diff --git a/engine/pipeline/presets.py b/engine/pipeline/presets.py
index 2c2be77..ceda711 100644
--- a/engine/pipeline/presets.py
+++ b/engine/pipeline/presets.py
@@ -1,16 +1,35 @@
 """
 Pipeline presets - Pre-configured pipeline configurations.
 
-Provides PipelinePreset as a unified preset system that wraps
-the existing Preset class from animation.py for backwards compatibility.
+Provides PipelinePreset as a unified preset system.
+Presets can be loaded from TOML files (presets.toml) or defined in code.
+
+Loading order:
+1. Built-in presets.toml in the package
+2. User config ~/.config/mainline/presets.toml
+3. Local ./presets.toml (overrides earlier)
 """
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Any
 
-from engine.animation import Preset as AnimationPreset
 from engine.pipeline.params import PipelineParams
 
 
+def _load_toml_presets() -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Load presets from TOML file."""
+    try:
+        from engine.pipeline.preset_loader import load_presets
+
+        return load_presets()
+    except Exception:
+        return {}
+
+
+# Pre-load TOML presets
+_YAML_PRESETS = _load_toml_presets()
+
+
 @dataclass
 class PipelinePreset:
     """Pre-configured pipeline with stages and animation.
@@ -18,7 +37,6 @@ class PipelinePreset:
     A PipelinePreset packages:
     - Initial params: Starting configuration
     - Stages: List of stage configurations to create
-    - Animation: Optional animation controller
 
     This is the new unified preset that works with the Pipeline class.
     """
@@ -29,13 +47,9 @@ class PipelinePreset:
     display: str = "terminal"
     camera: str = "vertical"
     effects: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
-    initial_params: PipelineParams | None = None
-    animation_preset: AnimationPreset | None = None
 
     def to_params(self) -> PipelineParams:
         """Convert to PipelineParams."""
-        if self.initial_params:
-            return self.initial_params.copy()
         params = PipelineParams()
         params.source = self.source
         params.display = self.display
@@ -44,26 +58,17 @@ class PipelinePreset:
         return params
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_animation_preset(cls, preset: AnimationPreset) -> "PipelinePreset":
-        """Create a PipelinePreset from an existing animation Preset."""
-        params = preset.initial_params
+    def from_yaml(cls, name: str, data: dict[str, Any]) -> "PipelinePreset":
+        """Create a PipelinePreset from YAML data."""
         return cls(
-            name=preset.name,
-            description=preset.description,
-            source=params.source,
-            display=params.display,
-            camera=params.camera_mode,
-            effects=params.effect_order.copy(),
-            initial_params=params,
-            animation_preset=preset,
+            name=name,
+            description=data.get("description", ""),
+            source=data.get("source", "headlines"),
+            display=data.get("display", "terminal"),
+            camera=data.get("camera", "vertical"),
+            effects=data.get("effects", []),
         )
 
-    def create_animation_controller(self):
-        """Create an AnimationController from this preset."""
-        if self.animation_preset:
-            return self.animation_preset.create_controller()
-        return None
-
 
 # Built-in presets
 DEMO_PRESET = PipelinePreset(
@@ -121,14 +126,34 @@ FIREHOSE_PRESET = PipelinePreset(
 )
 
 
-PRESETS: dict[str, PipelinePreset] = {
-    "demo": DEMO_PRESET,
-    "poetry": POETRY_PRESET,
-    "pipeline": PIPELINE_VIZ_PRESET,
-    "websocket": WEBSOCKET_PRESET,
-    "sixel": SIXEL_PRESET,
-    "firehose": FIREHOSE_PRESET,
-}
+# Build presets from YAML data
+def _build_presets() -> dict[str, PipelinePreset]:
+    """Build preset dictionary from all sources."""
+    result = {}
+
+    # Add YAML presets
+    yaml_presets = _YAML_PRESETS.get("presets", {})
+    for name, data in yaml_presets.items():
+        result[name] = PipelinePreset.from_yaml(name, data)
+
+    # Add built-in presets as fallback (if not in YAML)
+    builtins = {
+        "demo": DEMO_PRESET,
+        "poetry": POETRY_PRESET,
+        "pipeline": PIPELINE_VIZ_PRESET,
+        "websocket": WEBSOCKET_PRESET,
+        "sixel": SIXEL_PRESET,
+        "firehose": FIREHOSE_PRESET,
+    }
+
+    for name, preset in builtins.items():
+        if name not in result:
+            result[name] = preset
+
+    return result
+
+
+PRESETS: dict[str, PipelinePreset] = _build_presets()
 
 
 def get_preset(name: str) -> PipelinePreset | None:
@@ -150,6 +175,5 @@ def create_preset_from_params(
         source=params.source,
         display=params.display,
         camera=params.camera_mode,
-        effects=params.effect_order.copy(),
-        initial_params=params,
+        effects=params.effect_order.copy() if hasattr(params, "effect_order") else [],
     )