diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index c01e6a85c..dc92ce936 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@
     <script src="src/scenes/DemoSceneEnhanced.js"></script> <!-- ✨ ENHANCED DEMO with Locket! -->
     <script src="src/scenes/TiledTestScene.js"></script> <!-- 🗺️ Tiled Map Test Scene -->
     <!-- ⚠️ TEMPORARILY DISABLED - Missing assets (prologue.json, NPC portraits) -->
-    <!-- <script src="src/scenes/PrologueScene.js"></script> --><!-- 🎬 Story Prologue -->
+    <script src="src/scenes/PrologueScene.js"></script><!-- 🎬 Story Prologue -->
     <script src="src/scenes/UIScene.js"></script>
     <script src="src/scenes/StoryScene.js"></script>
     <script src="src/scenes/TownSquareScene.js"></script>
diff --git a/src/game.js b/src/game.js
index 6a1ba3ce0..aa51d2319 100644
--- a/src/game.js
+++ b/src/game.js
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ const config = {
             debug: false
         }
     },
-    scene: [BootScene, PreloadScene, SystemsTestScene, TestVisualAudioScene, DemoScene, DemoSceneEnhanced, TiledTestScene, StoryScene, /* PrologueScene - DISABLED */, GameScene, UIScene, TownSquareScene],
+    scene: [BootScene, PreloadScene, PrologueScene, SystemsTestScene, TestVisualAudioScene, DemoScene, DemoSceneEnhanced, TiledTestScene, StoryScene, GameScene, UIScene, TownSquareScene],
     scale: {
         mode: Phaser.Scale.FIT,
         autoCenter: Phaser.Scale.CENTER_BOTH
diff --git a/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js b/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js
index 370f4375a..ac6a7e264 100644
--- a/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js
+++ b/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ class PreloadScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
         this.preloadAudio();
 
+        // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+        // 🎨 CHARACTER SPRITES - Demo Characters
+        // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+        this.preloadCharacterSprites();
+
         // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
         // 🎮 DEMO MODE - ALL OLD ASSETS DISABLED!
         // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
@@ -23,6 +28,34 @@ class PreloadScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         console.log('✅ Minimal preload complete - DemoSceneEnhanced will load its own assets!');
     }
 
+    preloadCharacterSprites() {
+        console.log('🎨 Preloading character sprites...');
+
+        const basePath = 'assets/references/main_characters/';
+
+        // Kai sprites
+        this.loadImageSafe('kai_idle', basePath + 'kai/animations/idle/kai_idle_frame1.png');
+        this.loadImageSafe('kai_walk', basePath + 'kai/animations/walk/kai_walk_frame1.png');
+
+        // Ana sprites  
+        this.loadImageSafe('ana_idle', basePath + 'ana/animations/idle/ana_idle_frame1.png');
+        this.loadImageSafe('ana_walk', basePath + 'ana/animations/walk/ana_walk_frame1.png');
+
+        // Susi (companion)
+        this.loadImageSafe('susi_idle', 'assets/references/companions/susi/animations/idle/susi_idle_frame1.png');
+        this.loadImageSafe('susi_run', 'assets/references/companions/susi/animations/run/susi_run_frame1.png');
+
+        console.log('🎨 Character sprites queued');
+    }
+
+    loadImageSafe(key, path) {
+        try {
+            this.load.image(key, path);
+        } catch (error) {
+            console.warn(`⚠️  Image skipped: ${key}`);
+        }
+    }
+
     preloadAudio() {
         console.log('🎵 Preloading audio assets...');