DreamWorks Releases Filipino Mythology Feature 'Forgotten Island' From Crawford and Mercado

Creative origins and setting

DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures have released Forgotten Island, an animated feature directed by Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado. The filmmaking pair, who previously directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, drew upon Mercado's upbringing in the Philippines and Crawford's familial ties to the country. Set during the 1990s in the Philippines, the production combines regional lore with visual styles influenced by Japanese television animation and manga. The film incorporates kinetic action lines and stylized backgrounds reminiscent of the anime programming that was widely broadcast across the archipelago during that decade.

Plot and mythical lore

The narrative centers on Josephine "Jo" Yuson, an imaginative teenager coping with the absence of her father and the death of her grandmother Lola. Jo's bond with her classmate Raissa Molina began in their elementary school principal's office, sustained across adolescence by tales of Nakalimutan, a legendary island known colloquially as Nakali. When Raissa prepares to leave the country to attend the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Jo faces the prospect of remaining behind while working at a fast-food restaurant. On their final evening together along the shore, the discovery of a mystical sand dollar opens a portal that transports both teenagers directly into the mythical realm.

Amnesia quest and ensemble voice cast

Upon entering the island, the protagonists awaken twelve hours later on a beach with complete memory loss of the previous night, discovering that Raissa has grown demon wings and that both share matching tattoos with an island guide named Raww. Musician H.E.R. voices Jo, alongside Liza Soberano as Raissa and Dave Franco as Raww, a were-aspin hybrid combining dog and human traits from Filipino folklore. The ensemble also includes Dolly de Leon as Jo's grandmother Lola and Lea Salonga as the Dreaded Manananggal, a winged vampire entity. Jenny Slate voices Batiba, a catlike memory demon based on the mythical batibat, with Ronny Chieng as King Truffle Wuffle and Manny Jacinto as an oversized demon baby.

Critical assessment and narrative structure

Reviews across international publications have focused on the film's visual presentation and its exploration of friendship during the transition to adulthood. Commentators praised the inclusion of aswang folklore, the voice cast performances, and the stylistic references to 1990s pop culture. At the same time, reviews in The New York Times and The Guardian noted that the mystery structure, which revolves around retracing the missing twelve hours, leaves limited time to fully develop the large cast of supporting creatures. Both outlets also observed the sharp transition between grounded character moments and the fast pace of the island's quest sequences.