diff --git a/core/boxart_itch.gd b/core/boxart_itch.gd
index 080d27d..a696696 100644
--- a/core/boxart_itch.gd
+++ b/core/boxart_itch.gd
@@ -449,9 +449,8 @@ func _fetch_image(url: String, cache_flags: int) -> Texture2D:
 
 
 ## Downloads a GIF and converts it to a Godot texture. When animated GIFs
-## are enabled, extracts all frames and returns an AnimatedTexture (paused
-## by default — the focus handler unpauses it). Otherwise extracts only
-## the first frame and returns a static ImageTexture.
+## are enabled, extracts all frames and returns an AnimatedTexture. Otherwise
+## extracts only the first frame and returns a static ImageTexture.
 ## Results are cached in _animated_texture_cache keyed by URL.
 func _fetch_gif_as_texture(url: String, cache_flags: int) -> Texture2D:
 	# Return cached result if available.
@@ -569,7 +568,6 @@ func _extract_gif_frames(ffmpeg_bin: String, gif_path: String, frames_dir: Strin
 func _assemble_animated_texture(frame_files: PackedStringArray, frames_dir: String, delays: Array, url: String) -> AnimatedTexture:
 	var anim_tex := AnimatedTexture.new()
 	anim_tex.frames_count = frame_files.size()
-	anim_tex.pause = true  # Start paused — focus handler unpauses.
 
 	for i in frame_files.size():
 		var frame_path := frames_dir + "/" + frame_files[i]