DreamWorks Animation is bringing Filipino folklore, mythology and family stories to the big screen with Forgotten Island, an animated adventure centred on friendship, memories and two best friends finding themselves in a rather unexpected place.
The film follows Jo, voiced by Filipino-American singer H.E.R., and Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano. The two friends become stranded in the mystical world of Nakali, an island filled with magical creatures inspired by stories from Filipino culture.
The film was reported to have scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes when early reviews began arriving on 22 September, just days before its US theatrical release. The score has since changed as more reviews were added, but the early response put the film on plenty of people’s radar.
Directed by Joel Crawford and Filipino-American filmmaker Januel Mercado, Forgotten Island is described by Reuters as the first major Hollywood feature-length animated film inspired by Filipino culture and mythology. The story also has a personal connection for its filmmakers, with Crawford drawing from his Filipino wife and Mercado taking inspiration from his sister Joann, after whom the character Jo is named.
From childhood folklore to a magical island
For H.E.R., the film brought back some very familiar childhood memories. One of the most recognisable creatures in Filipino folklore, the Manananggal, was a regular part of the stories her mother told her.
“When I was a kid, that was the one that my mom would always tell,” H.E.R. told Reuters.
Her mother apparently had a memorable way of making sure the story stuck. “She’d be like, ‘The Manananggal is gonna get you!’” H.E.R. recalled. During family trips to the Philippines, even bats could become part of the lesson.
“We went to the Philippines, and I saw the bats, and she’d be like, ‘Look, it’s the Manananggal!’” she said.
That creature now has a major role in the film, with Lea Salonga voicing Manang, the feared Manananggal. Salonga’s involvement adds another Filipino connection to a project that already features several actors and artists with Filipino heritage. She also recently became the first Filipina to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The story is not simply about escaping monsters, though. Jo and Raissa discover that finding their way home could come at a much bigger cost: their memories of each other. That gives the fantasy adventure a more personal centre, with their friendship becoming just as important as the strange creatures and magical world around them.
For Mercado, the women in his family played an important role in shaping the story. “Strong women have affected me and made me the person I am,” he said.
Soberano also sees the film as part of a wider moment for Filipino representation in Hollywood. “There has always been Filipinos in Hollywood, kind of paving the way for all of us,” she said.
“But it’s only now that there’s really been a spotlight shown on Filipinos and Filipino culture,” Soberano added, saying she was excited to see audiences embrace both the culture and Filipino talent.
With its mix of friendship, folklore and a few creatures that might look familiar to anyone who grew up hearing Filipino ghost stories, Forgotten Island offers a distinctly Filipino setting in a big animated adventure. The film is scheduled to open in US cinemas on 25 September.
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