Forgotten Island arrives as a rare thing in modern studio animation: an original big-screen adventure that isn’t leaning on a familiar franchise. This Forgotten Island review looks at how DreamWorks blends Filipino-inspired fantasy, fast-moving comedy and a heartfelt story about memory, change and lifelong friendship.
Directed and written by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the film follows Jo and Raissa, two best friends from Manila whose bond is tested just as adulthood begins to pull them in different directions. What starts as a final night together before separation quickly transforms into a fantastical trip to Nakali, a mysterious realm they have dreamed about since childhood.
Forgotten Island review: what the film is about
The story centers on Jo, voiced by H.E.R., and Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano, who have grown up inseparable. Their shared history is symbolized by matching charm bracelets and years of stories told by their grandmother figure, Lola, played by Dolly DeLeon. But life is changing fast: Raissa has been accepted to Caltech in the United States, while Jo feels stuck in a dead-end fast food job.
On what may be their last night together for a long time, the two discover a magical portal on the beach that pulls them into Nakali, the so-called Forgotten Island. Once there, they are plunged into a surreal world shaped by memories, identity and imagination.
That premise gives the film its emotional core. Beneath the jokes, creatures and visual chaos, the movie asks a relatable question: what do we keep when life moves on and people we love move away?
A vivid animated world with Filipino myth and fantasy energy
One of the biggest strengths highlighted in any Forgotten Island review is the film’s visual ambition. Nakali is packed with strange creatures, shifting designs and bursts of color that make it feel like a mash-up of dream logic, folklore and coming-of-age fantasy.
The world introduces an eccentric supporting cast, including:
- Raww, a weredog voiced by Dave Franco, who flips between human and canine form
- Bungi, a giant cycloptic blue baby voiced by Manny Jacinto
- Batiba, an agoraphobic cave-dweller voiced by Jenny Slate, who hoards objects stolen from memories
- The Dreaded Manananggal, a formidable villain voiced by Lea Salonga, inspired by Filipino folklore
Mercado’s influence appears especially important here, with Filipino cultural texture giving the movie a more distinctive identity than many studio animated releases. Rather than building a generic fantasy setting, the film draws from regional storytelling traditions while keeping the adventure accessible to global family audiences.
Why the setting stands out
Even when the plot becomes overcrowded, the film’s sense of place remains compelling. The animation reportedly shifts styles and tones throughout, creating a world that feels unstable in a way that matches the story’s focus on fragile memory. That makes Nakali more than just a backdrop; it becomes a reflection of the characters’ emotional uncertainty.
The cast brings charm, but the film moves at a breakneck pace
As this Forgotten Island review makes clear, the movie’s voice cast is one of its major selling points. H.E.R. gives Jo warmth and vulnerability, while Liza Soberano grounds Raissa’s more serious and academically driven personality. Dave Franco brings comic energy to Raww, and Jenny Slate appears to deliver one of the film’s more memorable supporting performances.
Still, the film’s biggest challenge may be its relentless speed. The first half reportedly throws so many characters, ideas and visual details at the audience that it can feel overstimulating. That may work for younger viewers used to rapid-fire animated storytelling, but older viewers may find it exhausting before the emotional stakes fully settle in.
Once the movie slows down in the second half, it seems to find firmer footing. Jo and Raissa’s fears, hopes and diverging futures come into sharper focus, allowing the friendship story to land with more weight.
What works best
- An original concept in a sequel-heavy animation market
- Strong friendship-driven emotional stakes
- Distinctive folklore-inspired worldbuilding
- Energetic supporting voice performances
- A meaningful message about memory and growing up
What may divide audiences
- An overly busy first half
- Frenetic pacing that rarely pauses to breathe
- A story that may resonate more with younger viewers than adults
Memory, friendship and growing apart are the real story
At its heart, Forgotten Island is less about magical creatures than about the anxiety of transition. Jo and Raissa are standing at the edge of adulthood, and Nakali becomes the emotional landscape where those fears play out. The film’s recurring idea that memories can be lost, traded or preserved gives the adventure a more thoughtful subtext than its hyperactive surface initially suggests.
This is where the movie appears to connect most strongly. Anyone who has faced a major life split with a close friend will recognize the underlying sadness in Jo and Raissa’s journey. The fantasy framework may be aimed at family audiences, but the emotional question is universal: can friendship survive when two people are no longer heading toward the same future?
The soundtrack, which includes original music from H.E.R., also helps support that emotional register. Music gives the film another bridge between youthful energy and emotional reflection, even if the overall package remains more hectic than elegant.
Should you watch Forgotten Island?
In practical terms, this is a family animated film likely to connect most strongly with tweens, teens and younger viewers who enjoy visually loud, emotionally sincere adventures. Adults looking for a more measured animated classic may find it uneven, but there is still plenty to admire in its originality and cultural specificity.
For parents, the PG-rated film offers a mix of fantasy peril, comedy and life lessons about friendship, self-worth and remembering what matters. For animation fans, it is notable simply because it tries to build a new world instead of extending an old brand.
Release details:
- Title: Forgotten Island
- Studio: DreamWorks Animation / Universal
- Release date: September 25, 2026
- Running time: 1 hour 47 minutes
- Rating: PG
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Final verdict
This Forgotten Island review comes down on the side of cautious admiration. The film may be too frantic to become an all-ages animated classic, but its originality, heartfelt themes and Filipino-inspired fantasy world make it stand out in a crowded family movie landscape. If you value animation that takes creative swings, Forgotten Island is worth remembering for trying something new.
