Forgotten Island: DreamWorks film celebrates Filipino culture in bittersweet story

Watching DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island feels like stepping into a familiar living room: warm, noisy, and vivid with stories that were always meant to be shared out loud. The film blends laughter and tears in a way that will resonate with anyone who grew up between two worlds, and it arrives as one of the rare big-studio animations that foregrounds Filipino life, folklore, and the power of friendship.

From its sun-soaked colors to its myth-filled island, Forgotten Island is both a love letter to the Philippines and a personal project shaped by filmmakers who drew on their own memories. The result is an emotional family-adventure that places platonic love and cultural identity center stage.

What Forgotten Island is about and why it matters to Filipino audiences

At its heart, Forgotten Island follows two best friends who are swept away to Nakali, a magical island populated by creatures taken straight from Philippine folklore. The twist is brutal: the longer Jo and Raissa linger in Nakali, the more they lose of their past. Their mission becomes urgent—not just to escape, but to keep the memories that define who they are and how they connect to each other.

• Central themes: memory, friendship, cultural roots, and the tension of belonging between worlds.
• Tone: bittersweet, funny, nostalgic—oscillating between laugh-out-loud moments and quiet emotional punches.
• Visual influences: an animation palette that nods to classic 1990s cartoons and anime aesthetics.

Behind the scenes: the filmmakers and the personal roots of the story

Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford, the creative pair who previously collaborated on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, shepherded this project from its earliest ideas to the screen. Their decades-long friendship became the blueprint for Jo and Raissa’s dynamic: a bond built on shared jokes, safety to be silly, and the kind of loyalty that turns ordinary moments into lifelong memories.

Why the directors chose a friendship-first story

Mercado and Crawford wanted to celebrate a love that isn’t romantic but is no less life-changing. They describe the film as a “coming-of-all-ages” tale—an attempt to depict the value of platonic relationships and the way those bonds shape identity. By centering a relationship between two women, the directors challenge the default narrative that every emotionally driven story must revolve around romance.

How the cast brought Nakali to life

The voice cast mixes established stars and exciting new contributors: H.E.R. lends her voice to Jo, Liza Soberano plays Raissa, and supporting roles include Manny Jacinto, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate. Together they populate Nakali with warmth and humor while helping ground the film’s more poignant beats.

Key cast reflections

• On platonic love: H.E.R. and the directors emphasize that the movie rejects the idea that self-worth must hinge on romantic attachment. Instead it celebrates friendships that push people to be brave and stay true to their dreams.
• On cultural representation: Liza Soberano speaks about early moments of representation that mattered to her—seeing Filipino talent succeed on global stages made her feel seen in a new way.
• On personal discovery: Manny Jacinto says the role reopened the urge to explore the Philippines more deeply, even as someone who was born there; the project renewed his curiosity about places he has yet to visit.
• On complex antagonists: Jenny Slate discusses the creative challenge of making a villain who is believable and emotionally layered rather than purely malicious.

Representation by design: Filipino creatives across the film

The production intentionally involved Filipino artists across departments—from animation to music—to ensure the film’s textures felt authentic. Composer Nathan Matthew Davide, for instance, contributed a score the directors consider essential to the storytelling, almost functioning as another writer for the picture. The filmmakers call the movie a product of a creative village: the more Filipino voices involved, the more the film connects with audiences who share that cultural memory.

Practical choices that deepened authenticity

• Consulting cultural sources and folklore to populate Nakali with creatures that reflect regional mythologies.
• Recruiting Filipino animators and musicians to shape the film’s rhythms and visual language.
• Rooting scenes in memories of family gatherings, neighborhood rituals, and the small domestic moments that felt universal to the filmmakers.

Animation style and tonal choices that make the film pop

Forgotten Island is not a visual pastiche; it intentionally mixes techniques. The film alternates between sweeping painterly sequences and punchy anime-inspired action beats—some scenes intentionally recall the energy of series like Dragon Ball Z or the dreamlike nostalgia of Sailor Moon. That range lets the movie move from high-octane set pieces to intimate memory vignettes without losing emotional resonance.

Spoilers ahead: narrative beats and emotional payoffs

If you’re familiar with the film’s logline, you know the emotional engine revolves around memory loss as a literal stake. The later sections of the movie lean heavily into the idea of sifting through shared recollections to repair a bond—a scene designed to make viewers reach for an old friend’s number or rewatch a childhood memory. Members of the cast said they were moved multiple times when watching the final cut.

What the actors learned while making the film

The production became a mirror for contributors’ own journeys. Actors described unexpected personal takeaways:

• Manny Jacinto recounted how the role rekindled his desire to revisit and explore more of the Philippines.
• Jenny Slate found the complexity of her character rewarding because it demanded sympathy without excusing wrongdoing.
• Dave Franco noted that the film’s emotional highs hit him hard—he says he cried repeatedly during the final screening and hopes audiences will leave the theater moved to reconnect with loved ones.

Why this film could expand Filipino stories in Hollywood

While no single movie can capture the full range of Filipino experiences, Forgotten Island is pitched as a milestone: a mainstream animation that makes cultural specificity an asset rather than a checklist. By blending folklore, familial detail, and a story about non-romantic love, the film carves space for other creators to tell stories that are particular and universal at once.

Practical details and viewing notes

• Release date: Forgotten Island hits theaters on September 25.
• Recommended audience: Families, fans of folklore and anime-influenced animation, viewers interested in heartfelt, friendship-driven stories.

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David Miller

David Miller is an entertainment expert with a passion for film, music, and series. With eight years in cultural criticism, he takes you behind the scenes of productions and studios. His energetic style guides you to the next big releases and trending sensations.