‘Forgotten Island’ Animates Filipino Culture for the World
“Forgotten Island” cast (L-r) Ronnie Chieng, Liza Soberano, HER, Jenny Slate, Dolly De Leon, Manny Jacinto and Dave Franco (Photo courtesy of Dreamworks/Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)
Lechon, eight-rayed sun, jeepneys and other intimations of Filipino culture populate this passion project from the writing and directing team of Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford. DreamWorks Animation has gambled $80 million on the belief that a movie that is distinctly Filipino in story, location, cast, and cuisine can succeed on a global platform.
While speaking at the movie premiere on September 23, 2026, at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, Mark Swift, DreamWorks Animation Producer thanked Margie Cohn, his division’s President, and Kristin Lowe, Chief Creative Officer, for their faith in the unprecedented venture.
“It was a difficult premise to pitch, but they believed in me all the way. I’ve been at DreamWorks for over 30 years and worked on many movies. This is my favorite movie, I’ve ever worked on, by far.”
The premise of Forgotten Island revolves around inseparable friends, free-spirited Jo (voiced by H.E.R.) and studious Raissa (Liza Soberano) as they approach separate lives as seniors at a Philippine high school. Jo’s Lola has filled their bellies with lumpia and imaginations with the magical kingdom of Nakali, which can only be accessed by secret portal. When the sea opens for the best friends, they plunge into a realm of monsters derived from Philippine mythology. Fun and adventure ensue until the cherished memories of their lives together begin to vanish.
HER as Jo (Photo courtesy of Dreamworks/Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)
Liza Soberano as Raissa (Photo courtesy of Dreamworks/Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)
Theatergoers in my row would have laughed themselves hoarse had the guy sitting behind us restrained his boisterous glee for a polite stretch of the one hour and 48 minutes of screentime. Eccentricities of a typical Filipino household served in splashes of color sent our Pinoy everyman into nonstop paroxysms of laughter that wouldn’t permit a chuckle in edgewise. Anyone who felt deprived can see Forgotten Island again during a long theatrical run that I expect will last through Thanksgiving. Till then, vicarious joy is still joy.
The Perspectives of Two Stars
At the premiere, I spoke briefly with H.E.R., whose kindness and longstanding appreciation of her Filipina roots deserve something beyond her Oscar and five Grammy Awards. She was happy for the invitation to use Positively Filipino as a platform to detail the significance of Forgotten Island to fellow Fil-Ams.
“It was important for so many reasons. Number one, because Filipinos needed a film that represented their culture authentically, accurately and in a beautiful way; also because it’s a movie about two women displaying bravery, fighting for friendship, cherishing memories, and celebrating families and found families.” H.E.R. adds, “DreamWorks is my favorite animation studio for so many reasons. I’m proud of this movie.”
I gathered that disappearing memories was a deliberate metaphor for the loss of culture young Filipinos in the Diaspora suffer in the zeal to assimilate into their adopted homelands. Maybe it was foolhardy for me to bring this undercooked assertion to Manny Jacinto, who voiced Bungi—the 200-year-old tiyanak or demon baby of Philippines lore. Dressed dapperly in the colors of the Philippine flag, he politely though expeditiously dismissed my myopic insight as an overreach, then gave practical advice on ways to preserve Filipino heritage outside of the Philippines.
Manny Jacinto as Bungi (Photo courtesy of Dreamworks/Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)
“I retain my identity as a Filipino by trying to bring Filipino stories to a mainstream audience through Western media. I connect with Filipino creators, actors and directors who are trying to bring those stories together,” Jacinto explains.
“I also retain my Filipino identity by staying in touch with my parents and trying to bring them back to the Philippines and experiencing that culture with them because they sacrifice themselves for their family. It’s my duty to bring them back there and enjoy the area with them,” says the Canadian star of The Good Place on NBC (2016 to 2020) and streaming series Star Wars: The Acolyte on Disney+ (2024).
See Forgotten Island in general release starting on September 25, 2026.
Anthony Maddela is indebted to employees and partners of DreamWorks and NBCUniversal for inviting Positively Filipino to observe yearlong preparations for the release of Forgotten Island. Their catered buffets were exquisitely Filipino.
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