Forgotten Island (2026)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
Two best friends find themselves trapped in a mystical world of Philippine mythology after discovering a magical portal.
The story
Set in the Philippines during the 1990s, the story follows two best friends, Jo and Raissa, who have grown up hearing tales of the mystical world of Nakali. After a falling out and a subsequent reconciliation, the girls become inseparable. When Raissa prepares to move away to attend college in America, the pair discovers a magical sand dollar on a beach. This object serves as a portal to the mystical land of Nakali. Despite the risks, they enter the portal together, only to find themselves in a realm of myth and danger, where they must navigate a world of folklore to find their way back home.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1990s Philippines, Jo and Raissa become best friends after a school incident. Following the death of Jo's grandmother, the girls find a magical sand dollar that transports them to the mystical land of Nakali. They are met by various mythical creatures, including a were-aspin named Raww and a Tiyanak named Bungi. They learn that a 'Jewel of the Sea' was stolen by a Duwende king and navigate through a Kapre village. The plot thickens when they discover Raww works for Batiba, a memory-stealing Batibat. It is revealed that Jo previously hid the sand dollar to keep Raissa from leaving. After a series of confrontations with the Manananggal, Manang, the girls are separated. Raissa is eventually sent back to the Philippines while Jo remains in Nakali. After a period of separation, Raissa eventually finds her way back to Nakali to reconcile with Jo's memories. The film ends with the girls reuniting in the real world years later, where Jo has published a book about their adventures, and they use their bracelets to visit Nakali once more.
- First release year
- 2026
- Runtime (minutes)
- 109
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Filipino
- Directors
- Joel Crawford; Januel Mercado
- Writers
- Joel Crawford · writer; Januel Mercado · writer
- Cast and characters
- H.E.R. · Josephine Cleopatra "Jo" Yuson; Liza Soberano · Raissa Molina; Dave Franco · Raww; Manny Jacinto · Bungi; Jenny Slate · Batiba; Lea Salonga · Manang; Dolly de Leon · Lola Fatima Yuson; Jo Koy · Datu; Ronny Chieng · Truffle Wuffle; Kevin McCann · Mermahn
- Genres
- animated; fantasy; comedy
- Themes
- friendship; memory; cultural heritage
- Tone and mood
- imaginative; energetic; sincere
- Premise and plot tags
- mythology; portal fantasy; coming-of-age
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its visuals and cultural representation, with some calling it one of DreamWorks Animation's best films.
- Reported review scores
- CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The animation style is inspired by Filipino art and 1990s graphic design.; The film features a variety of animation styles, including anime-influenced 2D animation for flashbacks.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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