DreamWorks Animation’s latest family‑friendly adventure, Forgotten Island, arrives in theaters with a bold blend of Filipino folklore and eye‑popping animation. Written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado—the duo behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish—the film invites audiences to step through a humble sand dollar and into Nakalimutan, a mythical island where ancient creatures roam.
Folklore Meets Modern Visuals
The story draws heavily from the rich mythology of the Philippines, introducing viewers to an eight‑foot‑tall, 200‑year‑old three‑eyed demon baby, a flamboyant merman with singing nipples, and a legion of endearing mushroom warriors. Visually, the movie fuses anime‑style kinetic energy with 1990s street‑art flair, video‑game aesthetics, and classic Hanna‑Barbera influences, creating a vivid, kinetic canvas that feels both fresh and nostalgic.
Friendship at the Core
The narrative follows two middle‑school girls—Jo, a free‑spirited art‑enthusiast, and Raissa, a diligent, college‑bound student—who bond over a shared fascination with Nakalimutan. After a school‑yard incident lands them in the principal’s office, they discover the sand dollar and are whisked away to the island, where their memories are erased and they must piece together their past while navigating a world of fantastical beings.
Voiced by H.E.R. (Jo) and Liza Soberano (Raissa), the protagonists confront challenges that test the depth of their friendship. Their journey is punctuated by quirky humor—”You had me at disembowelment”—and heartfelt moments that explore the tension between personal ambition and loyalty.
Star‑Studded Voice Cast
The film boasts a lively voice cast, including Jenny Slate as a memory‑stealing demon, Ronny Chieng as the whimsically named King Truffle Wuffle, Joy Koy leading a tribe of tree giants, and Lea Salonga as a fearsome vampiric creature with detachable torso. Dave Franco adds comic relief as an anxious, bro‑style were‑dog, while Liza Soberano’s performance grounds the emotional core of the story.
Humor, Music, and Pop Culture
True to DreamWorks’ tradition, Forgotten Island layers its humor with pop‑culture nods—from Tom Cruise jokes to a cameo‑style montage of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator. The soundtrack weaves indigenous Filipino instruments with familiar hits like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart,” creating a lively auditory backdrop that complements the film’s visual exuberance.
Family Appeal and Rating
Rated PG for animated action, language, rude humor, thematic elements, some violence, and brief tobacco imagery, the movie runs 95 minutes and offers a blend of whimsical adventure and relatable teenage concerns. While the humor can be irreverent, the underlying message about remembering and honoring friendships resonates strongly with both younger viewers and their parents.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Forgotten Island is a spirited, if occasionally chaotic, celebration of cultural mythology and the bonds that tie us together. Its inventive world‑building, vibrant animation, and heartfelt themes make it a worthwhile family outing. Audiences leaving the theater will likely feel inspired to reconnect with their own best friends—perhaps even over a sand dollar souvenir.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
