Nigerian filmmaker and creative entrepreneur Nissi Ogulu’s 3D animated short film, SOPO, has crossed 150,000 views on YouTube, marking a strong early response to the film since its public release in September 2026.
Creele Animation Studios, the Nigerian animation company behind the project, announced the milestone on LinkedIn, thanking viewers who have watched, shared and supported the film. The studio said the response has helped SOPO reach audiences in different places while introducing more people to African animation and storytelling.
The milestone comes shortly after SOPO became publicly available on YouTube on 13 September 2026. Ogulu, who founded Creele Animation Studios, directed and produced the film, bringing together animation, music and Nigerian cultural history in a story designed for a global audience.
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The Story Behind SOPO
Set in 1938, SOPO follows Oyejo, a young boy whose musical gift comes into conflict with his father Dotun’s expectations. As the father-son relationship strains, music eventually becomes part of the journey toward understanding and reconciliation.
The film takes its inspiration from Nigeria’s musical heritage and is loosely adapted from Dis Fela Sef! The Legend(s) Untold, a memoir by music critic and former Fela Kuti manager Benson Idonije.
That connection gives SOPO a strong cultural foundation while allowing the filmmakers to tell an original story about family, identity, talent and the pressure young people can face when their gifts do not fit traditional expectations.
The film also features music from Made Kuti, adding another connection to the musical legacy that inspired its setting and story. Earlier coverage of the project described it as a celebration of Afrobeat, Nigerian heritage and the role of music in shaping cultural movements.
Nissi Ogulu’s Vision for African Animation
For Ogulu and the team at Creele Animation Studios, SOPO represents part of a larger ambition to develop African stories through animation and make them accessible to audiences around the world.
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The project was produced in Lagos with contributions from animation professionals beyond Nigeria, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern animation production. Creele has also positioned the film as an early step in its broader plans to build African intellectual property through animated films and games.
The studio’s journey with SOPO began before its YouTube release. The film had a private Lagos premiere in 2025 and later continued its journey towards a wider public release. It was also selected for the Holly Shorts Festival in London.
150,000 Views and a Bigger Audience for African Stories
Crossing 150,000 YouTube views gives SOPO a measurable sign of audience interest at a time when African animation continues to gain more visibility.
Digital platforms have made it easier for locally produced animated stories to reach viewers beyond their immediate markets. For Nigerian creators, that creates opportunities to develop stories rooted in local history and culture while making them accessible to international audiences.
The response to SOPO also highlights the possibilities for Nigerian animation beyond commercial advertising and children’s content. Its story combines family relationships, music, history and identity, showing the range of subjects that animation can explore.
As SOPO continues to find viewers online, Creele Animation Studios is looking ahead to more African stories. For Ogulu, the 150,000-view milestone marks another encouraging stage in a journey that began with an idea rooted in Nigerian history and has now reached audiences around the world.
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