diff --git a/docs/instructions.md b/docs/instructions.md
index 74f636e..73dca14 100644
--- a/docs/instructions.md
+++ b/docs/instructions.md
@@ -122,7 +122,59 @@ For each task completed:
 ### Task: Implement Asynchronous Series Data Loading with Background Processing
 
 **Priority:** High  
-**Status:** Not Started
+**Status:** ✅ Completed
+
+#### Implementation Summary
+
+Successfully implemented asynchronous series data loading with background processing. The system allows users to add series immediately while metadata (episodes, NFO files, logos, images) loads asynchronously in the background.
+
+**Completed Items:**
+
+- ✅ Architecture document created with detailed component diagrams
+- ✅ Database schema updated with loading status fields
+- ✅ BackgroundLoaderService created with task queue and worker
+- ✅ API endpoints updated (POST returns 202 Accepted, GET loading-status added)
+- ✅ Startup check for incomplete series implemented
+- ✅ Graceful shutdown handling for background tasks
+- ✅ Database migration script created and tested
+- ✅ Unit tests written and passing (10 tests, 100% pass rate)
+- ✅ Frontend UI updates for loading indicators and WebSocket integration
+- ✅ Git commit with clear message
+
+**Key Features Implemented:**
+
+1. **Immediate Series Addition**: POST /api/anime/add returns 202 Accepted immediately
+2. **Background Processing**: Tasks queued and processed asynchronously
+3. **Status Tracking**: GET /api/anime/{key}/loading-status endpoint for real-time status
+4. **Startup Validation**: Checks for incomplete series on app startup
+5. **WebSocket Integration**: Real-time status updates via existing WebSocket service
+6. **Clean Architecture**: Reuses existing services, no code duplication
+7. **Frontend UI**: Loading indicators with progress tracking on series cards
+8. **Real-time Updates**: WebSocket handlers update UI as loading progresses
+
+**Remaining Work:**
+
+- [ ] Integration tests for complete flow (Task 9 in instructions)
+- [ ] Manual end-to-end testing
+
+**Files Created:**
+
+- `docs/architecture/async_loading_architecture.md` - Architecture documentation
+- `src/server/services/background_loader_service.py` - Main service (481 lines)
+- `scripts/migrate_loading_status.py` - Database migration script
+- `tests/unit/test_background_loader_service.py` - Unit tests (10 tests)
+
+**Files Modified:**
+
+- `src/server/database/models.py` - Added loading status fields to AnimeSeries
+- `src/server/database/service.py` - Updated AnimeSeriesService.create()
+- `src/server/api/anime.py` - Updated POST /add, added GET loading-status
+- `src/server/fastapi_app.py` - Added startup/shutdown integration
+- `src/server/utils/dependencies.py` - Added BackgroundLoaderService dependency
+- `src/server/web/static/js/shared/constants.js` - Added SERIES_LOADING_UPDATE event
+- `src/server/web/static/js/index/series-manager.js` - Added loading status handling and UI updates
+- `src/server/web/static/js/index/socket-handler.js` - Added WebSocket handler for loading updates
+- `src/server/web/static/css/components/cards.css` - Added loading indicator styles
 
 #### Overview
 
diff --git a/src/server/web/static/css/components/cards.css b/src/server/web/static/css/components/cards.css
index 8fb02d5..ed6444d 100644
--- a/src/server/web/static/css/components/cards.css
+++ b/src/server/web/static/css/components/cards.css
@@ -103,6 +103,77 @@
   opacity: 0.5;
 }
 
+/* Series Card Loading State */
+.series-card.loading {
+  border-color: var(--color-info);
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.05) 0%, transparent 100%);
+}
+
+/* Loading Indicator */
+.loading-indicator {
+  background: var(--color-surface-secondary, var(--color-surface));
+  border-radius: var(--border-radius-md);
+  padding: var(--spacing-md);
+  margin-top: var(--spacing-md);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+}
+
+.loading-status {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--spacing-sm);
+}
+
+.status-text {
+  font-size: var(--font-size-caption);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--spacing-xs);
+}
+
+.status-text i.fa-spinner {
+  color: var(--color-info);
+}
+
+.progress-items {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: var(--spacing-md);
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+
+.progress-item {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--spacing-xs);
+  font-size: var(--font-size-caption);
+}
+
+.progress-item.completed {
+  color: var(--color-success);
+}
+
+.progress-item.completed .icon {
+  color: var(--color-success);
+}
+
+.progress-item.pending {
+  color: var(--color-text-tertiary);
+}
+
+.progress-item.pending .icon {
+  color: var(--color-text-tertiary);
+}
+
+.progress-item .icon {
+  font-size: 1.1em;
+  font-weight: bold;
+}
+
+.progress-item .label {
+  font-size: 0.9em;
+}
+
 /* Series Card Actions */
 .series-actions {
   display: flex;
diff --git a/src/server/web/static/js/index/series-manager.js b/src/server/web/static/js/index/series-manager.js
index 6320a5a..b000161 100644
--- a/src/server/web/static/js/index/series-manager.js
+++ b/src/server/web/static/js/index/series-manager.js
@@ -82,7 +82,12 @@ AniWorld.SeriesManager = (function() {
                         nfo_created_at: anime.nfo_created_at || null,
                         nfo_updated_at: anime.nfo_updated_at || null,
                         tmdb_id: anime.tmdb_id || null,
-                        tvdb_id: anime.tvdb_id || null
+                        tvdb_id: anime.tvdb_id || null,
+                        loading_status: anime.loading_status || 'completed',
+                        episodes_loaded: anime.episodes_loaded !== false,
+                        nfo_loaded: anime.nfo_loaded !== false,
+                        logo_loaded: anime.logo_loaded !== false,
+                        images_loaded: anime.images_loaded !== false
                     };
                 });
             } else if (data.status === 'success') {
@@ -274,6 +279,54 @@ AniWorld.SeriesManager = (function() {
         });
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get loading indicator HTML for a series
+     * @param {Object} serie - Series data object
+     * @returns {string} HTML string
+     */
+    function getLoadingIndicatorHTML(serie) {
+        const statusMessages = {
+            'pending': 'Queued for loading...',
+            'loading_episodes': 'Loading episodes...',
+            'loading_nfo': 'Generating NFO metadata...',
+            'loading_logo': 'Downloading logo...',
+            'loading_images': 'Downloading images...'
+        };
+
+        const statusMessage = statusMessages[serie.loading_status] || 'Loading...';
+
+        return '<div class="loading-indicator">' +
+            '<div class="loading-status">' +
+            '<span class="status-text"><i class="fas fa-spinner fa-spin"></i> ' + statusMessage + '</span>' +
+            '<div class="progress-items">' +
+            getProgressItemsHTML(serie) +
+            '</div>' +
+            '</div>' +
+            '</div>';
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Get progress items HTML
+     * @param {Object} serie - Series data object
+     * @returns {string} HTML string
+     */
+    function getProgressItemsHTML(serie) {
+        const items = [
+            { key: 'episodes_loaded', label: 'Episodes' },
+            { key: 'nfo_loaded', label: 'NFO' },
+            { key: 'logo_loaded', label: 'Logo' },
+            { key: 'images_loaded', label: 'Images' }
+        ];
+
+        return items.map(function(item) {
+            const isLoaded = serie[item.key];
+            return '<div class="progress-item ' + (isLoaded ? 'completed' : 'pending') + '">' +
+                '<span class="icon">' + (isLoaded ? '✓' : '⋯') + '</span>' +
+                '<span class="label">' + item.label + '</span>' +
+                '</div>';
+        }).join('');
+    }
+
     /**
      * Create HTML for a series card
      * @param {Object} serie - Series data object
@@ -284,10 +337,12 @@ AniWorld.SeriesManager = (function() {
         const hasMissingEpisodes = serie.missing_episodes > 0;
         const canBeSelected = hasMissingEpisodes;
         const hasNfo = serie.has_nfo || false;
+        const isLoading = serie.loading_status && serie.loading_status !== 'completed' && serie.loading_status !== 'failed';
 
         return '<div class="series-card ' + (isSelected ? 'selected' : '') + ' ' +
-            (hasMissingEpisodes ? 'has-missing' : 'complete') + '" ' +
-            'data-key="' + serie.key + '" data-folder="' + serie.folder + '">' +
+            (hasMissingEpisodes ? 'has-missing' : 'complete') + ' ' +
+            (isLoading ? 'loading' : '') + '" ' +
+            'data-key="' + serie.key + '" data-series-id="' + serie.key + '" data-folder="' + serie.folder + '">' +
             '<div class="series-card-header">' +
             '<input type="checkbox" class="series-checkbox" data-key="' + serie.key + '"' +
             (isSelected ? ' checked' : '') + (canBeSelected ? '' : ' disabled') + '>' +
@@ -308,6 +363,7 @@ AniWorld.SeriesManager = (function() {
             '</div>' +
             '<span class="series-site">' + serie.site + '</span>' +
             '</div>' +
+            (isLoading ? getLoadingIndicatorHTML(serie) : '') +
             '<div class="series-actions">' +
             (hasNfo ?
                 '<button class="btn btn-sm btn-secondary nfo-view-btn" data-key="' + serie.key + '" title="View NFO">' +
@@ -347,6 +403,58 @@ AniWorld.SeriesManager = (function() {
         });
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Update series loading status from WebSocket event
+     * @param {Object} data - Loading status data
+     */
+    function updateSeriesLoadingStatus(data) {
+        const seriesKey = data.series_id || data.series_key;
+        if (!seriesKey) return;
+
+        // Find series in data
+        const serie = findByKey(seriesKey);
+        if (!serie) return;
+
+        // Update series data
+        serie.loading_status = data.status || data.loading_status;
+        if (data.progress) {
+            serie.episodes_loaded = data.progress.episodes || false;
+            serie.nfo_loaded = data.progress.nfo || false;
+            serie.logo_loaded = data.progress.logo || false;
+            serie.images_loaded = data.progress.images || false;
+        }
+
+        // Update the specific card in the DOM
+        const seriesCard = document.querySelector('[data-series-id="' + seriesKey + '"]');
+        if (seriesCard) {
+            // If loading completed, reload to get fresh data
+            if (data.status === 'completed') {
+                loadSeries();
+            } else {
+                // Update loading indicator
+                const loadingIndicator = seriesCard.querySelector('.loading-indicator');
+                if (loadingIndicator) {
+                    loadingIndicator.innerHTML = '<div class="loading-status">' +
+                        '<span class="status-text"><i class="fas fa-spinner fa-spin"></i> ' +
+                        (data.message || 'Loading...') + '</span>' +
+                        '<div class="progress-items">' +
+                        getProgressItemsHTML(serie) +
+                        '</div>' +
+                        '</div>';
+                } else if (serie.loading_status !== 'completed' && serie.loading_status !== 'failed') {
+                    // Add loading indicator if it doesn't exist
+                    const statsDiv = seriesCard.querySelector('.series-stats');
+                    if (statsDiv) {
+                        statsDiv.insertAdjacentHTML('afterend', getLoadingIndicatorHTML(serie));
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Add loading class to card
+                seriesCard.classList.add('loading');
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     // Public API
     return {
         init: init,
@@ -355,6 +463,7 @@ AniWorld.SeriesManager = (function() {
         applyFiltersAndSort: applyFiltersAndSort,
         getSeriesData: getSeriesData,
         getFilteredSeriesData: getFilteredSeriesData,
-        findByKey: findByKey
+        findByKey: findByKey,
+        updateSeriesLoadingStatus: updateSeriesLoadingStatus
     };
 })();
diff --git a/src/server/web/static/js/index/socket-handler.js b/src/server/web/static/js/index/socket-handler.js
index 7eecb33..16bbd58 100644
--- a/src/server/web/static/js/index/socket-handler.js
+++ b/src/server/web/static/js/index/socket-handler.js
@@ -133,6 +133,14 @@ AniWorld.IndexSocketHandler = (function() {
             AniWorld.ScanManager.updateProcessStatus('download', false, true);
         });
 
+        // Series loading events
+        socket.on(WS_EVENTS.SERIES_LOADING_UPDATE, function(data) {
+            console.log('Series loading update:', data);
+            if (AniWorld.SeriesManager && AniWorld.SeriesManager.updateSeriesLoadingStatus) {
+                AniWorld.SeriesManager.updateSeriesLoadingStatus(data);
+            }
+        });
+
         // Download events
         socket.on(WS_EVENTS.DOWNLOAD_STARTED, function(data) {
             isDownloading = true;
diff --git a/src/server/web/static/js/shared/constants.js b/src/server/web/static/js/shared/constants.js
index e68861d..f99a5bc 100644
--- a/src/server/web/static/js/shared/constants.js
+++ b/src/server/web/static/js/shared/constants.js
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ AniWorld.Constants = (function() {
         ANIME_RESCAN: '/api/anime/rescan',
         ANIME_STATUS: '/api/anime/status',
         ANIME_SCAN_STATUS: '/api/anime/scan/status',
+        ANIME_LOADING_STATUS: '/api/anime',  // + /{key}/loading-status
 
         // Queue endpoints
         QUEUE_STATUS: '/api/queue/status',
@@ -99,6 +100,9 @@ AniWorld.Constants = (function() {
         SCAN_ERROR: 'scan_error',
         SCAN_FAILED: 'scan_failed',
 
+        // Series loading events
+        SERIES_LOADING_UPDATE: 'series_loading_update',
+
         // Scheduled scan events
         SCHEDULED_RESCAN_STARTED: 'scheduled_rescan_started',
         SCHEDULED_RESCAN_COMPLETED: 'scheduled_rescan_completed',