: "no-selector" };
 
   // Self-heal: enforce a single position write BEFORE committing. A corrupted
   // file can carry 2+ conflicting position writes for one selector (e.g. a
@@ -218,11 +264,11 @@ export async function tryGsapDragIntercept(
       commitMutation,
       fetchAnimations: fetchFallbackAnimations,
     });
-    return true;
+    return { status: "persisted" };
   }
 
   if (!posAnim) {
-    return false;
+    return { status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" };
   }
 
   // Verify the anim ID is still valid in the current file. The React-state
@@ -251,7 +297,7 @@ export async function tryGsapDragIntercept(
   } else {
     await commitGsapPositionFromDrag(selection, posAnim, offset, gsapPos, iframe, selector, cbs);
   }
-  return true;
+  return { status: "persisted" };
 }
 
 // ── Runtime property readers (re-exported for external callers) ───────────
@@ -267,28 +313,47 @@ export async function tryGsapRotationIntercept(
   iframe: HTMLIFrameElement | null,
   commitMutation: GsapDragCommitCallbacks["commitMutation"],
   fetchFallbackAnimations?: () => Promise<GsapAnimation[]>,
-): Promise<boolean> {
-  const selector = selectorFromSelection(selection);
-  if (!selector) return false;
+): Promise<GsapEditOutcome> {
+  const selector = selectorFromSelection(selection) ?? writeTargetSelector(selection);
+  if (!selector) return { status: "blocked", reason: "no-selector" };
+
+  const fetchedAnimations = fetchFallbackAnimations ? await fetchFallbackAnimations() : [];
+  const workingAnimations = animations.length > 0 ? animations : fetchedAnimations;
+  const editability = directEditOutcomeForProperties(
+    [...animations, ...fetchedAnimations],
+    ROTATION_CHANNEL_SET,
+  );
+  if (editability.status === "blocked") return editability;
+  const postSplitFetch = workingAnimations.some((animation) => !animation.propertyGroup)
+    ? fetchFallbackAnimations
+    : undefined;
 
   // Resolve the rotation-group tween, splitting legacy mixed tweens if needed.
   const resolved = await resolveGroupTween(
     "rotation",
-    animations,
+    workingAnimations,
     selection,
     commitMutation,
-    fetchFallbackAnimations,
+    postSplitFetch,
   );
-  const resolvedAnimations = resolved?.animations ?? animations;
+  const resolvedAnimations = resolved?.animations ?? workingAnimations;
 
   // Fallback: legacy heuristic for hand-written scripts
-  let anim = resolved?.anim ?? null;
+  let anim =
+    resolved?.anim && animationWritesAnyProperty(resolved.anim, ROTATION_CHANNEL_SET)
+      ? resolved.anim
+      : null;
   if (!anim) {
-    anim = animations.find((a) => "rotation" in a.properties || a.keyframes) ?? null;
-    if (!anim && fetchFallbackAnimations) {
-      const fresh = await fetchFallbackAnimations();
-      anim = fresh.find((a) => "rotation" in a.properties || a.keyframes) ?? null;
-    }
+    anim =
+      workingAnimations.find((a) => animationWritesAnyProperty(a, ROTATION_CHANNEL_SET)) ?? null;
+  }
+
+  const liveSelector = selectorFromSelection(selection);
+  const hasLiveRotationTween = liveSelector
+    ? hasNonHoldTweenForElement(iframe, liveSelector, undefined, ROTATION_CHANNELS)
+    : false;
+  if (!anim && hasLiveRotationTween) {
+    return { status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" };
   }
 
   // `angle` is the ABSOLUTE target rotation resolved by the gesture (gsap base +
@@ -307,7 +372,7 @@ export async function tryGsapRotationIntercept(
       commitMutation,
       fetchAnimations: fetchFallbackAnimations,
     });
-    return true;
+    return { status: "persisted" };
   }
 
   const pct = computeCurrentPercentage(selection, anim);
@@ -325,7 +390,7 @@ export async function tryGsapRotationIntercept(
       { commitMutation, fetchAnimations: fetchFallbackAnimations },
       "Rotate animation",
     );
-    return true;
+    return { status: "persisted" };
   }
 
   // fallow-ignore-next-line code-duplication
@@ -363,7 +428,7 @@ export async function tryGsapRotationIntercept(
     },
     { label: `Rotate (keyframe ${pct}%)`, softReload: true },
   );
-  return true;
+  return { status: "persisted" };
 }
 
 export { readRuntimeKeyframes, scanAllRuntimeKeyframes } from "./gsapRuntimeKeyframes";
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.test.tsx
index f969b661dd..defec9f81f 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.test.tsx
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ type Commit = (
 /** Renders the hook and hands its commit function to the caller via a ref callback. */
 function renderHookWith(
   animations: GsapAnimation[],
-  onMutation: (mutation: Record<string, unknown>, label: string) => void,
+  onMutation: (mutation: Record<string, unknown>, label: string) => unknown | Promise<unknown>,
   onReady: (commit: Commit) => void,
 ) {
   function Harness() {
     const { commitAnimatedProperties } = useAnimatedPropertyCommit({
       selectedGsapAnimations: animations,
       gsapCommitMutation: async (_sel, mutation, options) => {
-        onMutation(mutation, options.label);
+        await onMutation(mutation, options.label);
       },
       addGsapAnimation: vi.fn(),
       convertToKeyframes: vi.fn(),
@@ -61,6 +61,48 @@ function renderHookWith(
   return mountReactHarness(<Harness />);
 }
 
+describe("useAnimatedPropertyCommit — ownership and rejection propagation", () => {
+  it("rejects a helper-authored property before sending a mutation", async () => {
+    const helperRotation = {
+      id: "#box-to-rotation",
+      targetSelector: "#box",
+      propertyGroup: "rotation",
+      method: "to",
+      properties: { rotationX: 10 },
+      provenance: { kind: "helper", fn: "spin", callSite: 1 },
+    } as unknown as GsapAnimation;
+    const mutations: Array<Record<string, unknown>> = [];
+    let commit!: Commit;
+    const root = renderHookWith(
+      [helperRotation],
+      (mutation) => mutations.push(mutation),
+      (ready) => (commit = ready),
+    );
+
+    await expect(commit(selection, { rotationX: 12 })).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      name: "GsapEditBlockedError",
+      reason: "unroll-required",
+    });
+    expect(mutations).toHaveLength(0);
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+
+  it("rethrows a persistence failure to the telemetry wrapper", async () => {
+    const failure = new Error("save failed");
+    let commit!: Commit;
+    const root = renderHookWith(
+      [keyframedAnim],
+      async () => {
+        throw failure;
+      },
+      (ready) => (commit = ready),
+    );
+
+    await expect(commit(selection, { x: 50 })).rejects.toBe(failure);
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+});
+
 function renderCommitHook(
   mutations: Array<Record<string, unknown>>,
   onReady: (commit: Commit) => void,
@@ -74,35 +116,28 @@ function renderCommitHook(
 // off, it must shift the whole tween instead of adding/updating a keyframe
 // at the playhead.
 describe("useAnimatedPropertyCommit — autoKeyframeEnabled toggle (#1808)", () => {
-  it("shifts the whole tween instead of updating a keyframe when the toggle is off", async () => {
-    usePlayerStore.setState({ autoKeyframeEnabled: false, currentTime: 0 });
+  async function runCommitWithAutoKeyframe(enabled: boolean) {
+    usePlayerStore.setState({ autoKeyframeEnabled: enabled, currentTime: 0 });
     const mutations: Array<Record<string, unknown>> = [];
     let commit: Commit | undefined;
     const root = renderCommitHook(mutations, (fn) => (commit = fn));
+    await act(async () => commit!(selection, { x: 50 }));
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+    return mutations;
+  }
 
-    await act(async () => {
-      await commit!(selection, { x: 50 });
-    });
-
+  it("shifts the whole tween instead of updating a keyframe when the toggle is off", async () => {
+    const mutations = await runCommitWithAutoKeyframe(false);
     expect(mutations).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(mutations[0]!.type).toBe("replace-with-keyframes");
-    act(() => root.unmount());
   });
 
   it("still updates a keyframe at the playhead when the toggle is on (default)", async () => {
-    const mutations: Array<Record<string, unknown>> = [];
-    let commit: Commit | undefined;
-    const root = renderCommitHook(mutations, (fn) => (commit = fn));
-
-    await act(async () => {
-      await commit!(selection, { x: 50 });
-    });
-
+    const mutations = await runCommitWithAutoKeyframe(true);
     expect(mutations.some((m) => m.type === "update-keyframe" || m.type === "add-keyframe")).toBe(
       true,
     );
     expect(mutations.some((m) => m.type === "replace-with-keyframes")).toBe(false);
-    act(() => root.unmount());
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.ts
index 640f593281..5bc19ec4af 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useAnimatedPropertyCommit.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 import { resolveTweenStart, resolveTweenDuration } from "../utils/globalTimeCompiler";
 import { roundTo3 } from "../utils/rounding";
 import { commitWholePropertyOffset } from "./gsapWholePropertyOffsetCommit";
+import { assertGsapEditPersisted, directEditOutcomeForProperties } from "./gsapEditOutcome";
 
 interface CommitAnimatedPropertyDeps {
   selectedGsapAnimations: GsapAnimation[];
@@ -68,6 +69,8 @@ function pickBestAnimation(
   if (candidates.length === 0) return undefined;
   if (candidates.length === 1) return candidates[0];
   const currentTime = usePlayerStore.getState().currentTime;
+  // Intentional multi-signal ranking: group match, selector specificity, and playhead overlap.
+  // fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
   const scored = candidates.map((a) => {
     let score = 0;
     if (a.keyframes) score += 10;
@@ -393,11 +396,19 @@ export function useAnimatedPropertyCommit(deps: CommitAnimatedPropertyDeps) {
   const { selectedGsapAnimations, gsapCommitMutation, previewIframeRef, bumpGsapCache } = deps;
 
   const commitAnimatedProperties = useCallback(
+    // This is the single routing boundary for set, keyframe, whole-tween, and first-group writes.
+    // fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
     async (selection: DomEditSelection, props: Record<string, number | string>): Promise<void> => {
       if (!gsapCommitMutation) return;
       const propEntries = Object.entries(props);
       if (propEntries.length === 0) return;
       const primaryProp = propEntries[0]![0];
+      assertGsapEditPersisted(
+        directEditOutcomeForProperties(
+          selectedGsapAnimations,
+          new Set(propEntries.map(([property]) => property)),
+        ),
+      );
 
       const iframe = previewIframeRef.current;
       const selector = selectorFromSelection(selection);
@@ -529,8 +540,9 @@ export function useAnimatedPropertyCommit(deps: CommitAnimatedPropertyDeps) {
           return;
         }
         bumpGsapCache();
-      } catch {
+      } catch (error) {
         bumpGsapCache();
+        throw error;
       }
     },
     [selectedGsapAnimations, gsapCommitMutation, previewIframeRef, bumpGsapCache],
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAnimationFetchFallback.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAnimationFetchFallback.ts
index 4e6f6ef9bc..8dd9ba9757 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAnimationFetchFallback.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAnimationFetchFallback.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ export type ElementAnimationsOutcome =
   | { kind: "fetch-error" }
   | { kind: "cold" };
 
+export interface GsapAnimationFetchOptions {
+  /** Refuse the edit when the parse endpoint is unavailable instead of treating it as no motion. */
+  failOnFetchError?: boolean;
+}
+
 /**
  * Classify a parse result for one element. Differentiates a hard fetch failure
  * (`parsed === null`) from a warm-but-empty cold parse (`animations.length === 0`)
@@ -44,32 +49,48 @@ export function selectElementAnimationsOrRetry(
   return { kind: "resolved", animations: getAnimationsForElement(parsed.animations, target) };
 }
 
+// Retry policy deliberately distinguishes cold parses from hard fetch errors.
+// fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
+async function fetchElementAnimationsWithRetry(
+  projectId: string,
+  gsapSourceFile: string,
+  target: { id: string | null; selector: string | null },
+  failOnFetchError: boolean,
+): Promise<GsapAnimation[]> {
+  let coldAttempts = 0;
+  let errorAttempts = 0;
+  for (;;) {
+    const parsed = await fetchParsedAnimations(projectId, gsapSourceFile);
+    const outcome = selectElementAnimationsOrRetry(parsed, target);
+    if (outcome.kind === "resolved") return outcome.animations;
+    if (outcome.kind === "fetch-error") {
+      if (errorAttempts >= FETCH_ERROR_RETRIES) {
+        if (failOnFetchError) throw new Error("GSAP animation ownership could not be verified");
+        return [];
+      }
+      errorAttempts++;
+      await delay(FETCH_ERROR_DELAY_MS);
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (coldAttempts >= COLD_PARSE_RETRIES) return [];
+    coldAttempts++;
+    await delay(COLD_PARSE_DELAY_MS);
+  }
+}
+
 export function useGsapAnimationFetchFallback(projectId: string | null, gsapSourceFile: string) {
   return useCallback(
-    (selection: DomEditSelection) => async (): Promise<GsapAnimation[]> => {
-      if (!projectId) return [];
-      const target = { id: selection.id ?? null, selector: selection.selector ?? null };
-      // A drag can fire before the async parse is warm; a cold parse must retry
-      // rather than fall through to the no-animation path (which duplicates the
-      // tween). A hard fetch error is a different failure — retry only briefly.
-      let coldAttempts = 0;
-      let errorAttempts = 0;
-      for (;;) {
-        const parsed = await fetchParsedAnimations(projectId, gsapSourceFile);
-        const outcome = selectElementAnimationsOrRetry(parsed, target);
-        if (outcome.kind === "resolved") return outcome.animations;
-        if (outcome.kind === "fetch-error") {
-          if (errorAttempts >= FETCH_ERROR_RETRIES) return [];
-          errorAttempts++;
-          await delay(FETCH_ERROR_DELAY_MS);
-          continue;
-        }
-        // cold
-        if (coldAttempts >= COLD_PARSE_RETRIES) return [];
-        coldAttempts++;
-        await delay(COLD_PARSE_DELAY_MS);
-      }
-    },
+    (selection: DomEditSelection, options?: GsapAnimationFetchOptions) =>
+      async (): Promise<GsapAnimation[]> => {
+        if (!projectId) return [];
+        const target = { id: selection.id ?? null, selector: selection.selector ?? null };
+        return fetchElementAnimationsWithRetry(
+          projectId,
+          gsapSourceFile,
+          target,
+          options?.failOnFetchError === true,
+        );
+      },
     [projectId, gsapSourceFile],
   );
 }
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.test.tsx
index 69a675f110..bbff8cf210 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.test.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   drag: vi.fn(),
   readPosition: vi.fn(),
   setPosition: vi.fn(),
+  commitAnimatedProperty: vi.fn(),
+  commitAnimatedProperties: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
 vi.mock("./gsapResizeIntercept", () => ({ tryGsapResizeIntercept: mocks.resize }));
@@ -28,8 +30,8 @@ vi.mock("./gsapPositionDetection", () => ({
 vi.mock("../utils/elementGsap", () => ({ setElementGsapPosition: mocks.setPosition }));
 vi.mock("./useAnimatedPropertyCommit", () => ({
   useAnimatedPropertyCommit: () => ({
-    commitAnimatedProperty: vi.fn(),
-    commitAnimatedProperties: vi.fn(),
+    commitAnimatedProperty: mocks.commitAnimatedProperty,
+    commitAnimatedProperties: mocks.commitAnimatedProperties,
   }),
 }));
 vi.mock("./useSafeGsapCommitMutation", () => ({
@@ -78,22 +80,51 @@ function mountResizeHandler(animations: GsapAnimation[]) {
   return { selection, fallback, commitMutation, resize: resize!, root };
 }
 
+type AwareEditingParams = Parameters<typeof useGsapAwareEditing>[0];
+
+function mountGroupHandler({
+  gsapCommitMutation,
+  makeFetchFallback,
+  trackGsapInteractionFailure = vi.fn(),
+}: Pick<AwareEditingParams, "gsapCommitMutation" | "makeFetchFallback"> &
+  Partial<Pick<AwareEditingParams, "trackGsapInteractionFailure">>) {
+  let groupCommit!: (updates: DomEditGroupPathOffsetCommit[]) => Promise<void>;
+  function Harness() {
+    groupCommit = useGsapAwareEditing({
+      domEditSelection: null,
+      selectedGsapAnimations: [],
+      gsapCommitMutation,
+      previewIframeRef: { current: null },
+      showToast: vi.fn(),
+      bumpGsapCache: vi.fn(),
+      makeFetchFallback,
+      trackGsapInteractionFailure,
+      handleDomBoxSizeCommit: vi.fn(),
+      addGsapAnimation: vi.fn(),
+      convertToKeyframes: vi.fn(),
+      setArcPath: vi.fn(),
+      updateArcSegment: vi.fn(),
+    }).handleGsapAwareGroupPathOffsetCommit;
+    return null;
+  }
+  const root = mountReactHarness(<Harness />);
+  return { groupCommit: (updates: DomEditGroupPathOffsetCommit[]) => groupCommit(updates), root };
+}
+
 describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
-  it("forwards the anchor offset to the DOM fallback when GSAP does not handle resize", async () => {
-    mocks.resize.mockResolvedValue(false);
+  it("rejects a blocked resize instead of falling through to a competing DOM write", async () => {
+    mocks.resize.mockResolvedValue({ status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" });
     const h = mountResizeHandler([]);
-    await act(() => h.resize(h.selection, { width: 300, height: 200 }, { x: -50, y: -25 }));
-    expect(h.fallback).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      h.selection,
-      { width: 300, height: 200 },
-      { x: -50, y: -25 },
-    );
+    await expect(
+      act(() => h.resize(h.selection, { width: 300, height: 200 }, { x: -50, y: -25 })),
+    ).rejects.toMatchObject({ reason: "source-uneditable" });
+    expect(h.fallback).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     act(() => h.root.unmount());
   });
 
   it("persists the anchor exactly once through GSAP position when size route handles resize", async () => {
-    mocks.resize.mockResolvedValue(true);
-    mocks.drag.mockResolvedValue(true);
+    mocks.resize.mockResolvedValue({ status: "persisted" });
+    mocks.drag.mockResolvedValue({ status: "persisted" });
     const h = mountResizeHandler([]);
     await act(() => h.resize(h.selection, { width: 300, height: 200 }, { x: -50, y: -25 }));
     expect(h.fallback).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -103,12 +134,12 @@ describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
   });
 
   it("settles the live GSAP position before resize persistence reaches its first await", async () => {
-    let resolveResize!: (handled: boolean) => void;
-    const pendingResize = new Promise<boolean>((resolve) => {
+    let resolveResize!: (outcome: { status: "persisted" }) => void;
+    const pendingResize = new Promise<{ status: "persisted" }>((resolve) => {
       resolveResize = resolve;
     });
     mocks.resize.mockReturnValue(pendingResize);
-    mocks.drag.mockResolvedValue(true);
+    mocks.drag.mockResolvedValue({ status: "persisted" });
     mocks.readPosition.mockReturnValue({ x: 120.4, y: 80.2 });
     const h = mountResizeHandler([]);
     h.selection.element.setAttribute("data-hf-drag-gsap-base-x", "120.4");
@@ -126,7 +157,7 @@ describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
       mocks.resize.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]!,
     );
 
-    resolveResize(true);
+    resolveResize({ status: "persisted" });
     await act(() => commit);
     act(() => h.root.unmount());
   });
@@ -134,7 +165,7 @@ describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
   it("passes a transaction-scoped commit wrapper into the resize path", async () => {
     mocks.resize.mockImplementation(async (selection, _size, _animations, _iframe, commit) => {
       await commit(selection, { type: "resize" }, { label: "Resize", softReload: true });
-      return true;
+      return { status: "persisted" };
     });
     const h = mountResizeHandler([]);
 
@@ -164,9 +195,12 @@ describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
           m: unknown,
           o: { coalesceKey?: string; label?: string; softReload?: boolean },
         ) => Promise<void>,
+        _fetch: unknown,
+        options?: { preflightOnly?: boolean },
       ) => {
+        if (options?.preflightOnly) return { status: "persisted" };
         await commit(selection, { type: "move" }, { label: "Move", softReload: true });
-        return true;
+        return { status: "persisted" };
       },
     );
     const commitMutation = vi.fn(
@@ -175,26 +209,10 @@ describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
         return Promise.resolve();
       },
     );
-    let groupCommit!: (updates: DomEditGroupPathOffsetCommit[]) => Promise<void>;
-    function Harness() {
-      groupCommit = useGsapAwareEditing({
-        domEditSelection: null,
-        selectedGsapAnimations: [],
-        gsapCommitMutation: commitMutation,
-        previewIframeRef: { current: null },
-        showToast: vi.fn(),
-        bumpGsapCache: vi.fn(),
-        makeFetchFallback: () => vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
-        trackGsapInteractionFailure: vi.fn(),
-        handleDomBoxSizeCommit: vi.fn(),
-        addGsapAnimation: vi.fn(),
-        convertToKeyframes: vi.fn(),
-        setArcPath: vi.fn(),
-        updateArcSegment: vi.fn(),
-      }).handleGsapAwareGroupPathOffsetCommit;
-      return null;
-    }
-    const root = mountReactHarness(<Harness />);
+    const { groupCommit, root } = mountGroupHandler({
+      gsapCommitMutation: commitMutation,
+      makeFetchFallback: () => vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
+    });
     const updates = [
       {
         selection: { element: document.createElement("div"), id: "a", selector: "#a" },
@@ -215,6 +233,74 @@ describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
     act(() => root.unmount());
   });
 
+  it("preflights every group member before the first mutation", async () => {
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const makeFetchFallback = vi.fn(() => vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]));
+    mocks.drag.mockImplementation(
+      async (_selection, _next, _animations, _iframe, _commit, _fetch, options) => {
+        if (options?.preflightOnly) {
+          return _selection.id === "blocked"
+            ? { status: "blocked", reason: "source-uneditable" }
+            : { status: "persisted" };
+        }
+        await _commit(_selection, { type: "move" }, { label: "Move" });
+        return { status: "persisted" };
+      },
+    );
+    const { groupCommit, root } = mountGroupHandler({
+      gsapCommitMutation: commitMutation,
+      makeFetchFallback,
+    });
+    const updates = [
+      {
+        selection: { element: document.createElement("div"), id: "ok", selector: "#ok" },
+        next: { x: 10, y: 10 },
+      },
+      {
+        selection: {
+          element: document.createElement("div"),
+          id: "blocked",
+          selector: "#blocked",
+        },
+        next: { x: 10, y: 10 },
+      },
+    ] as unknown as DomEditGroupPathOffsetCommit[];
+
+    await expect(groupCommit(updates)).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      name: "GsapEditBlockedError",
+      reason: "source-uneditable",
+    });
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(mocks.drag).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(makeFetchFallback).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, updates[0]!.selection, {
+      failOnFetchError: true,
+    });
+    expect(makeFetchFallback).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, updates[1]!.selection, {
+      failOnFetchError: true,
+    });
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+
+  it("fails a group preflight closed when ownership cannot be fetched", async () => {
+    const fetchError = new Error("parse endpoint unavailable");
+    const commitMutation = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    const { groupCommit, root } = mountGroupHandler({
+      gsapCommitMutation: commitMutation,
+      makeFetchFallback: () => vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(fetchError),
+    });
+    const updates = [
+      {
+        selection: { element: document.createElement("div"), id: "a", selector: "#a" },
+        next: { x: 10, y: 10 },
+      },
+    ] as unknown as DomEditGroupPathOffsetCommit[];
+
+    await expect(groupCommit(updates)).rejects.toBe(fetchError);
+    expect(mocks.drag).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(commitMutation).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+
   it("restores once when resize persistence fails", async () => {
     const error = new Error("resize failed");
     const restore = vi.fn();
@@ -228,7 +314,7 @@ describe("useGsapAwareEditing anchored resize", () => {
   });
 
   it("does not apply the anchor twice when scale route already settles the drop point", async () => {
-    mocks.resize.mockResolvedValue(true);
+    mocks.resize.mockResolvedValue({ status: "persisted" });
     const scale = { propertyGroup: "scale" } as GsapAnimation;
     const h = mountResizeHandler([scale]);
     await act(() => h.resize(h.selection, { width: 300, height: 200 }, { x: -50, y: -25 }));
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.ts
index b2071aa693..188ff58f80 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapAwareEditing.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ import { logResize, logResizeSettle } from "../utils/resizeDebug";
 import type { DomEditGroupPathOffsetCommit } from "../components/editor/DomEditOverlay";
 import { runGestureTransaction } from "./gestureTransaction";
 import { hasNonHoldTweenForElement } from "./gsapRuntimeKeyframes";
+import { assertGsapEditPersisted } from "./gsapEditOutcome";
+import type { GsapAnimationFetchOptions } from "./useGsapAnimationFetchFallback";
 
 // Distinct coalesceKey per group drag so consecutive group drags don't fold
 // into one another's undo entry (module-local counter, not Date.now()).
@@ -42,7 +44,10 @@ export interface UseGsapAwareEditingParams {
   previewIframeRef: React.RefObject<HTMLIFrameElement | null>;
   showToast: (message: string, tone?: "error" | "info") => void;
   bumpGsapCache: () => void;
-  makeFetchFallback: (selection: DomEditSelection) => () => Promise<GsapAnimation[]>;
+  makeFetchFallback: (
+    selection: DomEditSelection,
+    options?: GsapAnimationFetchOptions,
+  ) => () => Promise<GsapAnimation[]>;
   trackGsapInteractionFailure: (
     error: unknown,
     selection: DomEditSelection,
@@ -112,7 +117,7 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
     ) => {
       if (gsapCommitMutation) {
         try {
-          await tryGsapDragIntercept(
+          const outcome = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
             selection,
             next,
             selectedGsapAnimations,
@@ -121,6 +126,7 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
             makeFetchFallback(selection),
             modifiers,
           );
+          assertGsapEditPersisted(outcome);
         } catch (error) {
           trackGsapInteractionFailure(error, selection, "drag", "Move animated layer");
           throw error;
@@ -155,16 +161,42 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
           coalesceKey,
           coalesceMs: Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY,
         });
+      const preflightAnimations = new Map<DomEditSelection, GsapAnimation[]>();
+      // Editability is user-atomic: prove every member can be written before
+      // the first source mutation. Network failures after this point retain the
+      // existing multi-request semantics, but a blocked member can never leave
+      // earlier siblings partially moved.
+      for (const { selection } of updates) {
+        try {
+          const animations = await makeFetchFallback(selection, { failOnFetchError: true })();
+          preflightAnimations.set(selection, animations);
+          const outcome = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
+            selection,
+            { x: 0, y: 0 },
+            animations,
+            previewIframeRef.current,
+            coalescedCommit,
+            undefined,
+            { preflightOnly: true },
+          );
+          assertGsapEditPersisted(outcome);
+        } catch (error) {
+          trackGsapInteractionFailure(error, selection, "drag", "Move animated layer (group)");
+          throw error;
+        }
+      }
       for (const { selection, next } of updates) {
         try {
-          await tryGsapDragIntercept(
+          const outcome = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
             selection,
             next,
-            [],
+            preflightAnimations.get(selection) ?? [],
             previewIframeRef.current,
             coalescedCommit,
             makeFetchFallback(selection),
+            { preflightPassed: true },
           );
+          assertGsapEditPersisted(outcome);
         } catch (error) {
           trackGsapInteractionFailure(error, selection, "drag", "Move animated layer (group)");
           throw error;
@@ -217,7 +249,7 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
           if (gsapCommitMutation) {
             const commitMutation = commit(gsapCommitMutation);
             try {
-              const handled = await tryGsapResizeIntercept(
+              const outcome = await tryGsapResizeIntercept(
                 selection,
                 next,
                 selectedGsapAnimations,
@@ -225,26 +257,26 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
                 commitMutation,
                 makeFetchFallback(selection),
               );
-              if (handled) {
-                logResize("intercept-handled", {
-                  scaleRoute,
-                  willForwardOffset: !!(offset && !scaleRoute),
-                });
-                // Scale-route resize persists its residual position internally.
-                // Width/height persists the already-settled anchor through drag.
-                if (offset && !scaleRoute) {
-                  await tryGsapDragIntercept(
-                    selection,
-                    offset,
-                    selectedGsapAnimations,
-                    previewIframeRef.current,
-                    commitMutation,
-                    makeFetchFallback(selection),
-                  );
-                }
-                logResizeSettle(selection.element, scaleRoute ? "gsap-scale" : "gsap-size");
-                return;
+              assertGsapEditPersisted(outcome);
+              logResize("intercept-handled", {
+                scaleRoute,
+                willForwardOffset: !!(offset && !scaleRoute),
+              });
+              // Scale-route resize persists its residual position internally.
+              // Width/height persists the already-settled anchor through drag.
+              if (offset && !scaleRoute) {
+                const dragOutcome = await tryGsapDragIntercept(
+                  selection,
+                  offset,
+                  selectedGsapAnimations,
+                  previewIframeRef.current,
+                  commitMutation,
+                  makeFetchFallback(selection),
+                );
+                assertGsapEditPersisted(dragOutcome);
               }
+              logResizeSettle(selection.element, scaleRoute ? "gsap-scale" : "gsap-size");
+              return;
             } catch (error) {
               trackGsapInteractionFailure(error, selection, "resize", "Resize animated layer");
               throw error;
@@ -278,8 +310,9 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
         try {
           // Single source of truth for rotation too: tryGsapRotationIntercept handles
           // tweened elements (keyframes) and static ones (a tl.set), so there's no
-          // CSS-var fallback. It returns false only for a selectorless element (no-op).
-          await tryGsapRotationIntercept(
+          // CSS-var fallback. Selectorless/computed source rejects so the gesture
+          // transaction can restore its draft instead of reporting a false success.
+          const outcome = await tryGsapRotationIntercept(
             selection,
             next.angle,
             selectedGsapAnimations,
@@ -287,6 +320,7 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
             gsapCommitMutation,
             makeFetchFallback(selection),
           );
+          assertGsapEditPersisted(outcome);
         } catch (error) {
           trackGsapInteractionFailure(error, selection, "rotation", "Rotate animated layer");
           throw error;
@@ -304,7 +338,10 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
 
   // ── Animated property commit ──
 
-  const { commitAnimatedProperty, commitAnimatedProperties } = useAnimatedPropertyCommit({
+  const {
+    commitAnimatedProperty: commitAnimatedPropertyRaw,
+    commitAnimatedProperties: commitAnimatedPropertiesRaw,
+  } = useAnimatedPropertyCommit({
     selectedGsapAnimations,
     gsapCommitMutation,
     addGsapAnimation: (sel, method, time) => addGsapAnimation(sel, method, time),
@@ -313,6 +350,30 @@ export function useGsapAwareEditing({
     bumpGsapCache,
   });
 
+  const commitAnimatedProperties = useCallback(
+    async (selection: DomEditSelection, properties: Record<string, number | string>) => {
+      try {
+        await commitAnimatedPropertiesRaw(selection, properties);
+      } catch (error) {
+        trackGsapInteractionFailure(error, selection, "property", "Edit animated property");
+        throw error;
+      }
+    },
+    [commitAnimatedPropertiesRaw, trackGsapInteractionFailure],
+  );
+
+  const commitAnimatedProperty = useCallback(
+    async (selection: DomEditSelection, property: string, value: number | string) => {
+      try {
+        await commitAnimatedPropertyRaw(selection, property, value);
+      } catch (error) {
+        trackGsapInteractionFailure(error, selection, "property", "Edit animated property");
+        throw error;
+      }
+    },
+    [commitAnimatedPropertyRaw, trackGsapInteractionFailure],
+  );
+
   // ── Arc path wrappers ──
 
   const handleSetArcPath = useCallback(
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..789840ff2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import React, { act } from "react";
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import type { DomEditSelection } from "../components/editor/domEditingTypes";
+import { mountReactHarness } from "./domSelectionTestHarness";
+import { GsapEditBlockedError } from "./gsapEditOutcome";
+
+(globalThis as unknown as { IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT: boolean }).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
+
+const trackStudioSaveFailure = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
+vi.mock("../utils/studioSaveDiagnostics", () => ({ trackStudioSaveFailure }));
+
+import { useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry } from "./useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry";
+
+describe("useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry", () => {
+  it("surfaces the blocked reason instead of a generic save failure", () => {
+    const showToast = vi.fn();
+    const selection = {
+      id: "clip",
+      selector: "#clip",
+      element: document.createElement("div"),
+    } as unknown as DomEditSelection;
+    let report!: ReturnType<typeof useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry>;
+    function Harness() {
+      report = useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry("index.html", showToast);
+      return null;
+    }
+    const root = mountReactHarness(<Harness />);
+
+    act(() => report(new GsapEditBlockedError("unroll-required"), selection, "drag", "Move"));
+
+    expect(showToast).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "This motion comes from a helper or loop. Choose Unroll to edit it explicitly.",
+      "error",
+    );
+    expect(trackStudioSaveFailure).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ source: "gsap_commit", mutationType: "drag", targetId: "clip" }),
+    );
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry.ts
index e451c3a915..80bef7f7c3 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useCallback } from "react";
 import type { DomEditSelection } from "../components/editor/domEditing";
 import { trackStudioSaveFailure } from "../utils/studioSaveDiagnostics";
+import { isGsapEditBlockedError } from "./gsapEditOutcome";
 
 export function useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry(
   activeCompPath: string | null,
@@ -18,7 +19,10 @@ export function useGsapInteractionFailureTelemetry(
         targetSelector: selection.selector,
         targetSourceFile: selection.sourceFile,
       });
-      showToast("Failed to save animated edit.", "error");
+      showToast(
+        isGsapEditBlockedError(error) ? error.message : "Failed to save animated edit.",
+        "error",
+      );
     },
     [activeCompPath, showToast],
   );