Creele Animation Studios, the Lagos-based outfit founded by multidisciplinary creative Nissi Ogulu, is gearing up to release its first independent 3D animated short film, ‘Sopo’, in 2025.
The studio, which is positioning itself at the intersection of African storytelling and global animation excellence, describes ‘Sopo’ as “a visually stunning and historically rich chronicle of the birth of a movement”.
The film follows Oyejo, a young musician who struggles to earn the approval of his father, Dotun, until a transformative moment of musical connection brings them back together.
But ‘Sopo’ isn’t just fiction—it’s rooted in Nigeria’s cultural and musical legacy. The film draws inspiration from Dis Fela Sef! The Legend(s) Untold, a memoir by renowned music critic and former Fela Kuti band manager Benson Idonije, who also happens to be Nissi’s grandfather. It reimagines a father-son conflict that mirrors the tension between creative expression and cultural expectation, using Afrobeat as its emotional backbone.
“I see ‘Sopo’ as more than an animated film,” says Nissi, who directs the project. “It’s a celebration of our roots and the transformative power of music. This is part of our mission to ‘Make Africa Cool Again’—a movement to amplify African creativity on the world stage.”
The project is executive produced by Bose Ogulu, Nissi’s mother and the award-winning talent manager behind the success of her son, Burna Boy. The original score is composed by Afrobeat musician Made Kuti, adding a generational echo to the film’s themes of heritage and healing.
John Etienne, business manager at Creele, frames the short as a moment of inflection for African animation. “This is our Toy Story moment,” he says, referencing the landmark Pixar release. “Sopo is only the beginning. Our vision is to create original content that belongs in global cinemas.”
Entirely produced in Lagos with contributions from international animation teams, ‘Sopo’ also marks a significant technical milestone for Creele, which is working to lower production costs and expand access for African animators.
Nissi, who has built a multifaceted career across music, engineering, visual art, and tech, sees Creele as a culmination of her artistic and cultural mission. After designing electric vehicles and winning acclaim for her short film ‘The Satchel’, which screened at Cannes Independent International Film Festival, ‘Sopo’ feels like a personal full circle. “This is about legacy,” she says. “About what we inherit, what we carry, and how we connect.”
Ogulu told Deadline in March that ‘Sopo’ will have a private screening this May in Lagos and is set for a 2025 release.
