Set in 1990s Philippines, Forgotten Island tells the story of two lifelong best friends, the goofy rascal Jo (H.E.R.) and the straight-laced overachiever Raissa (Liza Soberano). Growing up, the girls listened to Jo’s grandma Lola (Dolly de Leon) tell stories of a mysterious place she once visited: the mystical island of Nakali, home to beasts of Filipino folklore.
Years later at her graduation party, Raissa breaks the news to Jo that she’s attending a prestigious college in America. Heartbroken, Jo whisks Raissa away for one last night together. But this fun-filled night takes a wrong turn when they find a sand dollar that opens up a portal to Nakali, the forgotten island of Lola’s tales.
L-R: Raww Jo (H.E.R.), Raissa (Liza Soberano), and Raww (Dave Franco) in DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. © 2026 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
Twelve hours later, the girls awaken with no memory of what’s transpired: Jo is sporting a homemade tattoo and Raissa has half of her head shaved in addition to demon wings attached to her back. Raissa is desperate to get home so that she doesn’t miss her flight to America, while Jo is enchanted with the realm and wants to explore. Unsure of whom to trust, they meet a were-aspin named Raww (Dave Franco) who claims they became buddies the night before. He takes them to a demon named Batiba (Jenny Slate), who agrees to send them home in exchange for their friendship bracelets and all the memories tied to their friendship. Is going home worth forgetting each other forever?
A Filipino Folklore Fantasy Comes to Life
Just as Spirited Away highlighted Japanese Shinto folklore in a unique and interesting way, Forgotten Island does the same for Filipino folklore.
Most viewers may be unfamiliar with these foreign stories, creatures, and demons—the manananggal, batibat, tiyanak, kapre, duwende, kataw, and sarimanok—but will undoubtedly become enraptured by this unique fantasy world, even if it’s only a taste.
A Visual Feast That Can Become Exhausting
Building on the well-received animation style of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado turn the volume up to eleven.
Forgotten Island is an animated acid trip drawing inspiration from 90s graphic design and Filipino art. Every frame oozes with color, creativity, and passion. It’s a breath of fresh air to see vibrant color showcased in film, when so many films no lean gray and glum. You’re also treated with some hilarious stylized 2D sequences inspired by anime of the era such as Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon.
That said, a few character designs feel out of place, most of all Mermahn (Kevin McCann), who looks like a reskinned Prince Charming from Shrek 2.
L-R: Bungi (Manny Jacinto), Raww (Dave Franco), Raissa (Liza Soberano), Jo (H.E.R.) and Prince Mermahn (Kevin McCann) in DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. © 2026 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
As avant-garde and stunning as the movie is, it’s visually overstimulating.
Every single character overreacts to minor inconveniences with over-the-top poses and outbursts. Some may love this, while others may feel it wears out its welcome. The frenetic pacing feels like it was designed for TikTok-fried attention spans. Most of the time, you go along with the constant visual chaos like you would on a rollercoaster, as it works for the fantastical story; however, the film rarely lets you breathe, leaving you exhausted from sensory overload by the end.
The score by Filipino-American composer, Nathan Matthew David, is lit with pop and hip-hop beats reminiscent of the ‘80s to ‘90s, which fit with the punk-island vibe. The vocal tracks include obligatory karaoke staples from “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” to “Don’t Stop Believing”, but the new original songs steal the show, weaving perfectly with the film’s emotional beats.
A Friendship Worth Remembering
But Forgotten Island isn’t just spectacle, as it earnestly explores the power of platonic relationships. The two leads are well developed with strong, satisfying character arcs. Jo and Raissa’s friendship bracelets are a physical manifestation of the girls’ bond and tangible reminder of the shared memories, laughs, and good times that have kept them together over the years, proving to be more than just mere trinkets.
L-R: Raissa (Liza Soberano) and Jo (H.E.R.) in DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. © 2026 DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved.
Four-legged sidekick Raww and the demon Batiba get thinner, less satisfying arcs and a few characters disappear for large segments of the film, leaving them underbaked.
Forgotten Island Isn’t Afraid to Get Scary
Manang (Lea Salonga), the yellow-eyed Dreaded Manananggal whose torso grotesquely detaches from her legs, is absolutely terrifying. Since her wings are stubbornly latched onto Raissa, she’s a constant threat who ambushes the gang to reclaim them. There are quite a scary sequences that push the PG limits, making this an inappropriate film for younger children. That being said, these darker themes, along with the humor and aforementioned stimuli, will undoubtedly make this a hit with teenagers.
Forgotten Island is a wildly creative, heartfelt animated film that feels like the lovechild of The Hangover and Spirited Away. It’s a bit overstuffed with too many competing ideas, but with a gorgeous neon color palette, jaw-dropping animation, and nonstop laughs, this emotional coming-of-age friendship tale is one of the best animated films of the year.
Forgotten Island opens in theaters on September 25, 2026.
Rating: 8.25/10
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