by Forgotten Island is DreamWorks Animation’s 2026 animated fantasy-comedy inspired by Filipino folklore and mythology. Set against the backdrop of 1990s Philippines, the film follows two best friends who find themselves trapped in a mysterious supernatural world filled with legendary creatures.
The movie combines adventure, comedy, friendship and cultural mythology while bringing Filipino folklore to a mainstream animated audience.
Forgotten Island Movie Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie | Forgotten Island |
| Genre | Animated Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure |
| Studio | DreamWorks Animation |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Language | English, Filipino |
| Release Date | September 25, 2026 |
| Runtime | 109 minutes |
| Budget | Approximately $80 million |
| Setting | Philippines, 1990s |
| Director | Joel Crawford |
| Co-Director | Januel Mercado |
The film was theatrically released in the United States on September 25, 2026. It reportedly carries an $80 million production budget.
Forgotten Island Cast
| Actor / Voice Artist | Character |
|---|---|
| H.E.R. | Josephine “Jo” Yuson |
| Liza Soberano | Raissa Molina |
| Dave Franco | Raww |
| Jenny Slate | Batiba |
| Manny Jacinto | Bungi |
| Lea Salonga | Manang |
| Dolly de León | Lola Fatima |
| Jo Koy | Datu |
| Ronny Chieng | Truffle Wuffle |
| Kevin McCann | Mermahn |
The voice cast gives the movie a particularly strong Filipino and Filipino-American representation, with performers including H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, Dolly de León and Jo Koy.
Forgotten Island Storyline
The story takes place in the Philippines during the 1990s and centers on two best friends, Jo and Raissa.
The girls are drawn into Nakali, a mysterious mythical world they have grown up hearing stories about. What initially seems like an extraordinary adventure soon becomes a dangerous journey as they encounter creatures inspired by Philippine folklore.
The film incorporates supernatural figures including the manananggal, tiyanak, duwende and other mythical beings.
At its heart, however, Forgotten Island is a story about friendship, courage, identity and cultural heritage.
Rather than making the mythology simply a backdrop, the filmmakers use Filipino folklore as a major component of the film’s world-building.
Forgotten Island Budget
The reported production budget is approximately $80 million.
For an animated feature, this places Forgotten Island within the range of a major studio production and reflects DreamWorks Animation’s investment in its visual world and large-scale animation.
Forgotten Island Release Date
Forgotten Island was released theatrically in the United States on September 25, 2026.
The film had earlier screenings and festival exposure before its wider theatrical release.
Forgotten Island Reviews and Rating
The film received a strong critical response.
According to the research data:
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95% positive reviews
- Average Rotten Tomatoes rating: 8/10
- Metacritic: 73/100
- CinemaScore: A
- Audience recommendation: 83%
Critics particularly praised the film’s visual imagination, friendship story and Filipino cultural representation.
The overall response suggests that the movie succeeds not only as a children’s animated adventure but also as a culturally distinctive fantasy film.
What Critics Are Saying
One of the film’s strongest points is its willingness to build an animated world around Filipino mythology rather than relying exclusively on familiar Western fantasy creatures.
The colorful animation and imaginative creature designs have been among the elements attracting the most attention.
The movie has also been recognized for combining its cultural setting with an accessible friendship-driven narrative.
Interviews and Filmmaker Insights
Director Joel Crawford and co-director Januel Mercado discussed the importance of incorporating Filipino artistic influences and folklore into the animation.
The production reportedly experimented with different visual approaches, including a combination of traditional 2D-inspired imagery and CG animation.
H.E.R. and Liza Soberano have also spoken about the importance of representing Filipino culture through a major DreamWorks production.
Latest Forgotten Island News
The project was announced by DreamWorks in 2025 before its 2026 release.
Additional cast members were announced during 2026, expanding an already notable voice cast. The film’s trailer subsequently emphasized its Filipino cultural influences and supernatural adventure.
Its festival and pre-release screenings generated considerable attention because of the film’s distinctive cultural identity.
Why Forgotten Island Is Important
One of the biggest attractions of Forgotten Island is its representation.
Hollywood animation has frequently drawn from mythology around the world, but Filipino folklore has comparatively rarely been placed at the center of a major studio animated feature.
The movie therefore has significance beyond its adventure storyline.
It introduces international audiences to creatures and traditions that many viewers may not have previously encountered.
Is Forgotten Island Worth Watching?
Yes, particularly for audiences who enjoy:
- Animated fantasy
- Family adventure
- Mythology
- Supernatural stories
- Filipino culture
- Fantasy creatures
- Friendship-driven stories
Its combination of colorful animation and Philippine folklore gives it a distinctive identity within the 2026 animation landscape.
Forgotten Island FAQs
Yes. Forgotten Island is produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures.
The film was released theatrically in the United States on September 25, 2026.
It follows best friends Jo and Raissa after they become trapped in the mythical world of Nakali.
H.E.R. voices Josephine “Jo” Yuson.
Liza Soberano voices Raissa Molina.
Yes. The film draws heavily from Philippine folklore and mythology.
The reported production budget is approximately $80 million.
The available critical data shows a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 73/100 Metacritic score.
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