THE BREAK OF DAY (1929) Animation, Comedy | Short | Free Movie

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The Break of Day is a 1929 black-and-white animated short from Paul Terry’s Aesop’s Fables series. This early cartoon captures the start of a chaotic day on a barnyard farm as the animals wake up and dive into a whirlwind of morning routines, all presented with slapstick humor and musical rhythm.

Synopsis:

As the first light of dawn touches the farm, a rooster’s crow wakes the barnyard. Animals begin their daily chores: pigs roll out of bed, cows stretch, and chickens prepare for egg-laying duties. Our hero—a sleepy farm dog—is reluctantly dragged into the morning madness.

One by one, accidents unfold: a mischievous duck flips feed buckets, a goat tangles the laundry, and a snoring pig knocks over a cart full of milk cans. The dog tries to maintain order, but things only escalate into a full-blown slapstick frenzy. Eventually, the sun rises high, and the animals collapse in exhaustion—just as the farmer steps out to start his own day.

A classic-style Aesop’s moral ends the short:
“It’s always darkest before the chores.”

Cast & Crew:

Director: Paul Terry
Co-Director: John Foster
Animator: Paul Terry
Animator: John Foster
Production Company: Aesop’s Fables Studio
Distributor: Educational Pictures