Hugo the Hippo

The harbor of Zanzibar becomes infested with great white sharks, making it impossible for trading ships to dock. The threat disrupts trade and livelihoods, setting the stage for an extraordinary solution.

To restore safe docking, the Sultan charges his adviser Aban-Khan with bringing twelve hippopotamuses into the harbor. Aban-Khan pursues the plan, convinced it will keep the sharks away and save the port. The idea is ambitious but risky, blending spectacle with a deadly consequence.

The hippos are introduced and appear to deter the sharks, restoring some normalcy to the port. Ships begin docking again as the animals command attention from traders and onlookers. The town briefly anticipates a lasting solution.

As the hippos are no longer fed after their novelty wears off, they begin to starve and lose discipline. Frustrated and hungry, they rampage through the city in search of food, threatening people and property. Aban-Khan orders them slaughtered, sparing only a baby named Hugo.

The surviving hippo, Hugo, escapes across the sea to the African mainland and lands in Dar es Salaam. He must navigate a new city while avoiding capture, starting a new chapter for his life. The escape marks a turning point from port politics to personal survival.

A group of children led by farmer boy Jorma discovers Hugo and hides him, building a garden to feed and care for him. The kids invest time and hope in the hippo, dreaming of a world where Hugo can stay safe. Their secret refuge becomes Hugo's first chance at belonging.

Hugo is discovered by locals and the garden is burned by angry parents who fear their children neglecting school. The garden’s destruction forces Hugo to search for food elsewhere. The incident casts Hugo as a pawn in a larger conflict with the community.

With the garden gone, Hugo begins scavenging from local farms to survive. He wanders the countryside, drawing attention from farmers and authorities who fear further trouble. The hippo’s presence unsettles the farms he raids.

Aban-Khan travels to Dar es Salaam and, with the Sultan's court wizard, transforms Jorma's family farm into an enchanted garden filled with gigantic fruits and vegetables. Hugo is lured into the trap where the plants threaten both Hugo and Jorma. The magical garden marks the plan’s dangerous peak.

The enchanted garden’s plants twist into monsters thirsty for blood and overwhelm Hugo and Jorma, trapping them inside. Their escape attempts fail as the monsters close in, sealing their fate in the garden. The danger reaches its apex as friends face a seemingly inescapable trap.

Hugo is brought to court to answer for the damage caused by his raids and nocturnal visits. The courtroom debate centers on responsibility and the hippos’ mistreatment, with Hugo positioned as the injured party. The jury and spectators weigh the consequences of living with a misunderstood creature.

The Sultan appears in court and delivers a powerful speech about how the hippos were mistreated and neglected. He reframes Hugo as the true injured party, turning public opinion against Aban-Khan. The crowd’s anger shifts the atmosphere of the trial toward mercy.

Hugo is released and the judge orders the children to care for him for the rest of his days. The community acknowledges Hugo’s suffering and resolves to protect him. Aban-Khan’s scheme collapses under the weight of public opinion.