diff --git a/packages/core/src/animation/queue.ts b/packages/core/src/animation/queue.ts
index 952d517fa1b..e5432a2d1fd 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/animation/queue.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/animation/queue.ts
@@ -24,11 +24,14 @@ export const ANIMATION_QUEUE = new InjectionToken<AnimationQueue>(
   typeof ngDevMode !== 'undefined' && ngDevMode ? 'AnimationQueue' : '',
   {
     factory: () => {
+      const injector = inject(EnvironmentInjector);
+      const queue = new Set<VoidFunction>();
+      injector.onDestroy(() => queue.clear());
       return {
-        queue: new Set(),
+        queue,
         isScheduled: false,
         scheduler: null,
-        injector: inject(EnvironmentInjector), // should be the root injector
+        injector,
       };
     },
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/node_animations.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/node_animations.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3b53d0e3a93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/node_animations.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright Google LLC All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
+ * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.dev/license
+ */
+
+import {
+  RunLeaveAnimationFn,
+  LeaveNodeAnimations,
+  AnimationLViewData,
+} from '../animation/interfaces';
+import {allLeavingAnimations} from '../animation/longest_animation';
+import {
+  queueEnterAnimations,
+  addToAnimationQueue,
+  removeAnimationsFromQueue,
+} from '../animation/queue';
+import {Injector, INJECTOR} from '../di';
+import {CONTAINER_HEADER_OFFSET} from './interfaces/container';
+import {TNode, TNodeType} from './interfaces/node';
+import {RElement} from './interfaces/renderer_dom';
+import {isComponentHost, isLContainer} from './interfaces/type_checks';
+import {ANIMATIONS, ID, LView, TVIEW} from './interfaces/view';
+import {getComponentLViewByIndex} from './util/view_utils';
+
+export function maybeQueueEnterAnimation(
+  parentLView: LView | undefined,
+  parent: RElement | null,
+  tNode: TNode,
+  injector: Injector,
+): void {
+  const enterAnimations = parentLView?.[ANIMATIONS]?.enter;
+  if (parent !== null && enterAnimations && enterAnimations.has(tNode.index)) {
+    queueEnterAnimations(injector, enterAnimations);
+  }
+}
+
+export function runLeaveAnimationsWithCallback(
+  lView: LView | undefined,
+  tNode: TNode,
+  injector: Injector,
+  callback: Function,
+) {
+  // It's possible that the AppRef has been destroyed, which would also destroy
+  // the injector tree. If this happens, we will get an error when we try to
+  // get the injector, so we catch it here and avoid the error and return
+  // safely.
+  try {
+    injector.get(INJECTOR);
+  } catch {
+    return callback(false);
+  }
+
+  const animations = lView?.[ANIMATIONS];
+
+  // regarding the TNode index to see if it is the same element.
+  if (animations?.enter?.has(tNode.index)) {
+    removeAnimationsFromQueue(injector, animations.enter.get(tNode.index)!.animateFns);
+  }
+
+  // get all nodes in the current view that are descendants of tNode and have leave animations
+  const nodesWithExitAnimations = aggregateDescendantAnimations(lView, tNode, animations);
+
+  if (nodesWithExitAnimations.size === 0) {
+    let hasNestedAnimations = false;
+    if (lView) {
+      const nestedPromises: Promise<unknown>[] = [];
+      collectNestedViewAnimations(lView, tNode, nestedPromises);
+      hasNestedAnimations = nestedPromises.length > 0;
+    }
+
+    if (!hasNestedAnimations) {
+      return callback(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (lView) allLeavingAnimations.add(lView[ID]);
+
+  addToAnimationQueue(
+    injector,
+    () =>
+      executeLeaveAnimations(
+        lView,
+        tNode,
+        animations || undefined,
+        nodesWithExitAnimations,
+        callback,
+      ),
+    animations || undefined,
+  );
+}
+
+// Identifies all elements that are descendants of `tNode` *within the same component view*
+// (LView) and have active leave animations. Since `tNode` is being removed, its descendants
+// will also be removed. We must execute their leave animations and wait for them to finish
+// before physically removing `tNode` from the DOM.
+//
+// Instead of performing a potentially expensive downward traversal of the
+// entire `tNode` subtree to find animated descendants, we iterate over the `leaveAnimations`
+// map. This map contains all pending leave animations in the current LView and is typically
+// very small.
+//
+// Note: Animations across LView boundaries (e.g., in child components or embedded views)
+// are collected separately via `collectNestedViewAnimations`.
+function aggregateDescendantAnimations(
+  lView: LView | undefined,
+  tNode: TNode,
+  animations: AnimationLViewData | null | undefined,
+): Map<number, LeaveNodeAnimations> {
+  const nodesWithExitAnimations = new Map<number, LeaveNodeAnimations>();
+  const leaveAnimations = animations?.leave;
+
+  if (leaveAnimations && leaveAnimations.has(tNode.index)) {
+    nodesWithExitAnimations.set(tNode.index, leaveAnimations.get(tNode.index)!);
+  }
+
+  if (lView && leaveAnimations) {
+    for (const [index, animationData] of leaveAnimations) {
+      if (nodesWithExitAnimations.has(index)) continue;
+
+      // Get the tNode for the animation. This node might be a descendant of the tNode we are removing.
+      // If so, we need to run its leave animation as well.
+      const nestedTNode = lView[TVIEW].data[index] as TNode;
+      let parent = nestedTNode.parent;
+
+      // Traverse upward to check if `tNode` is an ancestor of `nestedTNode`
+      // For each animation in the map, we retrieve its corresponding TNode (`nestedTNode`) and
+      // traverse UP the tree using parent pointers. If we encounter `tNode` during this upward
+      // traversal, we know the animated element is a descendant, and we add its animation data
+      // to `nodesWithExitAnimations`.
+      while (parent) {
+        if (parent === tNode) {
+          nodesWithExitAnimations.set(index, animationData);
+          break;
+        }
+        parent = parent.parent;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return nodesWithExitAnimations;
+}
+
+function executeLeaveAnimations(
+  lView: LView | undefined,
+  tNode: TNode,
+  animations: AnimationLViewData | undefined,
+  nodesWithExitAnimations: Map<number, LeaveNodeAnimations>,
+  callback: Function,
+) {
+  // it's possible that in the time between when the leave animation was
+  // and the time it was executed, the data structure changed. So we need
+  // to be safe here.
+  const runningAnimations: Promise<unknown>[] = [];
+
+  if (animations && animations.leave) {
+    for (const [index] of nodesWithExitAnimations) {
+      if (!animations.leave.has(index)) continue;
+
+      const currentAnimationData = animations.leave.get(index)!;
+      for (const animationFn of currentAnimationData.animateFns) {
+        const {promise} = animationFn() as ReturnType<RunLeaveAnimationFn>;
+        runningAnimations.push(promise);
+      }
+      animations.detachedLeaveAnimationFns = undefined;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Also add nested view animations
+  if (lView) {
+    collectNestedViewAnimations(lView, tNode, runningAnimations);
+  }
+
+  if (runningAnimations.length > 0) {
+    const currentAnimations = animations || lView?.[ANIMATIONS];
+    if (currentAnimations) {
+      const prevRunning = currentAnimations.running;
+      if (prevRunning) {
+        runningAnimations.push(prevRunning);
+      }
+      currentAnimations.running = Promise.allSettled(runningAnimations);
+      runAfterLeaveAnimations(lView!, currentAnimations.running, callback);
+    } else {
+      Promise.allSettled(runningAnimations).then(() => {
+        if (lView) allLeavingAnimations.delete(lView[ID]);
+        callback(true);
+      });
+    }
+  } else {
+    if (lView) allLeavingAnimations.delete(lView[ID]);
+    callback(false);
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Collects leave animations from nested views (components and containers)
+ * starting from the given TNode's children.
+ */
+function collectNestedViewAnimations(
+  lView: LView,
+  tNode: TNode,
+  collectedPromises: Promise<unknown>[],
+) {
+  if (isComponentHost(tNode)) {
+    const componentView = getComponentLViewByIndex(tNode.index, lView);
+    collectAllViewLeaveAnimations(componentView, collectedPromises);
+  } else if (tNode.type & TNodeType.AnyContainer) {
+    const lContainer = lView[tNode.index];
+    if (isLContainer(lContainer)) {
+      for (let i = CONTAINER_HEADER_OFFSET; i < lContainer.length; i++) {
+        const subView = lContainer[i] as LView;
+        collectAllViewLeaveAnimations(subView, collectedPromises);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  let child = tNode.child;
+  while (child) {
+    collectNestedViewAnimations(lView, child, collectedPromises);
+    child = child.next;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Recursively collects all leave animations from a view and its children.
+ */
+function collectAllViewLeaveAnimations(view: LView, collectedPromises: Promise<unknown>[]) {
+  const animations = view[ANIMATIONS];
+  if (animations && animations.leave) {
+    for (const animationData of animations.leave.values()) {
+      for (const animationFn of animationData.animateFns) {
+        // We interpret the animation function to get the promise
+        const {promise} = animationFn() as ReturnType<RunLeaveAnimationFn>;
+        collectedPromises.push(promise);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  let child = view[TVIEW].firstChild;
+  while (child) {
+    collectNestedViewAnimations(view, child, collectedPromises);
+    child = child.next;
+  }
+}
+
+function runAfterLeaveAnimations(
+  lView: LView,
+  runningAnimations: Promise<unknown>,
+  callback: Function,
+) {
+  runningAnimations.then(() => {
+    // We only want to clear the running flag and the allLeavingAnimations set if
+    // the current running animation is the same as the one we just waited for.
+    // If it's different, it means another animation started while we were waiting,
+    // and that other animation is now responsible for clearing the flag.
+    if (lView[ANIMATIONS]?.running === runningAnimations) {
+      lView[ANIMATIONS]!.running = undefined;
+      allLeavingAnimations.delete(lView[ID]);
+    }
+    callback(true);
+  });
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/node_manipulation.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/node_manipulation.ts
index 2f7160ce3c5..a29c9032d10 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/node_manipulation.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/node_manipulation.ts
@@ -82,14 +82,8 @@ import {assertTNodeType} from './node_assert';
 import {profiler} from './profiler';
 import {ProfilerEvent} from '../../primitives/devtools';
 import {getLViewParent, getNativeByTNode, unwrapRNode} from './util/view_utils';
-import {allLeavingAnimations} from '../animation/longest_animation';
 import {Injector} from '../di';
-import {
-  addToAnimationQueue,
-  queueEnterAnimations,
-  removeAnimationsFromQueue,
-} from '../animation/queue';
-import {RunLeaveAnimationFn} from '../animation/interfaces';
+import {maybeQueueEnterAnimation, runLeaveAnimationsWithCallback} from './node_animations';
 
 const enum WalkTNodeTreeAction {
   /** node create in the native environment. Run on initial creation. */
@@ -108,18 +102,6 @@ const enum WalkTNodeTreeAction {
   Destroy = 3,
 }
 
-function maybeQueueEnterAnimation(
-  parentLView: LView | undefined,
-  parent: RElement | null,
-  tNode: TNode,
-  injector: Injector,
-): void {
-  const enterAnimations = parentLView?.[ANIMATIONS]?.enter;
-  if (parent !== null && enterAnimations && enterAnimations.has(tNode.index)) {
-    queueEnterAnimations(injector, enterAnimations);
-  }
-}
-
 /**
  * NOTE: for performance reasons, the possible actions are inlined within the function instead of
  * being passed as an argument.
@@ -382,64 +364,6 @@ function cleanUpView(tView: TView, lView: LView): void {
   }
 }
 
-function runLeaveAnimationsWithCallback(
-  lView: LView | undefined,
-  tNode: TNode,
-  injector: Injector,
-  callback: Function,
-) {
-  const animations = lView?.[ANIMATIONS];
-  if (animations?.enter?.has(tNode.index)) {
-    removeAnimationsFromQueue(injector, animations.enter.get(tNode.index)!.animateFns);
-  }
-
-  if (animations == null || animations.leave == undefined || !animations.leave.has(tNode.index))
-    return callback(false);
-
-  if (lView) allLeavingAnimations.add(lView[ID]);
-
-  addToAnimationQueue(
-    injector,
-    () => {
-      // it's possible that in the time between when the leave animation was
-      // and the time it was executed, the data structure changed. So we need
-      // to be safe here.
-      if (animations.leave && animations.leave.has(tNode.index)) {
-        const leaveAnimationMap = animations.leave;
-        const leaveAnimations = leaveAnimationMap.get(tNode.index);
-        const runningAnimations = [];
-        if (leaveAnimations) {
-          for (let index = 0; index < leaveAnimations.animateFns.length; index++) {
-            const animationFn = leaveAnimations.animateFns[index];
-            const {promise} = animationFn() as ReturnType<RunLeaveAnimationFn>;
-            runningAnimations.push(promise);
-          }
-          animations.detachedLeaveAnimationFns = undefined;
-        }
-        animations.running = Promise.allSettled(runningAnimations);
-        runAfterLeaveAnimations(lView!, callback);
-      } else {
-        if (lView) allLeavingAnimations.delete(lView[ID]);
-        callback(false);
-      }
-    },
-    animations,
-  );
-}
-
-function runAfterLeaveAnimations(lView: LView, callback: Function) {
-  const runningAnimations = lView[ANIMATIONS]?.running;
-  if (runningAnimations) {
-    runningAnimations.then(() => {
-      lView[ANIMATIONS]!.running = undefined;
-      allLeavingAnimations.delete(lView[ID]);
-      callback(true);
-    });
-    return;
-  }
-  callback(false);
-}
-
 /** Removes listeners and unsubscribes from output subscriptions */
 function processCleanups(tView: TView, lView: LView): void {
   ngDevMode && assertNotReactive(processCleanups.name);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_inputs_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_inputs_spec.ts
index bfac1c27fbf..3dfd33f82db 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_inputs_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_inputs_spec.ts
@@ -652,5 +652,71 @@ describe('signal inputs', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges(); // Detect changes after animation completes and element is removed
       expect(fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('notification')).toBeNull(); // Verify element is removed
     }));
+
+    it('should support nested animate.leave with signal inputs via host binding', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const styles = `
+        .fade-out {
+          animation: fade-out 500ms;
+        }
+        @keyframes fade-out {
+          from { opacity: 1; }
+          to { opacity: 0; }
+        }
+      `;
+
+      @Component({
+        selector: 'child-cmp',
+        template: '<div class="target">Content</div>',
+        host: {
+          '[animate.leave]': 'animClass()',
+        },
+      })
+      class ChildCmp {
+        animClass = input.required<string>();
+      }
+
+      @Component({
+        selector: 'test-cmp',
+        styles: [styles],
+        imports: [ChildCmp],
+        template: `
+          @if (show()) {
+            <div class="parent">
+              <child-cmp [animClass]="'fade-out'" class="child-comp" />
+            </div>
+          }
+        `,
+        encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+      })
+      class TestCmp {
+        show = signal(true);
+      }
+
+      TestBed.configureTestingModule({animationsEnabled: true});
+      const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestCmp);
+      const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const target = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child-comp');
+      expect(target).toBeTruthy();
+
+      cmp.show.set(false);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tickAnimationFrames(1);
+
+      const targetAfter = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child-comp');
+      expect(targetAfter).withContext('Nested component should persist').not.toBeNull();
+
+      if (targetAfter) {
+        expect(targetAfter.classList.contains('fade-out'))
+          .withContext('Should have animation class from signal input host binding')
+          .toBeTruthy();
+
+        targetAfter.dispatchEvent(new AnimationEvent('animationend', {animationName: 'fade-out'}));
+        tick();
+
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child-comp')).toBeNull();
+      }
+    }));
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/core/test/acceptance/nested_animation_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/acceptance/nested_animation_spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8ae3e9064df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/test/acceptance/nested_animation_spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,366 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright Google LLC All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
+ * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.dev/license
+ */
+
+import {Component, signal, ViewEncapsulation, OnDestroy, destroyPlatform} from '@angular/core';
+import {TestBed, fakeAsync, tick} from '@angular/core/testing';
+import {BrowserTestingModule, platformBrowserTesting} from '@angular/platform-browser/testing';
+import {NoopAnimationsModule} from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
+import {tickAnimationFrames} from '../animation_utils/tick_animation_frames';
+
+describe('Nested animate.leave', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    destroyPlatform();
+    TestBed.resetTestEnvironment();
+    TestBed.initTestEnvironment(
+      [BrowserTestingModule, NoopAnimationsModule],
+      platformBrowserTesting(),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should wait for nested animations inside @if', fakeAsync(() => {
+    const styles = `
+      .fade {
+        animation: fade-out 500ms;
+      }
+      @keyframes fade-out {
+        from { opacity: 1; }
+        to { opacity: 0; }
+      }
+    `;
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'test-cmp',
+      template: `
+        <div>
+          @if (show()) {
+            <div class="parent">
+              <div animate.leave="fade" class="child">Child</div>
+            </div>
+          }
+        </div>
+      `,
+      styles: [styles],
+      encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+    })
+    class TestCmp {
+      show = signal(true);
+    }
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({animationsEnabled: true});
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestCmp);
+    const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const child = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child');
+    expect(child).toBeTruthy();
+
+    cmp.show.set(false);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    tickAnimationFrames(1);
+
+    // In current Angular, this likely fails immediately because parent is removed, taking child with it.
+    // We expect child to remain if we support nested animations.
+    const childAfter = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child');
+
+    // This expectation confirms if it works or fails.
+    // If it works, childAfter is NOT null.
+    // If it fails (current behavior), childAfter IS null.
+
+    // We want to prove it fails currently, so we expect rejection or we just assert strict truth.
+    // I will use strict truth to demonstrate failure.
+    expect(childAfter).withContext('Child element should persist during animation').not.toBeNull();
+    if (childAfter) {
+      expect(childAfter.classList.contains('fade'))
+        .withContext('Child should get animation class')
+        .toBeTruthy();
+
+      // Simulate end
+      childAfter.dispatchEvent(new AnimationEvent('animationend', {animationName: 'fade-out'}));
+      tick();
+    }
+  }));
+
+  it('should support nested host bindings', fakeAsync(() => {
+    const styles = `
+      .fade {
+        animation: fade-out 500ms;
+      }
+      @keyframes fade-out {
+        from { opacity: 1; }
+        to { opacity: 0; }
+      }
+    `;
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'fade-cmp',
+      host: {'animate.leave': 'fade'},
+      template: '<p>I should fade</p>',
+      encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+    })
+    class FadeComponent {}
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'test-cmp',
+      styles: [styles],
+      imports: [FadeComponent],
+      template: `
+        <div>
+          @if (show()) {
+            <div class="parent">
+              <fade-cmp class="child" />
+            </div>
+          }
+        </div>
+      `,
+      encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+    })
+    class TestCmp {
+      show = signal(true);
+    }
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({animationsEnabled: true});
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestCmp);
+    const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const child = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child');
+    expect(child).toBeTruthy();
+
+    cmp.show.set(false);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    tickAnimationFrames(1);
+
+    const childAfter = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child');
+    expect(childAfter).withContext('Child element should persist during animation').not.toBeNull();
+
+    if (childAfter) {
+      expect(childAfter.classList.contains('fade'))
+        .withContext('Child should get animation class from host binding')
+        .toBeTruthy();
+
+      childAfter.dispatchEvent(new AnimationEvent('animationend', {animationName: 'fade-out'}));
+      tick();
+
+      const childFinal = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child');
+      expect(childFinal).toBeNull();
+    }
+  }));
+
+  it('should support nested function syntax', fakeAsync(() => {
+    let completeFn: Function | undefined;
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'test-cmp',
+      template: `
+        <div>
+          @if (show()) {
+            <div class="parent">
+              <div (animate.leave)="animateFn($event)" class="child">Child</div>
+            </div>
+          }
+        </div>
+      `,
+      encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+    })
+    class TestCmp {
+      show = signal(true);
+      animateFn = (event: any) => {
+        event.target.classList.add('custom-anim');
+        completeFn = event.animationComplete;
+      };
+    }
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({animationsEnabled: true});
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(TestCmp);
+    const cmp = fixture.componentInstance;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    cmp.show.set(false);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    tickAnimationFrames(1);
+
+    const childAfter = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child');
+    expect(childAfter).withContext('Child element should persist during animation').not.toBeNull();
+
+    if (childAfter) {
+      expect(childAfter.classList.contains('custom-anim'))
+        .withContext('Child should get class from animation function')
+        .toBeTruthy();
+
+      expect(completeFn).withContext('animationComplete should be captured').toBeDefined();
+      completeFn!();
+
+      tick();
+      const childFinal = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.child');
+      expect(childFinal).toBeNull();
+    }
+  }));
+
+  it('should support nested animate.leave with component host binding (GitHub #66476)', fakeAsync(() => {
+    // Reproduction from https://github.com/angular/angular/issues/66476
+    // Structure: Host -> @if -> Child -> Popup (with host animation)
+
+    const styles = `
+      .popup-overlay {
+        animation: fade-in 0.3s;
+      }
+      .popup-overlay-leave {
+        animation: fade-out 0.3s;
+      }
+      @keyframes fade-in {
+        from { opacity: 0; }
+        to { opacity: 1; }
+      }
+      @keyframes fade-out {
+        from { opacity: 1; }
+        to { opacity: 0; }
+      }
+    `;
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'app-popup',
+      template: `
+        <div class="popup-overlay" animate.leave="popup-overlay-leave">
+          <div class="popup">
+            <ng-content></ng-content>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      `,
+      styles: [styles],
+      encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
+      host: {
+        '(animate.leave)': 'animateLeave($event)',
+      },
+    })
+    class PopupComponent {
+      animateLeave(event: any) {
+        // In the issue, they use setTimeout to call animationComplete.
+        // We simulate this async completion.
+        setTimeout(() => event.animationComplete(), 300);
+      }
+    }
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'app-child',
+      template: ` <app-popup> Projected content. </app-popup> `,
+      imports: [PopupComponent],
+    })
+    class ChildComponent {}
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'app-host',
+      template: `
+        @if (showChild()) {
+          <app-child></app-child>
+        }
+      `,
+      imports: [ChildComponent],
+    })
+    class HostComponent {
+      showChild = signal(true);
+    }
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({animationsEnabled: true});
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(HostComponent);
+    const host = fixture.componentInstance;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    const popup = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('app-popup');
+    expect(popup).toBeTruthy();
+
+    host.showChild.set(false);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    tickAnimationFrames(1);
+
+    const popupAfter = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('app-popup');
+    expect(popupAfter).withContext('Popup should persist due to host animation').not.toBeNull();
+
+    // Advance time for the setTimeout in animateLeave
+    tick(300);
+
+    // The nested animation needs to complete as well.
+    // Query the nested element (popup overlay) that has the animation.
+    const popupOverlay = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.popup-overlay');
+    if (popupOverlay) {
+      popupOverlay.dispatchEvent(
+        new AnimationEvent('animationend', {animationName: 'fade-out', bubbles: true}),
+      );
+      tick();
+    }
+
+    // Attempt to verify removal
+    const popupFinal = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('app-popup');
+    expect(popupFinal).toBeFalsy();
+  }));
+
+  it('should not throw "Injector destroyed" when a parent with leave animations is destroyed with nested components', async () => {
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'child-comp',
+      standalone: true,
+      template: '<div>Child</div>',
+    })
+    class ChildComp implements OnDestroy {
+      ngOnDestroy() {}
+    }
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'parent-comp',
+      standalone: true,
+      imports: [ChildComp],
+      template: `
+        <div animate.leave="leaving">
+          <child-comp />
+        </div>
+      `,
+    })
+    class ParentComp {
+      leaving = () => ({promise: Promise.resolve()});
+    }
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({});
+
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ParentComp);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    // Before the fix, the framework would recursively dive into ChildComp's
+    // internal view to collect animations. During a full destruction of the
+    // component tree, this could lead to starting animations or async tasks
+    // that resolve after the component's injector is already gone.
+    fixture.destroy();
+
+    // If we reach here without an exception, the regression is prevented.
+  });
+
+  it('should still support nested animations within the same template', () => {
+    // This test ensures that while we stopped recursing into component views,
+    // we still support nested elements within the same view having animations.
+
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'nested-view-comp',
+      standalone: true,
+      template: `
+        <div animate.leave="leaving">
+          @if (showNested) {
+            <div animate.leave="leaving">Nested</div>
+          }
+        </div>
+      `,
+    })
+    class NestedViewComp {
+      showNested = true;
+      leaving = () => ({promise: Promise.resolve()});
+    }
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({});
+
+    const fixture = TestBed.createComponent(NestedViewComp);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    // This should not throw and correctly handle the nested animations.
+    fixture.destroy();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 65a9994a8fb..366f1ea9bb8 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@
       "addServerStyles",
       "addToAnimationQueue",
       "addToEndOfViewTree",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -369,8 +370,10 @@
       "cleanUpView",
       "cloakAndComputeStyles",
       "cloakElement",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "computeStaticStyling",
       "computeStyle",
       "concatStringsWithSpace",
@@ -461,6 +464,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeTemplate",
       "executeViewQueryFn",
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/create_component/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/create_component/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 1b5f2ae5b89..de11c10a6f4 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/create_component/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/create_component/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@
       "addToArray",
       "addToEndOfViewTree",
       "addViewToDOM",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -286,8 +287,10 @@
       "captureError",
       "checkStable",
       "cleanUpView",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "computeStaticStyling",
       "concatStringsWithSpace",
       "config",
@@ -369,6 +372,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeListenerWithErrorHandling",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeTemplate",
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index fb4a1524aa4..f8abf859540 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@
       "addToArray",
       "addToEndOfViewTree",
       "addViewToDOM",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -330,8 +331,10 @@
       "checkStable",
       "classIndexOf",
       "cleanUpView",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "computeStaticStyling",
       "concatStringsWithSpace",
       "config",
@@ -410,6 +413,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeTemplate",
       "executeViewQueryFn",
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index ca1fb7d3b36..48562db8277 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@
       "addToEndOfViewTree",
       "addValidators",
       "addViewToDOM",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -400,8 +401,10 @@
       "cleanUpView",
       "coerceToAsyncValidator",
       "coerceToValidator",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "collectResidual",
       "collectStylingFromDirectives",
       "collectStylingFromTAttrs",
@@ -507,6 +510,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeListenerWithErrorHandling",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeSchedule",
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index ad8899b59df..8b53ac27f56 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -356,6 +356,7 @@
       "addToEndOfViewTree",
       "addValidators",
       "addViewToDOM",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -402,8 +403,10 @@
       "cleanUpView",
       "coerceToAsyncValidator",
       "coerceToValidator",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "collectResidual",
       "collectStylingFromDirectives",
       "collectStylingFromTAttrs",
@@ -509,6 +512,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeListenerWithErrorHandling",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeSchedule",
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index ce45600f521..c619b441b0b 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@
       "addServerStyles",
       "addToAnimationQueue",
       "addToEndOfViewTree",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -334,8 +335,10 @@
       "cleanupLView",
       "cleanupMatchingDehydratedViews",
       "clearElementContents",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "computeStaticStyling",
       "concatStringsWithSpace",
       "config",
@@ -425,6 +428,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeSchedule",
       "executeTemplate",
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 43849f27c66..acd27999779 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -408,6 +408,7 @@
       "addViewToDOM",
       "advanceActivatedRoute",
       "afterNextNavigation",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -450,8 +451,10 @@
       "checkStable",
       "classIndexOf",
       "cleanUpView",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "collectQueryResults",
       "combineLatest",
       "combineLatestInit",
@@ -601,6 +604,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeListenerWithErrorHandling",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeSchedule",
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 0b0025a5879..6e94b2663a7 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@
       "addServerStyles",
       "addToAnimationQueue",
       "addToEndOfViewTree",
+      "aggregateDescendantAnimations",
       "allLeavingAnimations",
       "allocExpando",
       "allocLFrame",
@@ -265,8 +266,10 @@
       "captureError",
       "checkStable",
       "cleanUpView",
+      "collectAllViewLeaveAnimations",
       "collectNativeNodes",
       "collectNativeNodesInLContainer",
+      "collectNestedViewAnimations",
       "computeStaticStyling",
       "concatStringsWithSpace",
       "config",
@@ -340,6 +343,7 @@
       "executeCheckHooks",
       "executeContentQueries",
       "executeInitAndCheckHooks",
+      "executeLeaveAnimations",
       "executeOnDestroys",
       "executeTemplate",
       "executeViewQueryFn",