diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/animation.py b/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
index f20928d0abc2..d5b9bfbce3e0 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/animation.py
@@ -1352,7 +1352,8 @@ def to_html5_video(self, embed_limit=None):
         else:
             return 'Video too large to embed.'
 
-    def to_jshtml(self, fps=None, embed_frames=True, default_mode=None):
+    def to_jshtml(self, fps=None, embed_frames=True, default_mode=None,
+                  frame_format=None):
         """
         Generate HTML representation of the animation.
 
@@ -1366,6 +1367,8 @@ def to_jshtml(self, fps=None, embed_frames=True, default_mode=None):
             What to do when the animation ends. Must be one of ``{'loop',
             'once', 'reflect'}``. Defaults to ``'loop'`` if the *repeat*
             parameter is True, otherwise ``'once'``.
+        frame_format : str, optional
+            Image format embedded into the HTML file
 
         Returns
         -------
@@ -1391,6 +1394,8 @@ def to_jshtml(self, fps=None, embed_frames=True, default_mode=None):
                 writer = HTMLWriter(fps=fps,
                                     embed_frames=embed_frames,
                                     default_mode=default_mode)
+                if frame_format is not None:
+                    writer.frame_format = frame_format
                 self.save(str(path), writer=writer)
                 self._html_representation = path.read_text()