diff --git a/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs
index 8d7cfa9925557..924652c4a9dd4 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_animation/src/lib.rs
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ impl Default for AnimationPlayer {
 
 impl AnimationPlayer {
     /// Start playing an animation, resetting state of the player
-    pub fn play(&mut self, handle: Handle<AnimationClip>) -> &mut Self {
+    pub fn start(&mut self, handle: Handle<AnimationClip>) -> &mut Self {
         *self = Self {
             animation_clip: handle,
             ..Default::default()
@@ -123,6 +123,14 @@ impl AnimationPlayer {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Like `start`, but does nothing if the requested animation is already playing.
+    pub fn play(&mut self, handle: Handle<AnimationClip>) -> &mut Self {
+        if self.animation_clip != handle || self.is_paused() {
+            self.play(handle);
+        }
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Set the animation to repeat
     pub fn repeat(&mut self) -> &mut Self {
         self.repeat = true;