diff --git a/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.css b/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.css
index ca5d462..a5ec462 100644
--- a/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.css
+++ b/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.css
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
   background:
     radial-gradient(farthest-side, #ffa516 94%, #0000) top/8px 8px no-repeat,
     conic-gradient(#0000 30%, #ffa516);
+  mask: radial-gradient(farthest-side, #0000 calc(100% - 8px), #000 0);
   -webkit-mask: radial-gradient(farthest-side, #0000 calc(100% - 8px), #000 0);
   animation: l13 1s infinite linear;
 }
@@ -75,3 +76,25 @@
     display: none;
   }
 }
+
+/* Some improvements for hidden buttons */
+
+/* smooth transitions */
+.try_examples_button {
+  opacity: 1;
+  transition: opacity 0.3s ease-in-out;
+}
+
+.try_examples_button.hidden {
+  display: none;
+  opacity: 0;
+}
+
+.try_examples_button.fade-in {
+  transition: opacity 0.3s ease-in-out;
+}
+
+/* to ensure hidden class takes precedence */
+.hidden {
+  display: none !important;
+}
diff --git a/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.js b/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.js
index 4ae8c96..9c34581 100644
--- a/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.js
+++ b/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.js
@@ -163,8 +163,30 @@ window.loadTryExamplesConfig = async (configFilePath) => {
     const response = await fetch(configFileUrl);
     if (!response.ok) {
       if (response.status === 404) {
-        // Try examples ignore file is not present.
-        console.log("Optional try_examples config file not found.");
+        // Try examples ignore file is not present. Enable all interactive examples
+        // in that case.
+        console.log(
+          "Optional try_examples config file not found. Enabling all interactive examples.",
+        );
+
+        // Grab all hidden try examples buttons and fade them in
+        const buttons = document.getElementsByClassName(
+          "try_examples_button hidden",
+        );
+
+        requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+          for (let button of buttons) {
+            button.style.opacity = "0";
+            button.classList.remove("hidden");
+            button.classList.add("fade-in");
+            requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+              button.style.opacity = "1";
+            });
+          }
+        });
+
+        tryExamplesConfigLoaded = true;
+
         return;
       }
       throw new Error(`Error fetching ${configFilePath}`);
@@ -172,6 +194,17 @@ window.loadTryExamplesConfig = async (configFilePath) => {
 
     const data = await response.json();
     if (!data) {
+      // If config file exists but is empty, treat it like a missing config
+      // and enable all interactive examples since there is no ignore pattern
+      console.log(
+        "Try examples config file is empty. Enabling all interactive examples.",
+      );
+      const buttons = document.getElementsByClassName(
+        "try_examples_button hidden",
+      );
+      for (let button of buttons) {
+        button.classList.remove("hidden");
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -180,21 +213,43 @@ window.loadTryExamplesConfig = async (configFilePath) => {
       tryExamplesGlobalMinHeight = parseInt(data.global_min_height);
     }
 
-    // Disable interactive examples if file matches one of the ignore patterns
-    // by hiding try_examples_buttons.
-    Patterns = data.ignore_patterns;
+    // Selectively enable interactive examples if file matches one of the ignore patterns
+    // by un-hiding try_examples_buttons with a smooth transition
+    const Patterns = data.ignore_patterns || [];
+    let shouldShowButtons = true;
+
     for (let pattern of Patterns) {
       let regex = new RegExp(pattern);
       if (regex.test(currentPageUrl)) {
-        var buttons = document.getElementsByClassName("try_examples_button");
-        for (var i = 0; i < buttons.length; i++) {
-          buttons[i].classList.add("hidden");
-        }
+        shouldShowButtons = false;
         break;
       }
     }
+
+    if (shouldShowButtons) {
+      const buttons = document.getElementsByClassName(
+        "try_examples_button hidden",
+      );
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        for (let button of buttons) {
+          button.style.opacity = "0";
+          button.classList.remove("hidden");
+          button.classList.add("fade-in");
+          requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+            button.style.opacity = "1";
+          });
+        }
+      });
+    }
   } catch (error) {
-    console.error(error);
+    // On error, enable all buttons as a fallback to maintain current behavior
+    console.error("Error loading try_examples config:", error);
+    const buttons = document.getElementsByClassName(
+      "try_examples_button hidden",
+    );
+    for (let button of buttons) {
+      button.classList.remove("hidden");
+    }
   }
   tryExamplesConfigLoaded = true;
 };
@@ -202,7 +257,7 @@ window.loadTryExamplesConfig = async (configFilePath) => {
 window.toggleTryExamplesButtons = () => {
   /* Toggle visibility of TryExamples buttons. For use in console for debug
    * purposes. */
-  var buttons = document.getElementsByClassName("try_examples_button");
+  var buttons = document.getElementsByClassName("try_examples_button hidden");
 
   for (var i = 0; i < buttons.length; i++) {
     buttons[i].classList.toggle("hidden");
diff --git a/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.py b/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.py
index 366b0e9..2a2e936 100644
--- a/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.py
+++ b/jupyterlite_sphinx/jupyterlite_sphinx.py
@@ -553,15 +553,16 @@ def run(self):
         )
 
         # Button with the onclick event to swap embedded notebook back to examples.
+        # This includes a 'hidden' class by default to hide until the page is loaded.
         go_back_button_html = (
-            '<button class="try_examples_button" '
+            '<button class="try_examples_button hidden" '
             f"onclick=\"window.tryExamplesHideIframe('{examples_div_id}',"
             f"'{iframe_parent_div_id}')\">"
             "Go Back</button>"
         )
 
         full_screen_button_html = (
-            '<button class="try_examples_button" '
+            '<button class="try_examples_button hidden" '
             f"onclick=\"window.openInNewTab('{examples_div_id}',"
             f"'{iframe_parent_div_id}')\">"
             "Open In Tab</button>"
@@ -570,7 +571,7 @@ def run(self):
         # Button with the onclick event to swap examples with embedded notebook.
         try_it_button_html = (
             '<div class="try_examples_button_container">'
-            '<button class="try_examples_button" '
+            '<button class="try_examples_button hidden" '
             f"onclick=\"window.tryExamplesShowIframe('{examples_div_id}',"
             f"'{iframe_div_id}','{iframe_parent_div_id}','{iframe_src}',"
             f"'{height}')\">"