CONCENTRATE (1929) Animation, Comedy | Short | Free Movie

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Concentrate is a 1929 black-and-white animated short from the Aesop’s Fables series by Paul Terry. Known for its surreal visual humor and rhythmic pacing, the cartoon follows a group of animals who attempt to master bizarre and difficult tasks simply by focusing their minds—until a meddling farmer tries it himself, with hilariously unexpected results.

Synopsis:

The cartoon opens in a sunny meadow where a group of farm animals gather for a public demonstration by a charismatic goat who claims anyone can do anything—if they just "concentrate!"

One by one, animals attempt impressive stunts by staring intensely and repeating the word “concentrate”:
A pig balances on a tightrope.
A dog solves a math problem.
A cow plays a violin perfectly.
Even the local duck levitates an egg with sheer focus.
All seems to go well—until the skeptical farmer, unimpressed, decides to try it for himself. He closes his eyes and concentrates with great effort. Suddenly, wild chaos erupts: the barn spins, chickens fly backward, and a cow explodes out of a haystack.

In the end, the animals learn to be careful what they wish for… and that too much concentration might backfire.

The cartoon ends with the usual Aesop moral card:
“Think hard—but not too hard.”

Cast & Crew:

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