diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py
index c5956bc08fb5..f4d57416355d 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/2dcollections3d.py
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 # Plot a sin curve using the x and y axes.
 x = np.linspace(0, 1, 100)
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/contour3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/contour3d.py
index 8ae9deb54981..7c4f5dcbc6d5 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/contour3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/contour3d.py
@@ -11,13 +11,10 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matplotlib import cm
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
 
-# Plot contour curves
-cset = ax.contour(X, Y, Z, cmap=cm.coolwarm)
-
+cset = ax.contour(X, Y, Z, cmap=cm.coolwarm)  # Plot contour curves
 ax.clabel(cset, fontsize=9, inline=True)
 
 plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_2.py b/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_2.py
index 686fc4aa39f0..ed9c27f0b5ab 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_2.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_2.py
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matplotlib import cm
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
 
 cset = ax.contour(X, Y, Z, extend3d=True, cmap=cm.coolwarm)
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_3.py b/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_3.py
index 33a69d61c9b2..db620e426a68 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_3.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/contour3d_3.py
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matplotlib import cm
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
 
 # Plot the 3D surface
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d.py
index 1fcfe5c634bf..7cb78e8f1b52 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d.py
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matplotlib import cm
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
 
 cset = ax.contourf(X, Y, Z, cmap=cm.coolwarm)
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d_2.py b/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d_2.py
index 824d3abd6db3..5ef9dc8761c7 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d_2.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/contourf3d_2.py
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matplotlib import cm
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
 
 # Plot the 3D surface
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/errorbar3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/errorbar3d.py
index 7d8599d9cf2a..e4da658d194b 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/errorbar3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/errorbar3d.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 # setting up a parametric curve
 t = np.arange(0, 2*np.pi+.1, 0.01)
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/lines3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/lines3d.py
index 92860ee993c5..f7578d8657b4 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/lines3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/lines3d.py
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 
-plt.rcParams['legend.fontsize'] = 10
-
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 # Prepare arrays x, y, z
 theta = np.linspace(-4 * np.pi, 4 * np.pi, 100)
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/lorenz_attractor.py b/examples/mplot3d/lorenz_attractor.py
index 93e40fdbd4c4..778f4f849e3c 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/lorenz_attractor.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/lorenz_attractor.py
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ def lorenz(x, y, z, s=10, r=28, b=2.667):
 
 
 # Plot
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 ax.plot(xs, ys, zs, lw=0.5)
 ax.set_xlabel("X Axis")
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/offset.py b/examples/mplot3d/offset.py
index 9583c4766bd7..56a14d69fa98 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/offset.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/offset.py
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 X, Y = np.mgrid[0:6*np.pi:0.25, 0:4*np.pi:0.25]
 Z = np.sqrt(np.abs(np.cos(X) + np.cos(Y)))
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/polys3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/polys3d.py
index 3ca918632acc..9a2ee1ad3155 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/polys3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/polys3d.py
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ def polygon_under_graph(xlist, ylist):
     return [(xlist[0], 0.), *zip(xlist, ylist), (xlist[-1], 0.)]
 
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 # Make verts a list such that verts[i] is a list of (x, y) pairs defining
 # polygon i.
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/quiver3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/quiver3d.py
index e0a97fa1ee62..12d60ee93e62 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/quiver3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/quiver3d.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 # Make the grid
 x, y, z = np.meshgrid(np.arange(-0.8, 1, 0.2),
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py b/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py
index ffed591ec071..2c8a4112236e 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/surface3d_3.py
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 # Make data.
 X = np.arange(-5, 5, 0.25)
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/text3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/text3d.py
index 4250125aa2c5..7f6a2858eb1f 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/text3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/text3d.py
@@ -7,20 +7,17 @@
 
 Functionality shown:
 
-    - Using the text function with three types of 'zdir' values: None, an axis
-      name (ex. 'x'), or a direction tuple (ex. (1, 1, 0)).
-    - Using the text function with the color keyword.
-
-    - Using the text2D function to place text on a fixed position on the ax
-      object.
-
+- Using the text function with three types of 'zdir' values: None, an axis
+  name (ex. 'x'), or a direction tuple (ex. (1, 1, 0)).
+- Using the text function with the color keyword.
+- Using the text2D function to place text on a fixed position on the ax
+  object.
 """
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 # Demo 1: zdir
 zdirs = (None, 'x', 'y', 'z', (1, 1, 0), (1, 1, 1))
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/tricontour3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/tricontour3d.py
index 96350db544a6..825e90d4dffa 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/tricontour3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/tricontour3d.py
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@
                          y[triang.triangles].mean(axis=1))
                 < min_radius)
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 ax.tricontour(triang, z, cmap=plt.cm.CMRmap)
 
 # Customize the view angle so it's easier to understand the plot.
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/tricontourf3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/tricontourf3d.py
index 772ff78e063f..f579cb1f7c6f 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/tricontourf3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/tricontourf3d.py
@@ -36,8 +36,7 @@
                          y[triang.triangles].mean(axis=1))
                 < min_radius)
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 ax.tricontourf(triang, z, cmap=plt.cm.CMRmap)
 
 # Customize the view angle so it's easier to understand the plot.
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/trisurf3d.py b/examples/mplot3d/trisurf3d.py
index 1f320903310a..978b0e3abc02 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/trisurf3d.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/trisurf3d.py
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@
 # Compute z to make the pringle surface.
 z = np.sin(-x*y)
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
 ax.plot_trisurf(x, y, z, linewidth=0.2, antialiased=True)
 
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/voxels.py b/examples/mplot3d/voxels.py
index 58fdbbe72db3..c6a35d7bcf5b 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/voxels.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/voxels.py
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
 colors[cube2] = 'green'
 
 # and plot everything
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 ax.voxels(voxels, facecolors=colors, edgecolor='k')
 
 plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_numpy_logo.py b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_numpy_logo.py
index 5c56b8de34f0..9aa72b31e290 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_numpy_logo.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_numpy_logo.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 Demonstrates using `.Axes3D.voxels` with uneven coordinates.
 """
+
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -39,8 +40,7 @@ def explode(data):
 y[:, 1::2, :] += 0.95
 z[:, :, 1::2] += 0.95
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 ax.voxels(x, y, z, filled_2, facecolors=fcolors_2, edgecolors=ecolors_2)
 
 plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_rgb.py b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_rgb.py
index e7fb7fe61c4f..a06cc10a5cc1 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_rgb.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_rgb.py
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ def midpoints(x):
 colors[..., 2] = bc
 
 # and plot everything
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 ax.voxels(r, g, b, sphere,
           facecolors=colors,
           edgecolors=np.clip(2*colors - 0.5, 0, 1),  # brighter
diff --git a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_torus.py b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_torus.py
index 11b5a0b05f62..10aa9c21d124 100644
--- a/examples/mplot3d/voxels_torus.py
+++ b/examples/mplot3d/voxels_torus.py
@@ -36,8 +36,7 @@ def midpoints(x):
 colors = matplotlib.colors.hsv_to_rgb(hsv)
 
 # and plot everything
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+ax = plt.figure().add_subplot(projection='3d')
 ax.voxels(x, y, z, sphere,
           facecolors=colors,
           edgecolors=np.clip(2*colors - 0.5, 0, 1),  # brighter
diff --git a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py
index 0b4341b1185b..b68c250496ed 100644
--- a/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py
+++ b/lib/mpl_toolkits/tests/test_mplot3d.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def test_bar3d_lightsource():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['contour3d.png'])
 def test_contour3d():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
     ax.contour(X, Y, Z, zdir='z', offset=-100, cmap=cm.coolwarm)
     ax.contour(X, Y, Z, zdir='x', offset=-40, cmap=cm.coolwarm)
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def test_contour3d():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['contourf3d.png'])
 def test_contourf3d():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     X, Y, Z = axes3d.get_test_data(0.05)
     ax.contourf(X, Y, Z, zdir='z', offset=-100, cmap=cm.coolwarm)
     ax.contourf(X, Y, Z, zdir='x', offset=-40, cmap=cm.coolwarm)
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def test_contourf3d():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['contourf3d_fill.png'])
 def test_contourf3d_fill():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     X, Y = np.meshgrid(np.arange(-2, 2, 0.25), np.arange(-2, 2, 0.25))
     Z = X.clip(0, 0)
     # This produces holes in the z=0 surface that causes rendering errors if
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def test_tricontour():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['lines3d.png'])
 def test_lines3d():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     theta = np.linspace(-4 * np.pi, 4 * np.pi, 100)
     z = np.linspace(-2, 2, 100)
     r = z ** 2 + 1
@@ -179,9 +179,9 @@ def test_lines3d():
 
 @check_figures_equal(extensions=["png"])
 def test_plot_scalar(fig_test, fig_ref):
-    ax1 = fig_test.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax1 = fig_test.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     ax1.plot([1], [1], "o")
-    ax2 = fig_ref.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax2 = fig_ref.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     ax2.plot(1, 1, "o")
 
 
@@ -213,11 +213,11 @@ def f(t):
 def test_tight_layout_text(fig_test, fig_ref):
     # text is currently ignored in tight layout. So the order of text() and
     # tight_layout() calls should not influence the result.
-    ax1 = fig_test.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax1 = fig_test.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     ax1.text(.5, .5, .5, s='some string')
     fig_test.tight_layout()
 
-    ax2 = fig_ref.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax2 = fig_ref.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     fig_ref.tight_layout()
     ax2.text(.5, .5, .5, s='some string')
 
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ def test_scatter3d_sorting(fig_ref, fig_test, depthshade):
         for a in [x, y, z, sizes, facecolors, edgecolors, linewidths]
     ]
 
-    ax_ref = fig_ref.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax_ref = fig_ref.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     sets = (np.unique(a) for a in [sizes, facecolors, edgecolors, linewidths])
     for s, fc, ec, lw in itertools.product(*sets):
         subset = (
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ def test_scatter3d_sorting(fig_ref, fig_test, depthshade):
         ax_ref.scatter(x, y, subset, s=s, fc=fc, ec=ec, lw=lw, alpha=1,
                        depthshade=depthshade)
 
-    ax_test = fig_test.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax_test = fig_test.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     ax_test.scatter(x, y, z, s=sizes, fc=facecolors, ec=edgecolors,
                     lw=linewidths, alpha=1, depthshade=depthshade)
 
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ def test_surface3d():
     plt.rcParams['pcolormesh.snap'] = False
 
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     X = np.arange(-5, 5, 0.25)
     Y = np.arange(-5, 5, 0.25)
     X, Y = np.meshgrid(X, Y)
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ def test_surface3d():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['surface3d_shaded.png'])
 def test_surface3d_shaded():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     X = np.arange(-5, 5, 0.25)
     Y = np.arange(-5, 5, 0.25)
     X, Y = np.meshgrid(X, Y)
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ def test_surface3d_shaded():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['text3d.png'], remove_text=False)
 def test_text3d():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     zdirs = (None, 'x', 'y', 'z', (1, 1, 0), (1, 1, 1))
     xs = (2, 6, 4, 9, 7, 2)
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ def test_trisurf3d():
     z = np.sin(-x*y)
 
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     ax.plot_trisurf(x, y, z, cmap=cm.jet, linewidth=0.2)
 
 
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ def test_trisurf3d_shaded():
     z = np.sin(-x*y)
 
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     ax.plot_trisurf(x, y, z, color=[1, 0.5, 0], linewidth=0.2)
 
 
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ def test_quiver3d_empty(fig_test, fig_ref):
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['quiver3d_masked.png'])
 def test_quiver3d_masked():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     # Using mgrid here instead of ogrid because masked_where doesn't
     # seem to like broadcasting very much...
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ def test_quiver3d_masked():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['poly3dcollection_closed.png'])
 def test_poly3dcollection_closed():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     poly1 = np.array([[0, 0, 1], [0, 1, 1], [0, 0, 0]], float)
     poly2 = np.array([[0, 1, 1], [1, 1, 1], [1, 1, 0]], float)
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ def test_poly_collection_2d_to_3d_empty():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['poly3dcollection_alpha.png'])
 def test_poly3dcollection_alpha():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     poly1 = np.array([[0, 0, 1], [0, 1, 1], [0, 0, 0]], float)
     poly2 = np.array([[0, 1, 1], [1, 1, 1], [1, 1, 0]], float)
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ def test_add_collection3d_zs_array():
     segments = np.concatenate([points[:-1], points[1:]], axis=1)
 
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     norm = plt.Normalize(0, 2*np.pi)
     # 2D LineCollection from x & y values
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ def test_add_collection3d_zs_scalar():
     segments = np.concatenate([points[:-1], points[1:]], axis=1)
 
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     norm = plt.Normalize(0, 2*np.pi)
     lc = LineCollection(segments, cmap='twilight', norm=norm)
@@ -818,7 +818,7 @@ def test_autoscale():
 @mpl3d_image_comparison(['axes3d_ortho.png'], remove_text=False)
 def test_axes3d_ortho():
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
     ax.set_proj_type('ortho')
 
 
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ def test_quiver3D_smoke(fig_test, fig_ref):
     u = v = w = np.ones_like(x)
 
     for fig, length in zip((fig_ref, fig_test), (1, 1.0)):
-        ax = fig.gca(projection="3d")
+        ax = fig.add_subplot(projection="3d")
         ax.quiver(x, y, z, u, v, w, length=length, pivot=pivot)
 
 
@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ def test_errorbar3d_errorevery():
     x, y, z = np.sin(t), np.cos(3*t), np.sin(5*t)
 
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     estep = 15
     i = np.arange(t.size)
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ def test_errorbar3d_errorevery():
 def test_errorbar3d():
     """Tests limits, color styling, and legend for 3d errorbars."""
     fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.gca(projection='3d')
+    ax = fig.add_subplot(projection='3d')
 
     d = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
     e = [.5, .5, .5, .5, .5]