A moving animated short film, Nate & John, directed by Nigerian-American filmmaker Jumai Yusuf, has officially premiered on Omeleto — YouTube’s top showcase for award-winning short films with over 3 million subscribers.
The film tells the story of Nate, a Black barber’s assistant in the 1960s, and John, a white teenage hippie reluctantly brought into the barbershop by his father. What begins as a simple haircut evolves into an unlikely and enduring friendship, chronicled across decades of social change, personal milestones, and life’s inevitable joys and sorrows.
Written by David and Michael Bickel, Nate & John unfolds without spoken dialogue — except for a brief news broadcast announcing the death of Martin Luther King Jr. Instead, the film relies on soulful jazz scoring and expressive, hand-drawn line animation to explore themes of race, class, empathy, and human connection. The absence of dialogue highlights the emotional depth of the characters, capturing how love, trust, and loyalty cut across societal barriers.
As viewers follow the lives of its two central characters, they witness a moving meditation on companionship — and the ache of loss that makes love so resonant.
Nate & John is now streaming on Omeleto. Watch, share, and join the conversation!.
Follow the film on Instagram and Facebook at @nateandjohnfilm.
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
