DreamWorks Animation is taking audiences into a very different kind of fantasy world with Forgotten Island, an original animated adventure built around friendship, memory, family, and Filipino mythology. The movie follows lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa as they prepare to take separate paths after high school graduation. Their final night together takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious portal transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali.
What begins as an extraordinary adventure soon becomes deeply personal. Jo and Raissa discover that finding their way home could come at the cost of the memories they share. That gives Forgotten Island an emotional hook beyond its magical creatures and action sequences: the two friends must fight to preserve the bond that has shaped their lives.
The movie also stands out for its Filipino cultural influences. Its fantasy world draws from stories and mythological creatures connected to the characters’ Filipino families, giving the DreamWorks adventure a distinct cultural identity.
Here is everything to know about Forgotten Island, including its release date, story, voice cast, characters, trailer, filmmakers, and what makes the movie different from a typical animated fantasy.
Forgotten Island Release Date
Forgotten Island is scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026. DreamWorks Animation is producing the movie, while Universal Pictures is handling its theatrical distribution.
The September release makes the film one of DreamWorks Animation’s major original theatrical projects for 2026. Unlike a streaming-first animated title, Forgotten Island has a wide theatrical launch, giving audiences the opportunity to experience its fantasy world on the big screen.
The film has a PG rating and runs approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes. Rotten Tomatoes classifies it across several genres, including Kids & Family, Adventure, Comedy, Animation, and Fantasy.
For viewers searching specifically for the Forgotten Island release date, September 25 is the key U.S. theatrical date to remember. Any future information about additional international releases or home-viewing options should be treated separately from the confirmed U.S. theatrical schedule.
What Is Forgotten Island About?
At the center of Forgotten Island are Jo and Raissa, two friends who have known each other since grade school. Their friendship faces a major turning point as graduation approaches and their futures begin moving in different directions.
During their final night together, the pair discovers a mysterious portal that takes them to Nakali, a fantastical island filled with magical and mythological creatures. These creatures connect to stories that Jo and Raissa grew up hearing from their Filipino families.
The island quickly turns their adventure into a race against time. Jo and Raissa learn that their memories of their friendship may be the price they must pay to return home. If they cannot find another way out, the two could eventually forget the experiences and connection that brought them together in the first place.
That premise gives the movie two complementary sides. On the surface, it offers the colorful creatures, comedy, fantasy, and adventure expected from a DreamWorks animated film. Underneath, however, the story explores what happens when two people who have grown up together suddenly face the possibility of losing their shared history.
Forgotten Island Cast and Characters
The voice cast combines established Hollywood performers with major Filipino talent. At the center are Grammy and Academy Award-winning performer H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, who voice Jo and Raissa respectively.
H.E.R. as Jo
H.E.R. voices Jo, one half of the film’s central friendship. Jo has spent much of her life alongside Raissa, making their impending separation after graduation particularly difficult.
Her character sits at the emotional heart of the story because the danger on Nakali is not simply about escaping a strange island. Jo also has to confront the possibility that the memories connecting her to her best friend could disappear.
The role gives H.E.R. an opportunity to bring both humor and emotional depth to an animated lead, while her Filipino heritage also connects naturally with the movie’s cultural themes. Recent interviews around the film have highlighted the importance of friendship and shared memories to Jo’s character.
Liza Soberano as Raissa
Liza Soberano voices Raissa, Jo’s lifelong best friend. As the two prepare to graduate, Raissa faces a major transition in her life, creating the emotional tension that sets the adventure in motion.
Soberano has spoken about the personal connection she felt with the story’s themes, particularly its portrayal of separation, family, and the experience of leaving loved ones behind.
Raissa’s journey therefore extends beyond the fantasy adventure. Her relationship with Jo gives the movie its emotional foundation, while her Filipino background connects her character to the folklore and cultural influences woven throughout Nakali.
Why the Friendship Matters in Forgotten Island
The friendship between Jo and Raissa is more than a setup for the adventure. It is the central emotional idea behind Forgotten Island.
The story begins at a moment when their childhood friendship is already changing. Graduation signals the end of one stage of their lives, while different future plans threaten to put physical distance between them. The journey to Nakali turns that ordinary fear of growing apart into something much more dangerous.
Their memories become part of the conflict itself. The possibility of forgetting their shared experiences means the movie can explore friendship through a fantasy concept rather than relying only on a conventional coming-of-age story.
Recent interviews with the filmmakers and cast have also emphasized friendship as one of the foundations of the project. Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado developed the film as an original story centered on friendship and Filipino culture, while H.E.R. and Soberano have discussed the importance of cherishing shared memories.
That combination gives Forgotten Island a clear emotional identity before the larger fantasy adventure even begins.
The Forgotten Island Voice Cast
Beyond H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, Forgotten Island features a broad voice ensemble that brings both human characters and fantastical personalities to life. The cast includes performers from Hollywood and the Filipino entertainment world, reinforcing the movie’s cross-cultural identity.
Among the announced performers are Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga. Their involvement gives the animated adventure a mix of comedy, dramatic talent, and recognizable voices.
The casting also matters because Forgotten Island places Filipino culture at the center of its fantasy setting rather than treating it as a minor background detail. Several members of the cast have Filipino heritage or strong connections to Filipino entertainment, helping the film maintain a cultural link between its characters and the mythology that inspires Nakali.
While Jo and Raissa remain the primary characters, the supporting voices are expected to help expand the strange world they encounter after arriving on the island.
Dave Franco as Raww
Dave Franco voices Raww, a character who becomes part of Jo and Raissa’s adventure on Nakali.
Raww adds another personality to the story as the friends attempt to understand the unfamiliar world surrounding them. His role also connects the human characters to the island’s larger collection of magical creatures and unusual inhabitants.
Franco is well known for his work in comedy and film, making his involvement particularly fitting for a DreamWorks adventure that balances fantasy with humor. His voice performance adds another recognizable name to an ensemble already built around performers with very different backgrounds.
Lea Salonga as the Manananggal
Lea Salonga voices the Dreaded Manananggal, one of the movie’s most notable mythological figures.
The Manananggal comes from Filipino folklore, where the creature traditionally appears as a supernatural being with a frightening reputation. Bringing this figure into a major DreamWorks animated production gives the movie an opportunity to introduce an important part of Philippine folklore to a much wider audience.
Salonga’s involvement is especially significant because she is one of the most internationally recognized Filipino performers. Her casting strengthens the connection between the movie’s voice cast and its Filipino cultural foundation.
Rather than using folklore simply as visual decoration, Forgotten Island places mythological elements directly inside its fantasy adventure. The Manananggal therefore represents an important part of the film’s cultural world.
Other Supporting Voice Performers
The supporting cast includes several recognizable performers. Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng are among the additional voices announced for the movie.
Their characters expand the story beyond Jo and Raissa and help populate Nakali with a wider range of personalities. Because the island contains magical and mythological creatures, the supporting cast has an important role in making the setting feel like a functioning fantasy world rather than simply a backdrop for the two friends.
DreamWorks has kept much of the individual character information limited compared with the details available for Jo, Raissa, and the Manananggal. That leaves room for the movie itself to introduce audiences to the wider cast and their roles.
The Story and World of Forgotten Island
The story begins with Jo and Raissa at a major transition point. After years of growing up together, the two friends are preparing to graduate from high school and move toward different futures.
Instead of simply saying goodbye, they end up entering a mysterious portal that transports them to Nakali, a fantastical island filled with magical creatures.
The setting draws directly from stories connected to their Filipino families. This allows the movie to combine a coming-of-age friendship story with a much larger fantasy adventure.
However, Nakali is not simply an exciting destination. The island creates a serious problem for the two friends: their memories may become the price of finding their way home.
That idea changes the meaning of their journey. Jo and Raissa are not only trying to survive an unfamiliar world. They are also trying to protect the shared history that defines their friendship.
The movie can therefore move between different tones. Its magical creatures and adventurous setting create opportunities for comedy and action, while the memory storyline gives the characters a more emotional challenge.
For audiences, that combination is one of the most interesting aspects of Forgotten Island. The fantasy world provides the spectacle, but the friendship between Jo and Raissa gives the adventure its emotional reason to matter.
What Is Nakali?
Nakali is the mysterious fantasy island at the center of the movie. After Jo and Raissa enter the portal, they find themselves in a world that operates far outside their normal lives.
The island is populated by magical and mythological creatures, many of which connect to stories that the characters heard from their Filipino families. That makes Nakali more than a generic fantasy location. Its creatures and mythology help establish the cultural identity of the film.
The island also serves as the main testing ground for Jo and Raissa’s friendship. They arrive at a time when their lives are already changing, and the unexpected journey forces them to confront those changes together.
Because the official premise focuses on their attempt to return home while protecting their memories, Nakali functions as both a physical location and an emotional challenge. Every obstacle they face is tied to the larger question of whether their friendship can survive the journey.
The setting consequently gives Forgotten Island its distinctive combination of fantasy, folklore, adventure, and coming-of-age storytelling.
Why Are Memories So Important?
Memories form one of the most important ideas in Forgotten Island. Jo and Raissa have spent years building a shared history, so the possibility of losing those memories threatens the foundation of their friendship.
That concept also connects directly to the movie’s timing. Their adventure begins just as graduation is forcing them to consider separate futures. In real life, friends can grow apart when school ends. In Forgotten Island, that familiar fear becomes a literal fantasy threat.
The memory element gives the story an emotional question alongside its physical adventure: What remains of a friendship if the people involved can no longer remember what they experienced together?
That question can make the journey through Nakali feel personal rather than purely action-driven. The characters have something more meaningful to protect than simply their freedom.
It also fits the movie’s broader focus on family and cultural memory. The stories Jo and Raissa heard while growing up become part of the world they encounter, linking personal memories with the traditions passed between generations.
As a result, memory works on several levels within the film: it affects the friendship, drives the central conflict, and connects the characters to their cultural background.
Filipino Folklore at the Heart of Forgotten Island
One of the clearest features of Forgotten Island is its connection to Filipino folklore. Instead of creating a fantasy setting without a cultural foundation, the movie builds Nakali around magical stories and creatures linked to the Filipino heritage of Jo and Raissa.
That approach gives the adventure a more personal dimension. The mythology that surrounds the characters is connected to stories they encountered through their families while growing up. As a result, their journey through Nakali becomes a meeting point between childhood memories, family traditions, and a completely unfamiliar fantasy world.
This cultural influence also helps distinguish Forgotten Island from many mainstream animated adventures. The movie can introduce audiences to folklore that may be unfamiliar to them while still keeping the story accessible through friendship, humor, and fantasy.
DreamWorks has described the island as a place filled with magical and mythological creatures, with the characters’ Filipino family stories serving as an important connection to that world. That foundation makes culture part of the movie’s storytelling rather than simply an aesthetic choice.
The Manananggal and Filipino Mythology
The Manananggal is one of the most recognizable Filipino mythological elements associated with Forgotten Island. Lea Salonga voices the Dreaded Manananggal, bringing a legendary figure from Philippine folklore into the DreamWorks fantasy adventure.
In Filipino folklore, the Manananggal is traditionally portrayed as a supernatural creature with a frightening appearance and abilities. The movie adapts that folklore within its own fictional world, allowing the character to exist alongside the other magical beings of Nakali.
Its inclusion is significant because it gives international audiences an introduction to a creature that does not occupy the same familiar space in Western animation as dragons, witches, or other traditional fantasy figures.
At the same time, Forgotten Island does not need to reproduce traditional folklore exactly to make it meaningful. The film uses these cultural elements as part of an original story centered on Jo and Raissa.
Lea Salonga’s casting adds another layer to that connection. Her international career and Filipino identity make her a particularly fitting performer for a project that places Filipino mythology at the center of its fantasy world.
How Culture Shapes the World of Forgotten Island
Culture influences Forgotten Island at several levels. It appears in the mythology of Nakali, the stories passed down through the characters’ families, and the identities of the people at the center of the adventure.
This matters because Jo and Raissa do not discover an entirely unrelated fantasy world. The creatures and legends they encounter have connections to stories they already know. Their cultural background therefore becomes part of how they understand what is happening around them.
That connection can also make the movie’s memory theme more meaningful. The characters are not only at risk of forgetting moments from their friendship. Their journey is surrounded by stories and traditions that have traveled from one generation to another.
The film consequently brings together two forms of memory: personal memory and cultural memory. Jo and Raissa’s friendship represents the first, while the Filipino folklore surrounding Nakali represents the second.
This combination gives the fantasy setting an emotional foundation. The island is strange and dangerous, but elements of it also feel connected to the characters’ childhoods and families.
For audiences, that creates an opportunity to experience a DreamWorks adventure through a cultural lens that feels distinct from the studio’s more familiar fantasy worlds.
Why Representation Matters in Forgotten Island
Forgotten Island arrives with a notably Filipino-centered creative and voice-cast identity. That representation is important because mainstream animated movies have often relied on a relatively familiar collection of fantasy traditions.
Here, Filipino culture influences the actual foundation of the story. The mythology is connected to the characters, the setting grows from family stories, and Filipino performers occupy prominent roles within the voice cast.
H.E.R. and Liza Soberano lead the film as Jo and Raissa, while Lea Salonga voices the Dreaded Manananggal. Other Filipino or Filipino-American performers also appear in the ensemble, creating a strong connection between the production and the culture it explores.
Representation also works best when it contributes to the story rather than appearing as a surface-level reference. Forgotten Island has an advantage in that regard because Filipino folklore directly affects the world Jo and Raissa enter.
For younger viewers, the movie can provide a gateway into stories and mythology they may not encounter frequently in mainstream animation. Like Coco 2, Forgotten Island also connects animation with family, cultural heritage, and traditions passed between generations. For Filipino audiences, meanwhile, seeing elements of their cultural heritage integrated into a major DreamWorks production can give the fantasy adventure an additional sense of recognition.
The Emotional Meaning Behind Forgotten Island
The fantasy adventure works because its supernatural conflict connects with an ordinary human fear: losing an important relationship.
Jo and Raissa begin the story at a turning point. Graduation means their childhood routine is ending, and the future may take them in different directions. Even without the magical elements, that situation would create uncertainty for two lifelong friends.
Nakali turns that uncertainty into a much larger challenge. The possibility of losing their memories gives the characters a tangible version of the fear that friendships can change as people grow older.
This makes the story’s fantasy elements serve an emotional purpose. The portal, magical creatures, and mythology create the adventure, but the friendship gives the adventure its stakes.
The memory theme also fits naturally with the movie’s cultural foundation. Stories passed down through families survive because people remember them, share them, and carry them forward. In that sense, remembering becomes important not only for Jo and Raissa but also for the traditions surrounding them.
That layered approach gives Forgotten Island an opportunity to work on two levels. Younger viewers can enjoy the action and fantasy, while older audiences may connect more strongly with the themes of friendship, growing up, family, and holding onto meaningful memories.
What Audiences Can Expect From the Fantasy Adventure
Based on the confirmed premise and promotional material, audiences can expect Forgotten Island to combine several familiar DreamWorks ingredients with a distinct cultural setting.
The movie brings together:
- Fantasy adventure
- Comedy
- Magical creatures
- Filipino folklore
- A coming-of-age friendship
- Family and cultural memories
- A journey through an unfamiliar world
The result is not simply a story about two friends trying to escape from an island. Their journey forces them to confront what their friendship means at a moment when their lives are already changing.
The mythology also gives the filmmakers considerable room to create visual variety. Nakali can introduce creatures and environments that feel different from the conventional fantasy imagery audiences may expect from an animated adventure.
At the same time, the emotional foundation keeps the story accessible. Even if viewers know little about Filipino folklore before watching the movie, the central idea of trying to preserve an important friendship is easy to understand.
That balance between cultural specificity and universal emotion could become one of the movie’s defining strengths when it reaches theaters.
Forgotten Island Trailer
The Forgotten Island trailers give audiences a first look at the unusual fantasy world of Nakali and the friendship at the center of the story. The promotional footage introduces Jo and Raissa before their journey takes them through a portal into a world filled with strange creatures, colorful locations, and dangerous encounters.
The trailer also establishes the movie’s central emotional conflict. Jo and Raissa are not simply trying to escape Nakali. They discover that their shared memories could become the price of returning home, turning their adventure into a race to protect their friendship.
The footage also highlights Raww, the well-meaning weredog voiced by Dave Franco, along with the Dreaded Manananggal, voiced by Lea Salonga. These characters help show the range of creatures waiting for Jo and Raissa on the island.
The trailers suggest a balance between comedy, action, fantasy, and emotional storytelling. Rather than revealing the entire plot, they establish the main characters, the magical setting, and the stakes surrounding their memories.
What the Trailer Reveals
The promotional footage establishes several important details without giving away the movie’s complete story.
First, Jo and Raissa’s friendship remains the emotional center. Their final night together leads directly to the discovery of the portal, creating the transition from their familiar world into Nakali.
Second, the trailer shows that Nakali contains far more than a single type of supernatural creature. The island draws from Filipino mythology while giving the filmmakers freedom to create an imaginative animated environment.
The footage also introduces the danger posed by the Dreaded Manananggal. At the same time, not every creature appears hostile. The official synopsis describes some of Nakali’s inhabitants as potential friends and others as foes, suggesting that Jo and Raissa cannot simply divide the island’s creatures into good and bad sides.
Most importantly, the trailer communicates the movie’s emotional hook: the friends may have to sacrifice the memories of their relationship to get home. That idea gives the fantasy adventure a clear personal stake.
The available trailer listings also show multiple pieces of promotional footage, including trailers and a first-look featurette.
Who Made Forgotten Island?
Forgotten Island comes from DreamWorks Animation, with Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado serving as writers and directors. Mark Swift produces the film.
The creative team is particularly notable because Crawford, Mercado, and Swift previously worked together on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. DreamWorks describes Forgotten Island as a new original film from the same filmmaking team.
That background gives the movie an interesting creative connection to one of DreamWorks’ recent animated successes. However, Forgotten Island is not a continuation of that franchise. It introduces a completely new world, characters, mythology, and story.
The decision to build an original animated fantasy around Filipino folklore also gives the filmmakers room to establish their own mythology. Rather than adapting a familiar Western fantasy property, the movie can develop Nakali according to the needs of Jo and Raissa’s story.
Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado share writing and directing duties on Forgotten Island. DreamWorks identifies both filmmakers as the creative leads behind the project.
Their work on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an important part of the film’s production history, but Forgotten Island takes their animation storytelling in a different direction.
The new movie combines a character-focused friendship story with fantasy adventure and Filipino mythology. That combination requires the filmmakers to balance emotional scenes involving Jo and Raissa with a much larger world populated by supernatural characters.
Their approach also keeps the cultural elements connected to the main narrative. Nakali is not simply a backdrop for an adventure; its creatures and legends directly relate to the stories Jo and Raissa grew up hearing from their families.
Mark Swift and the Production Team
Mark Swift serves as producer on Forgotten Island. DreamWorks lists Swift alongside Crawford and Mercado as part of the filmmaking team behind the movie.
DreamWorks Animation produces the film, while Universal Pictures handles its theatrical distribution. The production also features an ensemble voice cast led by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, with Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga among the additional performers.
The combination of an original fantasy concept, a Filipino-inspired setting, and an internationally recognizable cast gives the project a distinct identity within DreamWorks’ 2026 lineup.
Forgotten Island Runtime, Rating and Genre
Forgotten Island has a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes, or 109 minutes. The movie carries a PG rating in the United States.
Its listed genres include Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, and Kids & Family. That combination reflects the movie’s broad approach: it offers a fantasy quest while keeping the story accessible to families and younger audiences.
The PG classification also indicates that the movie contains some material that may require parental consideration. Rotten Tomatoes lists thematic elements, rude humor, language, brief tobacco imagery, scary action, and some violence among the rating descriptors.
The movie’s format and genre mix make it suitable for audiences looking for a family-oriented animated adventure, while the folklore and memory themes give it additional material for older viewers.
The confirmed technical details are:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Forgotten Island |
| Release | September 25, 2026 |
| Runtime | 1 hour 49 minutes |
| Rating | PG |
| Studio | DreamWorks Animation |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Genres | Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Kids & Family |
| Directors | Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado |
| Producer | Mark Swift |
What Makes Forgotten Island Different?
At first glance, Forgotten Island may look like a traditional animated fantasy adventure. However, its combination of friendship, Filipino folklore, and memory gives it a more specific identity.
The movie does not make its fantasy world the only attraction. Jo and Raissa enter Nakali at a moment when their friendship already faces change. Graduation represents the end of their childhood routine, while the island turns the fear of growing apart into a much larger supernatural problem.
Readers interested in other fantasy stories can also explore Tangled Live Action, another upcoming movie built around a magical world and adventure.
The cultural foundation adds another layer. Nakali draws from stories connected to the characters’ Filipino families, while creatures such as the Manananggal bring Filipino mythology into a major animated production.
Readers following other upcoming animated adventures can also look at Frozen 3, another major animated release, although it comes from a very different franchise and storytelling tradition.
The result is a story that can operate on several levels. Younger audiences can follow the adventure and comedy, while older viewers may connect with the themes of friendship, growing up, family, and memory.
That balance could become one of Forgotten Island‘s biggest strengths. Instead of relying on an established franchise or familiar characters, the film has to build its appeal through an original world and a friendship that audiences can understand immediately.
Where to Watch Forgotten Island
Forgotten Island is scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026, with Universal Pictures handling its theatrical distribution. For now, the theatrical release is the confirmed way for American audiences to watch the movie.
No specific streaming platform or streaming release date has been confirmed in the information available for this article. Therefore, readers should not assume that Forgotten Island will arrive on a particular service immediately after its theatrical run.
The movie’s theatrical presentation should also suit its large fantasy setting. Nakali features magical and mythological creatures, while Jo and Raissa’s journey combines adventure, comedy, and emotional storytelling.
For U.S. viewers, the currently confirmed details are:
- Release date: September 25, 2026
- Release format: Theatrical
- Studio: DreamWorks Animation
- Distributor: Universal Pictures
Any future announcements about digital rental, purchase, physical media, or streaming should be treated separately from the confirmed theatrical schedule.
Forgotten Island FAQs
When is Forgotten Island coming out?
Forgotten Island is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026. DreamWorks Animation is producing the movie, while Universal Pictures is distributing it theatrically.
What is Forgotten Island about?
The movie follows lifelong friends Jo and Raissa, who discover a mysterious portal and end up on the fantastical island of Nakali. The island contains magical and mythological creatures connected to Filipino stories. Their adventure becomes more dangerous when they learn that their memories of each other could be at risk.
Who voices Jo in Forgotten Island?
H.E.R. voices Jo, one of the film’s two central characters. Jo has shared a lifelong friendship with Raissa, making their relationship an important part of the movie’s emotional storyline.
Who voices Raissa?
Liza Soberano voices Raissa, Jo’s best friend. The two characters enter Nakali together and must deal with the dangers of the island while trying to protect the memories that connect them.
Is Forgotten Island a DreamWorks movie?
Yes. Forgotten Island is an animated feature from DreamWorks Animation, with Universal Pictures serving as its theatrical distributor.
What is Nakali in Forgotten Island?
Nakali is the fantastical island where Jo and Raissa arrive after entering a mysterious portal. The world contains magical and mythological creatures inspired by stories connected to their Filipino families.
Is Forgotten Island based on Filipino mythology?
Forgotten Island incorporates Filipino folklore and mythology into its original fantasy setting. The story features creatures such as the Manananggal, while the overall plot remains an original DreamWorks adventure centered on Jo and Raissa.
Why Forgotten Island Could Stand Out in 2026
Forgotten Island has a combination that gives it a distinct identity among upcoming animated movies. The story starts with a familiar idea—a friendship facing change—but places that emotional conflict inside a fantasy world inspired by Filipino folklore.
Jo and Raissa begin their adventure during an important transition in their lives. Graduation signals the end of their childhood routine, while their journey to Nakali turns the fear of growing apart into a supernatural challenge.
The cultural influence adds another layer. Filipino mythology directly contributes to the creatures and world the characters encounter, rather than functioning only as background decoration.
The movie also benefits from an experienced DreamWorks creative team. Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado, and producer Mark Swift previously collaborated on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. This project, however, introduces a completely new world and set of characters.
The combination of fantasy, friendship, Filipino mythology, comedy, and memory could make Forgotten Island particularly appealing to families looking for an original animated story.
Final Thoughts
Forgotten Island brings together an original fantasy world, Filipino folklore, and a friendship story built around the fear of losing shared memories.
The confirmed Forgotten Island release date is September 25, 2026, when the movie is scheduled to reach U.S. theaters through Universal Pictures.
Its cultural foundation may prove to be one of its most distinctive qualities. Nakali allows DreamWorks to explore Filipino mythology within a major animated adventure, while Jo and Raissa provide the emotional connection that drives the story.
The voice cast also gives the movie plenty of attention, with H.E.R. and Liza Soberano leading the film and Lea Salonga voicing the Dreaded Manananggal.
With Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado directing, Forgotten Island has the opportunity to deliver a family-friendly adventure that feels different from a typical animated fantasy. Its biggest strength may ultimately come from the way it connects spectacle with something much more relatable: the importance of friendship and the memories people create together.
