Forgotten Island, DreamWorks Animation’s new original film celebrating Filipino culture and folklore, is set for theatrical release on September 25 through Universal Pictures, following its world premiere screenings and press previews earlier this month. Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the writing-directing duo behind 2022’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, the film features the voices of H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga.
The critical response has been notably strong, with the film holding a 90% score on Metacritic and drawing enthusiastic reviews from several critics. The response has particularly highlighted the film’s friendship-driven story, Filipino cultural representation, animation, humour and emotional core.
Set in the Philippines during the 1990s, Forgotten Island follows lifelong best friends Jo, voiced by H.E.R., and Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano. Their friendship is marked by matching charm bracelets that they have added to since childhood. Jo is a chaotic, mischievous troublemaker raised by her wild grandmother Lola, played by Dolly de Leon, who regales the girls with vivid Filipino folklore. Raissa, meanwhile, is more serious-minded and dreams of studying at Caltech and working for NASA.
On the night before Raissa is set to leave for college, the two girls are pulled through a magical portal onto the mythical island of Nakali, a place drawn directly from Lola’s stories. They must retrace their steps to find their way home before the island’s memory-eroding magic causes them to forget each other entirely.
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film’s density and imagination, noting that its complicated story is carried by wit, humour, energy and visual invention. The publication also highlighted the emotional relationship between Jo, Raissa and Lola. The review compared the film’s frenetic pace with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, suggesting that its density could feel overwhelming for some viewers while finding it invigorating overall.
IGN’s Eric Goldman gave the film 90/100, praising its emotional story about the memories created through friendship alongside a large-scale adventure populated by creatures from Filipino folklore.
But Why Tho’s Mike BC gave Forgotten Island 9/10 and described it as a cultural celebration built around the importance of creating memories through relationships. The review specifically praised the way the filmmakers integrate Filipino culture into the story rather than using it simply as background decoration. Among the folklore-inspired characters highlighted were Manang the Manananggal, voiced by Lea Salonga, Bungi, voiced by Manny Jacinto, Batiba, voiced by Jenny Slate, and Datu, voiced by Jo Koy.
The same review also singled out the film’s humour, noting that its jokes can appeal to both children and adults despite its PG rating. Its main reservation was that elements of the structure echo films such as Inside Out and Dude, Where’s My Car?, although the review considered the comparison less significant because of the film’s distinct approach to those themes.
Discussing Film’s review went further, calling Forgotten Island “one of DreamWorks’ finest animated pictures to date.” The review praised Crawford and Mercado for capturing the complexity of genuine friendship and highlighted H.E.R. and Soberano for performances that bring emotional honesty to their characters.
Mama’s Geeky was similarly enthusiastic, naming Forgotten Island an early contender for its Best Animated Feature pick and describing the film as an emotional celebration of friendship and Filipino culture. The reviewer said they had watched the film three times and continued to find it moving, particularly praising the way it combines cultural specificity with themes that have broader emotional relevance.
The film’s craftsmanship has also received attention. But Why Tho praised composer Nathan Matthew David’s score for giving individual pieces of Filipino folklore their own musical presence, while also highlighting Lea Salonga’s prominent contribution. The review also noted the visual treatment of the flashback sequences, which draws on the style of 1980s and early 1990s action cartoons such as Voltron.
The mostly Filipino voice cast was another point of praise, with the review noting that the performers feel integrated into the story rather than included simply for representation.
Taken together, the reviews describe Forgotten Island as a film that combines a specific Filipino cultural setting with a broader story about friendship, memory and growing apart. The critical response has been strongly positive, with several reviews also pointing toward its potential during awards season. The film arrives in theatres on September 25.
Watch Trailer:
Film Details : Forgotten Island
Directors/Writers: Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado
Producer: Mark Swift
Cast: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, Lea Salonga
Genre: Animated Fantasy Adventure Comedy
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Editor: James Ryan
Composer: Nathan Matthew David
Production Designer: Ryan Carlson
Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release Date: September 25, 2026
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