Forgotten Island: DreamWorks Turns Filipino Folklore Into Its Boldest Original In Years

Every few years a studio animated film comes along that feels like it was made by people who grew up somewhere other than Burbank. Forgotten Island, which opens across US cinemas today after landing in the Philippines on September 23, is DreamWorks Animation's version of that film.

It takes Philippine folklore, 1990s Manila pop culture and a very simple fear, forgetting the people you love, and builds a full-scale family adventure around it.

For diaspora audiences who have waited years to see Asian stories told at studio scale without being flattened into a generic fantasy land, this one is worth paying attention to.

What Forgotten Island Is About

The story follows Jo and Raissa, two childhood best friends in 1990s Philippines, who are pulled into Nakali, a mystical island where memories slowly fade the longer anyone stays. The rules are cruel and elegant: the island is gorgeous, but every day there costs you a little more of who you were. The two friends have to find a way out before they forget each other entirely.

It is a premise that works on two levels. Kids get a colourful quest packed with creatures and chases. Adults, especially anyone who has moved countries and watched a childhood friendship thin out over time zones, get something that lands much closer to home.

The Voice Cast

Grammy winner H.E.R. voices Jo, while Filipino star Liza Soberano makes her major Hollywood voice debut as Raissa. The supporting line-up is stacked: Dave Franco as Raww, Jenny Slate as Batiba, Manny Jacinto as Bungi, Ronny Chieng as King Truffle Wuffle and Dolly de Leon as Lola Fatima. Broadway legend Lea Salonga plays the villain, the Dreaded Manananggal, a figure straight out of Filipino folk horror. Comedian Jo Koy also joins the ensemble.

A Look Built From Filipino Art

Directed by Joel Crawford (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Croods: A New Age) and Januel Mercado, the film pulls its visual language from Filipino art and 1990s graphic design. Some of its most talked-about sequences are anime-influenced 2D passages animated by Manila-based Snipple Animation, which means part of the film was literally drawn in the country it is about.

The soundtrack leans into that identity too, featuring Filipino acts including P-pop heavyweights BINI and SB19. For a studio release, that is a notable choice, and one that should travel well with P-pop fandoms in the US, Canada and Australia.

Early Reactions

Work-in-progress screenings at CinemaCon and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival drew a strong response, with reports of a five-minute standing ovation at Annecy. Early reviews have been warm: Moviefone called it a refreshingly original tale and a more inventive family night out, praising the visuals and the supporting cast, particularly Franco, Jacinto and Slate. The main criticism is that the emotional bones of the story, found family and the fear of forgetting, follow a familiar shape, and that Salonga's villain gets less to do than her casting promises.

Should You Watch It?

If you have kids, this is an easy pick for the weekend. If you don't, it is still worth the ticket if you care about seeing Southeast Asian mythology on a screen this size. The runtime is around 108 minutes and the film is rated PG, so it is manageable for younger viewers, though the Manananggal scenes may spook the very small ones.

Quick Facts

• Film: Forgotten Island

• Studio: DreamWorks Animation; distributed by Universal Pictures

• Directors: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado

• Voice cast: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, Ronny Chieng, Jo Koy

• Release: September 23, 2026 (Philippines); September 25, 2026 (US)

• Runtime: Approx. 108 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Genre: Animated fantasy adventure

FAQs

Is Forgotten Island live-action or animated?

It is fully animated, produced by DreamWorks Animation, with some anime-style 2D sequences mixed into the CG.

Where is Forgotten Island set?

It begins in 1990s Philippines before moving to Nakali, a fictional mystical island where memories fade over time.

Who plays the villain in Forgotten Island?

Lea Salonga voices the Dreaded Manananggal, a creature drawn from Filipino folklore.

Is Forgotten Island suitable for kids?

Yes. It is rated PG, though some creature scenes may be intense for very young children.