def _get_color_list(annotations=False):
    """Get the current color list from matplotlib rcParams.

    Parameters
    ----------
    annotations : boolean
        Has no influence on the function if false. If true, check if color
        "red" (#ff0000) is in the cycle and remove it.

    Returns
    -------
    colors : list
    """
    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
    color_cycle = plt.rcParams.get('axes.prop_cycle')
    if not color_cycle:
        colors = plt.rcParams.get('axes.color_cycle')
    else:
        colors = color_cycle.by_key()['color']
    if annotations and '#ff0000' in colors:
        colors.remove('#ff0000')
    return colors
