DreamWorks Animation’s latest release, Forgotten Island, arrives in theaters this Friday with a PG rating and a promise of high‑octane imagination. The film follows two teenage friends, Jo and Raissa, who stumble upon a magical sand dollar that transports them to Nakalimutan, a mythical island populated by creatures drawn from Filipino folklore.
Story and Characters
The narrative begins when the girls, both dealing with the looming separation of Raissa’s move to Caltech, discover the sand dollar after a school‑yard dispute lands them in the principal’s office. Their curiosity leads them to the island, where they awaken with altered appearances—Raissa with half her hair shaved and a pair of wings, Jo sporting a strange tattoo and a crown. As they navigate this strange world, they encounter a cast of unforgettable beings: an eight‑foot‑tall, three‑eyed demon baby, a flamboyant merman with singing nipples, and a legion of mushroom warriors.
Voice talent includes H.E.R. as Jo, Liza Soberano as Raissa, Jenny Slate as a memory‑stealing demon, Ronny Chieng as King Truffle Wuffle, and Lea Salonga as a vampiric creature with detachable torso. Dave Franco adds comic relief as an anxious were‑dog.
Visual Style and Humor
The film’s visual language is a kinetic mash‑up of anime, 1990s street art, video‑game aesthetics, and classic Hanna‑Barbera animation. This bold palette creates a “visual buffet” that, according to the reviewer, makes Spider‑Man: Into the Spider‑Verse appear modest. The humor leans heavily into absurdity, featuring fart jokes, pop‑culture references to Tom Cruise, Will Smith’s Oscar slap, and even archival footage of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator. Musical moments range from Filipino pop to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart,” underscoring the film’s eclectic tone.
Themes of Friendship and Memory
Beyond the spectacle, the story centers on the evolving bond between Jo and Raissa. Their friendship is measured by charms on their bracelets, each representing a shared adventure. The sand dollar’s magic forces them to confront forgotten memories and the reality of growing apart. The film asks whether a friendship can survive when life’s paths diverge, a question that resonates with both younger and older audiences.
While the plot can feel chaotic—described as “a mess in the best way”—the underlying message about remembering and reconnecting with loved ones shines through. The final act sees the girls battling to reclaim their shared history, culminating in a heartfelt reminder to reach out to one’s best friend.
Practical Details
Forgotten Island runs 95 minutes and is rated PG for animated sequences of scary action, language, rude humor, thematic elements, some violence, and brief tobacco imagery. The film is a DreamWorks Animation release and promises a family‑friendly experience that celebrates cultural heritage while delivering the wild, trippy ride that animation fans crave.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
