Hi all,

I have been having issues with importing matplotlib.animation. In either python or ipython calling the following command hangs forever:

from matplotlib import animation

Import matplotlib, from matplotlib import pyplot etc work fine but obviously do not let me access animation. Upon a cntrl+c I receive the following error messages:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "3D-v1.py", line 4, in <module>
    from matplotlib import animation
  File "/Users/---/anaconda/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/animation.py", line 541, in <module>
    class ImageMagickWriter(MovieWriter, ImageMagickBase):
  File "/Users/---/anaconda/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/animation.py", line 66, in wrapper
    if writerClass.isAvailable():
  File "/Users/---/anaconda/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/animation.py", line 267, in isAvailable
    p.communicate()
  File "/Users/---/anaconda/lib/python2.7/subprocess.py", line 799, in communicate
    return self._communicate(input)
  File "/Users/---/anaconda/lib/python2.7/subprocess.py", line 1409, in _communicate
    stdout, stderr = self._communicate_with_poll(input)
  File "/Users/---/anaconda/lib/python2.7/subprocess.py", line 1463, in _communicate_with_poll
    ready = poller.poll()

Build Info:
OS: Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5
Anaconda Version: Original version I had this issue on is unknown but problem persisted on a new install of latest Anaconda python 2.7 and python 3 versions (Anaconda-2.3.0-MacOSX-x86_64.pkg and Anaconda3-2.3.0-MacOSX-x86_64.pkg from https://www.continuum.io/downloads. )

I also reproduced the issue on a separate mac book using a identical new build.

I cannot find any information online about this issue other than a similar problem with importing matplotlib.pyplot. #2919. I tried the steps suggested on the off chance that they would help but they had no effect.

Upon trialing the import on several colleagues Mac books I found that only those running an older version of Anaconda had no issue. Downgrading my machine to Anaconda 2.0.1. (Python 2.7.7 | Anaconda 2.0.1 (x86_64) | (default, Jun 2 2014, 12:48:16) seems to fix the issue.

Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this or if the bug turns out to be in Anaconda or a unique issue with my build / laptop!