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Get ready, because DreamWorks Forgotten Island is officially on the horizon! Universal Pictures is dropping this massive animated adventure into theaters on September 25, and it looks like an absolute blast. If you loved the gorgeous visuals, hilarious comedy, and deep emotional gut-punches of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, you are in for a massive treat. The same creative dream team is back, and this time, they are taking us on a rollercoaster ride through Filipino folklore, friendship, and a whole lot of magic.
The Big Announcement: DreamWorks Forgotten Island Trailer #2 Just Dropped!
Animation fans, rejoice! DreamWorks Animation just blessed us with the second Official Trailer for Forgotten Island.
The announcement, originally shared by animation insider Dan Sarto, has sent shockwaves through the film community. While the first teaser gave us a tiny glimpse of the movie’s vibrant world, this new trailer blows the doors wide open. We get a much closer look at the stunning 3D animation style, the hilarious dynamic between the main characters, and the high-stakes emotional conflict that drives the entire story.
If you haven’t seen it yet, the trailer sets up a movie that is equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving. It’s got that signature modern DreamWorks energy: fast-paced, visually breathtaking, and packed with jokes that both kids and adults will love.
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What is Forgotten Island About? (The Plot Explained)
At its heart, Forgotten Island is a story about growing up, moving on, and trying desperately to hold onto the people who matter most.
The movie follows two lifelong best friends, Jo and Raissa. They’ve been inseparable since grade school, sharing every secret, every laugh, and every major milestone. But now, they’ve just graduated from high school. The carefree days of childhood are officially over, and reality is sinking in. They are about to embark on completely separate life paths, heading off to different colleges and different futures.
To celebrate their last night together before everything changes, Jo and Raissa decide to go all out. But their normal hangout takes a sharp turn into the extraordinary. While out and about, the pair accidentally stumble upon a mysterious, glowing portal hidden right in plain sight.
Before they can even figure out what’s happening, whoosh! They are sucked into the portal and transported halfway across the universe to a fantastical, mythical island called Nakali.
Welcome to Nakali: A Land of Living Legends
Nakali isn’t just any magical island. It is a world packed to the brim with magical and mythological creatures; specifically, the exact entities and monsters Jo and Raissa grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families.
Imagine the bedtime stories your grandma used to tell you suddenly coming to life right in front of your face. For Jo and Raissa, the mythical folklore of the Philippines is no longer just a bunch of old tales; it’s their new reality. As they navigate this strange new world, they quickly realize that some of these legendary figures are incredibly friendly and willing to help. Others? Not so much.
The Heartbreaking Catch
Of course, every magical adventure needs a ticking clock and a massive conflict. Jo and Raissa desperately want to get back home to the real world, but the island of Nakali doesn’t let its visitors leave for free.
The duo discovers a horrifying catch: the price for a ticket back home is the memories of their entire friendship.
If they want to return to their normal lives, they have to sacrifice every single memory they have of each other. Every inside joke, every shared secret, every moment they spent growing up together, gone forever. Once they step through the portal back to reality, they will look at each other as strangers.
Unwilling to let go of their bond, Jo and Raissa face a race against time. They have to stick together, brave the dangers of the island, and find a secret loophole to escape Nakali before the island’s magic wipes their minds completely. Talk about the ultimate test of friendship!
Meet the Creative Team: The Geniuses Behind the Magic
If the plot itself hasn’t already hooked you, the talent behind the camera definitely will. Forgotten Island is being brought to life by the same creative powerhouse that gave us Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
- Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado: This directing duo completely revitalized the Shrek universe with The Last Wish, earning massive critical acclaim, a ton of box office success, and an Academy Award nomination. They are famous for blending incredibly stylized, comic-book-esque 3D CG animation with deep, mature emotional themes (remember how terrifying the Big Bad Wolf was?). With Forgotten Island, Crawford and Mercado are writing and directing once again, bringing that same magical touch to a brand-new, original story.
- Producer Mark Swift: Returning alongside the directors is producer Mark Swift. Swift has a long history of steering massive animated hits and ensuring that the animation quality, pacing, and heart of the film are top-tier.
- The Studio & Distributor: The movie is produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed worldwide by Universal Pictures. DreamWorks has been on an absolute roll lately, proving that they are willing to take big creative risks with unique art styles and diverse stories.
A Stellar Voice Cast: Who’s Who in Forgotten Island?
One of the most exciting aspects of Forgotten Island is its incredibly talented, diverse voice cast. DreamWorks has assembled an all-star lineup of musicians, award-winning actors, and comedy superstars to bring these characters to life.
Let’s break down the major players you’ll hear in theaters this September:
The Main Duo:
- H.E.R. as Jo: Yes, you read that right! The Grammy and Academy Award-winning musical superstar H.E.R. is stepping into the recording booth to voice Jo. Known for her incredible soulful voice and immense musical talent, H.E.R. brings a grounded, relatable, and deeply emotional energy to Jo, a young woman terrified of losing her best friend.
- Liza Soberano as Raissa: Starring alongside H.E.R. is Liza Soberano, the fan-favorite actress who recently turned heads in Hollywood with Lisa Frankenstein and has long been a superstar in Filipino cinema (Alone/Together). Soberano voices Raissa, the other half of this dynamic duo. The real-life chemistry and shared cultural backgrounds of the leads are bound to make Jo and Raissa’s friendship feel incredibly authentic.
The Sidekicks and Villains:
- Dave Franco as Raww the Weredog: Every great animated movie needs a hilarious, lovable sidekick, and Forgotten Island gives us Raww. Voiced by the always-funny Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist, Now You See Me), Raww is a “weredog” described as well-meaning but completely hapless. He joins Jo and Raissa on their quest, likely providing a ton of laugh-out-loud comic relief as he tries (and fails) to be a fierce mythical beast.
- Lea Salonga as The Dreaded Manananggal: This might be the most exciting casting news of all. Broadway royalty and Disney Legend Lea Salonga (the singing voice of Mulan and Princess Jasmine, and a Tony Award winner) is playing the movie’s primary antagonist! She voices The Dreaded Manananggal, the most feared creature on the entire island. In Filipino folklore, a Manananggal is a terrifying, vampire-like creature that can sever its upper torso from its lower body and fly through the night with giant bat-like wings. Seeing the legendary, sweet-voiced Lea Salonga play a scary, powerful mythological villain is going to be an absolute treat.
The rest of the voice cast reads like a Hollywood comedy dream team:
- Jenny Slate: The Emmy-nominated actress and creator of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On brings her uniquely quirky, expressive voice to the mix.
- Manny Jacinto: Best known for his breakout role as the lovable Jason Mendoza in The Good Place and his appearance in Top Gun: Maverick, Jacinto’s comedic timing is second to none.
- Dolly de Leon: The BAFTA-nominated powerhouse actress who stole the show in Triangle of Sadness and shone in Ghostlight lends her immense talent to the film.
- Jo Koy: Global stand-up comedy superstar Jo Koy (Haunted Mansion, Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn) joins the cast. Given his famous stand-up routines about his Filipino heritage and his mom, his inclusion in a movie rooted in Filipino folklore makes total sense and promises plenty of laughs.
- Ronny Chieng: The Emmy-winning comedian, Daily Show correspondent, and M3GAN actor rounds out the cast with his trademark sharp wit and sarcastic humor.
The Cultural Significance: Celebrating Filipino Folklore
One of the reasons Forgotten Island is generating so much buzz online is its groundbreaking representation of Filipino culture and folklore.
While Hollywood has explored Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythologies countless times, Southeast Asian folklore is rarely given the big-budget, mainstream animation treatment. DreamWorks is changing the game by putting these rich, vibrant, and sometimes spooky stories under the global spotlight.
By featuring creatures like the Manananggal and the concept of a weredog, the movie introduces audiences worldwide to a whole new world of mythology. For Filipino viewers, it’s a beautiful, mainstream celebration of the stories passed down through generations. For everyone else, it’s a fresh, exciting, and deeply imaginative world unlike anything we’ve seen in animation recently.
Furthermore, having a cast heavily featuring top-tier Filipino talent, including Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, and Jo Koy, ensures that the movie handles its cultural roots with the respect, love, and authenticity it deserves.
Why Forgotten Island is a Must-Watch in Theaters
If you are trying to decide which movies are worth a trip to the theater this fall, Forgotten Island should be right at the top of your list. Here is why this film is tailor-made for the big screen experience:
Breathtaking 3D CG Animation
If Puss in Boots: The Last Wish taught us anything, it’s that Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado know how to make a movie look gorgeous. Forgotten Island utilizes cutting-edge 3D animation that blends traditional cinematic realism with stylized, artistic flair. The island of Nakali is bound to be a visual feast, filled with glowing neon portals, lush magical jungles, and stunning character designs that deserve to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
A Story Everyone Can Relate To
While the movie is packed with monsters and magic, the core story is incredibly human. Everyone knows what it feels like to stand at a crossroads in life. The fear of growing apart from your childhood best friend as you head into adulthood is a universal experience. The emotional stakes- fighting to keep your memories of the person you love most—will likely have audiences of all ages reaching for the tissues.
All-Ages Humor
With a cast featuring stand-up comics like Jo Koy and Ronny Chieng, alongside comedic actors like Jenny Slate and Dave Franco, the humor in Forgotten Island is going to be top-tier. Expect sharp dialogue, hilarious physical comedy, and plenty of witty banter that will keep you entertained from opening credits to the final fade-out.
Fast Facts: Everything You Need to Know at a Glance
Want the quick bullet points to share with your friends? Here is the fast rundown on Forgotten Island:
- Release Date: September 25
- Where to Watch: Exclusively in movie theaters
- Animation Studio: DreamWorks Animation
- Distributor: Universal Pictures
- Directors/Writers: Joel Crawford & Januel Mercado
- Producer: Mark Swift
- Main Cast: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Lea Salonga, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng.
- Core Theme: The ultimate test of lifelong friendship wrapped in an epic adventure through Filipino mythology.
Final Thoughts: Get Ready for September 25!
DreamWorks has a proven track record of creating timeless animated classics, and Forgotten Island looks poised to join the ranks of How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and Shrek. By combining a deeply emotional story about friendship with an uncharted world of rich cultural mythology, the creative team is serving up something truly unique.
Mark your calendars, round up your own best friends, and get ready for a wild, magical, and unforgettable trip to the island of Nakali. Forgotten Island hits theaters everywhere on September 25. Don’t miss it!
What are you most excited to see in Forgotten Island? Are you hyped to see Lea Salonga play a mythical villain? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this guide with your movie-loving friends!
Source: awn
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