diff --git a/spatialmath/base/graphics.py b/spatialmath/base/graphics.py
index 2ce18dc8..8c6d1ef2 100644
--- a/spatialmath/base/graphics.py
+++ b/spatialmath/base/graphics.py
@@ -1462,10 +1462,11 @@ def _axes_dimensions(ax: plt.Axes) -> int:
         else:
             # handle the case of Animate objects pretending to be Axes
             classname = ax.__class__.__name__
-            if classname == "Animate":
-                ret = 3
-            elif classname == "Animate2":
-                ret = 2
+            base_classes = ax.__class__.__bases__
+            if classname in ("Axes3DSubplot", "Animate") or any(base_class.__name__ in ("Axes3DSubplot", "Animate") for base_class in base_classes):
+                return 3
+            elif classname in ("AxesSubplot", "Animate2"):
+                return 2
         # print("_axes_dimensions ", ax, ret)
         return ret