diff --git a/examples/animation/spinning_circle.py b/examples/animation/spinning_circle.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bf8ff08a4477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/animation/spinning_circle.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"""
+=========================
+Spinning circle animation
+=========================
+
+This example shows how to create an animated spinning circle loading icon.
+"""
+
+import numpy as np
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import matplotlib.animation as animation
+
+fig, ax = plt.subplots(subplot_kw={'projection': 'polar'})
+
+ax.axis('off')
+
+lines = ax.vlines(
+    np.radians(np.arange(0, 360, 30)),
+    0.5,
+    1,
+    lw=17,
+    colors=np.linspace(0.15, 0.85, 12, dtype=str),
+    capstyle='round',
+)
+
+ax.set_rmax(1.1)  # make round capstyle on outside visible
+
+def update(*args):
+    new_colors = np.roll(lines.get_colors(), shift=-1, axis=0)
+    lines.set_color(new_colors)
+    return lines,
+
+
+ani = animation.FuncAnimation(
+    fig,
+    update,
+    interval=100)
+
+plt.show()
+
+#############################################################################
+#
+# .. admonition:: References
+#
+#    The use of the following functions, methods, classes and modules is shown
+#    in this example:
+#
+#    - `matplotlib.axes.Axes.vlines` / `matplotlib.pyplot.vlines`
+#    - `matplotlib.animation.FuncAnimation`