diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/animation.py b/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
index 354873b351c3..f8cd5aeef5f0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
@@ -247,10 +247,11 @@ def isAvailable(cls):
         running the commandline tool.
         '''
         try:
-            subprocess.Popen(cls.bin_path(),
+            p = subprocess.Popen(cls.bin_path(),
                              shell=False,
                              stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                              stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+            p.communicate()
             return True
         except OSError:
             return False
@@ -326,6 +327,30 @@ def _frame_sink(self):
         # because it will no longer be referenced and will be gc-ed.
         return open(fname, 'wb')
 
+    def grab_frame(self, **savefig_kwargs):
+        '''
+        Grab the image information from the figure and save as a movie frame.
+        All keyword arguments in savefig_kwargs are passed on to the 'savefig'
+        command that saves the figure.
+        '''
+        #Overloaded to explicitly close temp file.
+        verbose.report('MovieWriter.grab_frame: Grabbing frame.',
+                       level='debug')
+        try:
+            # Tell the figure to save its data to the sink, using the
+            # frame format and dpi.
+            myframesink = self._frame_sink()
+            self.fig.savefig(myframesink, format=self.frame_format,
+                             dpi=self.dpi, **savefig_kwargs)
+            myframesink.close()
+
+        except RuntimeError:
+            out, err = self._proc.communicate()
+            verbose.report('MovieWriter -- Error '
+                           'running proc:\n%s\n%s' % (out,
+                                                      err), level='helpful')
+            raise
+
     def finish(self):
         # Call run here now that all frame grabbing is done. All temp files
         # are available to be assembled.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_animation.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_animation.py
index 9da8f81de6c3..29fc30250321 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_animation.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_animation.py
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ def animate(i):
         raise KnownFailureTest("There can be errors in the numpy " +
                                "import stack, " +
                                "see issues #1891 and #2679")
+    finally:
+        F.close()
 
 
 @cleanup