Forgotten Island

Forgotten Island is a DreamWorks Animation fantasy adventure that premiered in 2026, directed by Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford. The film centers on two childhood best friends, Jo and Raissa, who are on the cusp of graduating high school and facing the painful prospect of separation. Jo, voiced by H.E.R., is a thoughtful and introspective young woman who has been accepted to a prestigious university abroad, while Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano, is more impulsive and deeply attached to their shared life in the Philippines. The central conflict emerges from their divergent futures: Jo is excited about her new opportunities but haunted by the fear of losing Raissa, while Raissa feels abandoned and resentful, unable to imagine a life without her best friend by her side.

On what is meant to be one of their last nights together, the pair stumble upon a mysterious, glowing portal hidden in an old ancestral home. Drawn by curiosity and a desperate desire to hold onto their bond, they step through and find themselves transported to a breathtaking but eerie fantasy island. This realm is a lush, vibrant landscape populated by creatures drawn from Filipino mythology, including the Dreaded Manananggal (voiced by Lea Salonga), a fearsome but tragic winged creature; the Bungi Tiyanak (voiced by Manny Jacinto), a mischievous and shape-shifting forest spirit; and the Batibat (voiced by Jenny Slate), a sleep-demon who feeds on dreams. The island is ruled by a mysterious, melancholy force known as Lola Fatima (voiced by Dolly de Leon), an ancient guardian who warns them that this place is a prison for forgotten memories.

The film marks the first DreamWorks Animation feature to be entirely centered on Filipino mythology and culture, with the creative team consulting with cultural experts from the University of the Philippines to ensure authenticity. The island's design was heavily influenced by the real-life landscapes of Palawan, the Banaue Rice Terraces, and the mystical island of Siquijor. The score by Nathan Matthew David incorporates traditional Filipino instruments such as the kubing, kulintang, and bandurria. H.E.R. and Liza Soberano recorded their voice sessions together in the same booth, an unusual practice for animated films, to capture natural chemistry.[edit]

Jo and Raissa have been best friends since childhood, their bond forged on the playground when Raissa defended Jo from bullies. Now, on the eve of high school graduation, that bond faces its greatest test. Jo has earned a scholarship to a university overseas, a dream she has worked toward for years. Raissa, meanwhile, has no such plans; she cannot imagine leaving their small town, their shared routines, the life they built together. Tension simmers between them. Jo feels guilty for wanting to leave. Raissa feels abandoned, though she cannot bring herself to say it.

On their last night together, they wander into an abandoned ancestral home on the outskirts of town. There, hidden behind a dusty armoire, they find a door that glows with a soft, pulsing light. Curiosity wins over caution. They step through and emerge into a world that defies explanation. The Forgotten Island sprawls before them: a place of towering, bioluminescent trees, waterfalls that flow upward, and skies painted in shades of violet and gold. The air smells of jasmine and salt.

They are not alone. A half-bird, half-human creature named Raww (Dave Franco) finds them almost immediately. Raww has been trapped on the island for years, his own memories frayed to threads. He explains the island's rule: every moment spent here erases a memory from the visitor's past. At first, the losses are trivial. Jo forgets the lyrics to a song they used to sing. Raissa cannot recall the name of their favorite ice cream shop. But soon, the gaps grow larger. Jo forgets the day they built a treehouse together. Raissa forgets the color of Jo's childhood bedroom.

Desperate to escape before they forget each other entirely, the trio sets out to find the island's heart, a place called the Memory Root. Their journey takes them through a cave of living shadows that whisper forgotten secrets, across a lake of tears that reflect lost moments, and into the lair of the Dreaded Manananggal (Lea Salonga), a winged creature who feeds on the memories of happy childhoods. The Manananggal is terrifying, but she is also tragic: she was once a girl who chose to stay on the island to preserve a perfect memory of her mother, only to become a monster when that memory faded anyway.

Along the way, Jo and Raissa encounter other lost souls: hollow figures who wander the island aimlessly, their minds completely blank. These are the ones who stayed too long. The sight of them is a chilling reminder of what awaits if they fail. The Bungi Tiyanak (Manny Jacinto) appears as a playful child, but his shape-shifting tricks lead them into a bog of forgotten regrets. The Batibat (Jenny Slate) tries to trap them in an endless dream where they never have to say goodbye. Each encounter tests their resolve and their friendship.

As they near the Memory Root, the memories they have left are precious and few. Jo remembers Raissa's laugh but not what caused it. Raissa remembers Jo's bravery but not the specific act. They hold onto each other, literally and figuratively, as they face the final challenge: a confrontation with Lola Fatima (Dolly de Leon), the ancient guardian of the island. She reveals the truth about the island and the price of escape. The story builds toward a climactic choice that will determine not just whether they go home, but what kind of friendship they will have when they get there.[edit]