How about using a graphic handle?
Here is an example:
[x,y] = meshgrid(0:0.2:2,0:0.2:2);
u = cos(x).*y;
v = sin(x).*y;
figure
h = quiver(x,y,u,v);
N = 100;
phi = linspace(0, 2*pi, N);
for kk = 1:N
u = cos(x+phi(kk)).*y;
v = sin(x+phi(kk)).*y;
h.UData = u;
h.VData = v;
pause(0.05)
end
