In 'Forgotten Island,' Filipino Folklore Takes Center Stage

DreamWorks Animation is set to release Forgotten Island, an upcoming original feature film on friendship and Filipino folklore.

If you and your best friend had to part ways, what would you give to have one last adventure?

DreamWorks Animation, the studio that brought audiences films such as How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, and The Wild Robot, now brings us a story of friendship and Filipino folklore with Forgotten Island, the first major Hollywood animated feature of its kind. The film is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, and produced by Academy Award nominee Mark Swift.

Jo and Raissa from DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island. Courtesy of Dreamworks Animation

The story follows teenage girls Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to go their separate ways as they graduate high school. While celebrating their last night together, they stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to Nakali, a fantastical island filled with Filipino magical and mythological creatures.

“Forgotten Island was an idea that came from us, from our friendship,” Crawford said in a trailer featurette. “With Puss in Boots, it was cool to see the audience celebrate the kind of movie that was pushing what an animated movie can do. With Forgotten Island, we set out to make an original that is truly original in every sense of the word.”

H.ER., Liza Soberano, Joel Crawford, and Januel Mercardo at the Forgotten Island trailer launch.

H.E.R. and Soberano with Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. Courtesy of Dreamworks Animation

“We really thought about what is the impact and value of those loved ones in your life, and how do they contribute to the life you have and the person you become,” says Mercardo in the same video.

More than half the cast are Filipinos, led by Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist H.E.R. and actress Liza Soberano, who play Jo and Raissa, respectively. “Their friendship just makes it feel like we’re one big friend group because they’re riffing off of each other and that inspires us to do the same thing,” Soberano says, speaking of Crawford and Mercado’s directing dynamic. H.E.R. adds, “You can tell they put their whole hearts into this film. It’s a lot of fun.”

Joining them are also fellow Filipinos Manny Jacinto, BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon, comedian Jo Koy, and Tony winner Lea Salonga, and actors Dave Franco, Emmy nominee Jenny Slate, and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng.