Forgotten Island: DreamWorks' Filipino Mythology Film (2026)

DreamWorks' Forgotten Island: Everything You Need to Know About the Filipino-Inspired Animated Film

The animated film world just got a major injection of excitement. On March 25, 2026, DreamWorks Animation dropped the first official trailer for Forgotten Island, and the internet has been buzzing ever since. The trailer — which debuted following a launch event at the DreamWorks campus on March 23 — reveals a vibrant, emotionally rich adventure rooted in Filipino mythology, set against a nostalgic 1990s backdrop. With a powerhouse voice cast, two visionary directors, and a story that explores friendship, sacrifice, and cultural identity, Forgotten Island is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated animated films of 2026.

Here's a deep dive into everything fans need to know about this groundbreaking new film.

What Is Forgotten Island About?

At its heart, Forgotten Island is a story about best friends facing the unimaginable. The film follows Jo (voiced by Grammy-winning artist H.E.R.) and Raissa (voiced by Filipino actress and model Liza Soberano), two best friends who fall through a mysterious portal into Nakali — a magical island deeply rooted in Filipino mythology.

The stakes couldn't be higher: the only way back home requires the two friends to sacrifice their memories of each other. It's a gut-punch premise that blends fantasy adventure with genuine emotional weight, asking audiences to consider what they'd give up to return to the life they know — and whether a friendship can survive when one of you forgets it ever existed.

The film is set in the 1990s, a choice the directors describe as deliberate and meaningful. Nostalgia, they argue, is a universal language — and anchoring a story about Filipino mythology in a decade that many audiences remember fondly gives it an immediately relatable emotional texture. As Mashable noted in their trailer coverage, the film promises a "spectacular Filipino-inspired '90s adventure" that feels both fresh and warmly familiar.

The Voice Cast: A Star-Studded and Culturally Significant Lineup

One of the most talked-about elements of Forgotten Island is its cast, which blends major Hollywood names with artists who have deep personal and cultural ties to the Filipino community.

• H.E.R. as Jo — The R&B superstar, who has Filipino heritage through her mother, voices the film's lead. She has described the project as deeply personal, saying the role allowed her to share "a piece of my childhood with the world."
• Liza Soberano as Raissa — One of the Philippines' biggest stars, Soberano has spoken emotionally about her connection to the film, revealing she cried the first time she saw the image of the sun portal — a symbol of great importance in Filipino culture.
• Lea Salonga as the villain Manananggal — The legendary Broadway icon and Filipino singing star voices one of the most fearsome creatures in Filipino folklore, a shape-shifting monster said to separate its upper body from its lower half at night.
• Dave Franco as Raww — Franco voices a weredog character, adding a layer of comedic energy to the magical world of Nakali.
• Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng round out an ensemble that is both star-powered and culturally resonant.

The decision to cast Filipino and Filipino-American talent in key roles is being widely celebrated as a meaningful step toward authentic representation in mainstream animation. As The Hollywood Reporter reported, both H.E.R. and Soberano got emotional discussing the film's significance at the trailer launch event.

Filipino Mythology Takes Center Stage

Forgotten Island draws heavily from the rich tradition of Filipino folklore and mythology — a storytelling tradition that remains largely unexplored in mainstream Western animation. The magical island of Nakali appears to function as a kind of spirit world, populated by creatures and forces drawn from pre-colonial Filipino belief systems.

The most striking example is the Manananggal, voiced by Lea Salonga. In traditional Filipino folklore, the Manananggal is a terrifying supernatural being — typically depicted as a woman capable of severing her torso and sprouting wings to fly through the night. Its inclusion as the film's central villain signals that Forgotten Island isn't sanitizing or softening its source material.

Liza Soberano's reaction to the sun portal imagery is another indicator of how seriously the filmmakers took their cultural research. The sun motif holds significant meaning in Filipino history and identity — it appears prominently on the Philippine flag — and its use as a visual centerpiece in the film has resonated deeply with Filipino audiences worldwide.

The trailer's use of Simple Minds' iconic song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from The Breakfast Club was a masterstroke of marketing, perfectly echoing the film's central emotional conflict: the fear of being forgotten by someone you love.

The Directors Behind the Vision

Forgotten Island is directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, who also co-wrote and produced the film. The pair first worked together on Kung Fu Panda 2, and their collaboration here represents a significant creative leap — Mercado's Filipino heritage lends an authenticity to the project that is evident in every design choice and story beat.

Crawford, who previously directed The Bad Guys, brings proven experience crafting animated films with big personality and genuine heart. Together, the two directors have spoken about nostalgia as a universal emotional touchstone — the idea that no matter where you're from, the feeling of longing for a simpler, more innocent time is something everyone understands.

For more on their creative process, MSN published an in-depth interview with Crawford and Mercado about building this "wild new DreamWorks original."

Release Date, Distribution, and What to Expect

Forgotten Island is set for a US theatrical release on September 25, 2026, distributed by Universal Pictures. DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn has described the film as "beautiful, funny, and heartwarming" — a combination that suggests the studio is positioning it as a broad family film with genuine emotional and cultural depth.

Given the enthusiastic reception to the first trailer, early indicators suggest Forgotten Island could follow in the footsteps of other culturally specific animated films — like Coco and Encanto — that crossed over from niche celebration to mainstream phenomenon. Filipino communities globally are already rallying around the film, and the broader animation audience appears intrigued by the mythology-rich world the trailer teases.

For a full look at the trailer and initial fan reaction, Yahoo Entertainment's coverage and MSN's trailer breakdown provide solid overviews of what audiences can expect.

Why Forgotten Island Matters Beyond the Box Office

Representation in animation has been a growing conversation for years, and Forgotten Island arrives at a moment when audiences are actively seeking stories that reflect the full breadth of human culture. Filipino mythology, folklore, and visual culture have rarely — if ever — been given this scale of mainstream platform. For millions of Filipino and Filipino-diaspora viewers, seeing their cultural heritage rendered in a DreamWorks production is genuinely historic.

H.E.R.'s framing of the film as sharing "a piece of my childhood with the world" captures something essential: these stories have always existed, have always been worthy of the big screen, and now they're finally getting there. Combined with the film's emotionally resonant premise and the creative vision of directors with personal ties to the culture, Forgotten Island has the potential to be more than a hit — it could be a cultural moment.

"Beautiful, funny, and heartwarming." — Margie Cohn, DreamWorks Animation President

Frequently Asked Questions About Forgotten Island

When does Forgotten Island come out?

Forgotten Island is scheduled for a US theatrical release on September 25, 2026, distributed by Universal Pictures.

Who voices the main characters in Forgotten Island?

The two leads are voiced by H.E.R. (as Jo) and Liza Soberano (as Raissa). The supporting cast includes Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng.

What is a Manananggal?

The Manananggal is a creature from Filipino folklore — a supernatural being capable of detaching its upper body and flying at night. It serves as the film's villain, voiced by Broadway legend Lea Salonga.

Is Forgotten Island based on a book or existing story?

No. Forgotten Island is an original story co-written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, though it draws heavily from authentic Filipino mythology and folklore.

What song is in the Forgotten Island trailer?

The trailer features "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, the beloved 1985 song made famous by the film The Breakfast Club — a fitting choice given the film's 1990s setting and its central theme of memory and friendship.

Conclusion

Forgotten Island is already one of the most exciting animated films on the 2026 calendar. With its bold premise, culturally rich mythology, emotionally resonant story, and a cast that bridges Hollywood star power with authentic Filipino representation, the film signals a new chapter for mainstream animation — one that looks outward to the vast, underexplored wealth of global storytelling traditions.

Whether you're drawn in by the Filipino folklore, the star-studded voice cast, the nostalgic 1990s setting, or simply the irresistible hook of two friends who must forget each other to get home, there's something here for everyone. Mark your calendars for September 25, 2026 — Forgotten Island is coming, and it looks unforgettable.