diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 00c900a4..7af998fd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ Version 1.0.7 (in progress in the dev branch)
 * Fixed issue in Animation.play where the given frameRate and loop values wouldn't overwrite those set on construction.
 * Added Animation.paused - can be set to true/false.
 * New: Phaser.Animation.generateFrameNames - really useful when creating animation data from texture atlases using file names, not indexes.
+* Added Sprite.play as a handy short-cut to play an animation already loaded onto a Sprite.
 
 
 * TODO: addMarker hh:mm:ss:ms
diff --git a/src/gameobjects/Sprite.js b/src/gameobjects/Sprite.js
index d10f366a..b0dc29a4 100644
--- a/src/gameobjects/Sprite.js
+++ b/src/gameobjects/Sprite.js
@@ -470,6 +470,25 @@ Phaser.Sprite.prototype.getBounds = function(rect) {
 
 }
 
+/**
+* Play an animation based on the given key. The animation should previously have been added via sprite.animations.add()
+* If the requested animation is already playing this request will be ignored. If you need to reset an already running animation do so directly on the Animation object itself.
+* 
+* @method play
+* @param {String} name The name of the animation to be played, e.g. "fire", "walk", "jump".
+* @param {Number} [frameRate=null] The framerate to play the animation at. The speed is given in frames per second. If not provided the previously set frameRate of the Animation is used.
+* @param {Boolean} [loop=null] Should the animation be looped after playback. If not provided the previously set loop value of the Animation is used.
+* @return {Phaser.Animation} A reference to playing Animation instance.
+*/
+Phaser.Sprite.prototype.play = function (name, frameRate, loop) {
+
+    if (this.animations)
+    {
+        this.animations.play(name, frameRate, loop);
+    }
+
+}
+
 Object.defineProperty(Phaser.Sprite.prototype, 'angle', {
 
     get: function() {