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Forgotten Island

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(Redirected from Januel Mercado)

Forgotten Island
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
  • Joel Crawford
  • Januel Mercado
Produced byMark Swift
Starring
Edited byJames Ryan
Music byNathan Matthew David
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • April 15, 2026 (2026-04-15) (CinemaCon)
  • September 25, 2026 (2026-09-25) (United States)
Running time
109 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States[1]
LanguagesEnglish
Filipino
Budget$80 million[2]
Box office$26 million[3][4]

Forgotten Island is a 2026 American animated fantasy comedy film written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, the film features the voices of H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, Kevin McCann, and Lea Salonga. Set during the 1990s in the Philippines, the story follows two best friends, Jo and Raissa, who are trapped in the mystical world of Nakali, which they have grown up hearing stories of.

DreamWorks Animation officially announced the film in April 2025, with Crawford and Mercado attached to write and direct. They drew inspiration from their friendship and Philippine mythology. Initial members of the cast were announced in October 2025, with further casting later confirmed the following March.

Following early "work-in-progress" screenings at the 2026 CinemaCon and at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Forgotten Island was theatrically released in the United States on September 25, 2026, by Universal Pictures. The film received critical acclaim for its visuals, and cultural representation, with some calling it one of DreamWorks Animation's best films.[5][6][7][8] It has grossed $26 million against an $80 million budget.

Plot

[edit]

In the Philippines during the 1990s, Jo Yuson presents a story to her class about the forgotten island of Nakali and the dreaded Manananggal. When a classmate mocks her, Jo attacks him and is sent to the principal's office, where she meets Raissa Molina, a classmate who had defended her. Jo invites Raissa to a sleepover with her grandmother, Fatima, who tells them about her travels to Nakali. The girls become best friends, making matching charm bracelets that represent significant moments in their friendship. Fatima later dies of old age, leaving Jo heartbroken.

After graduating high school, Raissa reveals that she is attending Caltech in America, disappointing Jo. At Raissa's farewell party, Jo overhears Raissa's mother expressing her disapproval over their friendship. Jo and Raissa sneak out to the beach, where Jo discovers a magical sand dollar that serves as a portal to Nakali. Despite Raissa's hesitation, they enter together, awakening the next morning with no memory of the previous night. Raissa discovers half of her head shaved and that she has grown wings belonging to Manang, a Manananggal, who attacks them. They escape with help from Batiba, a Batibat, who offers to return them home in exchange for their bracelets and the memories attached to them. The girls refuse and flee with Raww, a were-aspin who claims to have hung out with them the previous night and becomes their guide.

At a market, the trio meet Bungi, a Tiyanak, who tells them that the "Jewel of the Sea" they seek was stolen by a Duwende king. Their search leads them to Mermahn, a Kataw who claims the sand dollar is in his kingdom. Feeling excluded, Raww lashes out until Jo reassures him and shares her fear of being abandoned by Raissa. Following Raww's suggestion, Jo takes them to a Kapre village, where they learn that they had previously saved the villagers from Manang, after which Raissa stole her wings. Manang attacks again, separating Bungi from the group. After escaping, the group learns that Mermahn lied about the sand dollar, while Raww reveals that he works for Batiba, who is actually a memory demon who lives through the memories of others, which she steals from people in exchange for sending them home. He also admits that he had lured Jo and Raissa to Batiba the previous night, after which they relinquished their memories of their time in Nakali.

Batiba recaptures them and restores their memories, revealing that Jo, afraid of losing Raissa, had hidden the sand dollar the previous night to prevent them from being able to return home. Furious, Raissa leaves to retrieve the sand dollar, ending their friendship. Manang attacks Raissa and reclaims her wings, but Raissa informs her that Batiba has stolen from her. Jo then reveals that she offered Batiba her memories of their friendship in exchange for saving Raissa. Raissa is sent back to the Philippines, while Jo stays behind. Back on the beach, a heartbroken and remorseful Raissa adds a leftover firecracker to her bracelet, sending her back to Nakali. Reconciling with Raww, she enters Jo's fading memories and admits how much their friendship shaped who she is, reconciling with her. Manang arrives, but Batiba, finally understanding the value of memories, willingly returns her stolen memories, causing Manang to become docile. Finally accepting Raissa's decision to attend college overseas, the girls head home while Batiba finally goes outside.

Years later, Jo, now a successful graphic novelist, visits Raissa at Caltech to promote a book she has published based on their adventures. Before returning home, the two use their bracelets to reopen the portal so they can visit Nakali once more.

Voice cast

[edit]
  • H.E.R. as Josephine Cleopatra "Jo" Yuson, Raissa's rowdy and rebellious best friend and a gifted comic-book artist
    • Kailey Crawford as young Jo
  • Liza Soberano as Raissa Molina, Jo's prodigious best friend who is initially set to leave her home in favor of attending Caltech in America
    • Kayla Teruel as young Raissa
  • Dave Franco as Raww, a well-meaning but hapless were-aspin
  • Manny Jacinto as Bungi, a large Tiyanak baby demon
  • Jenny Slate as Batiba, a tree-dwelling Batibat that specializes in memories
  • Lea Salonga as Manang, the Dreaded Manananggal who is the most feared creature in Nakali
  • Dolly de Leon as Lola Fatima Yuson, Jo's late folklore-knowing grandmother that traveled to Nakali in the past
  • Jo Koy as Datu, Chief of the Kapre
  • Ronny Chieng as Truffle Wuffle, King of the Duwende people
  • Kevin McCann as Mermahn, Prince of the Kataw and the Jewel of the Sea

Additional cast members include Amielynn Abellera as Jane Molina, Raissa's mother, the film's co-director Januel Mercado as Manny Molina, Raissa's father and Mermahn's dried up self, Eugene Cordero as Mr. Lopez, Jo and Raissa's schoolteacher, Tania Gunadi as Zippy, a potion fairy, Eric Bauza as Button Wutton, General of the Duwende under Truffle Wuffle, and Nico Santos as Mermahn's Starfish Pasties. Harvey Guillén, Wagner Moura, and Sophia Laforteza of Katseye all have voice cameos in the film.[9] Guillén and Moura previously appeared in Joel Crawford's previous film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]
Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and stars H.E.R. and Liza Soberano.

In April 2025, DreamWorks Animation announced that an original animated adventure comedy film inspired by Philippine mythology, titled Forgotten Island, was in development, with Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado signed to direct.[10][11] Crawford and Mercado, who had worked together at the studio since Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), drew inspiration from their friendship.[12]

Casting

[edit]

In October 2025, H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, Jenny Slate, and Lea Salonga were announced as part of the cast.[13] In March 2026, Jo Koy, Dolly de Leon, Ronny Chieng, and Amielynn Abellera joined the cast.[14]

Animation and design

[edit]

The film's animation style is similar to that of DreamWorks' previous film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022), also directed by Crawford.[15] Mercado and Crawford stated that the visual style was inspired by Filipino art and 1990s graphic design. The animation style varies throughout the film, periodically shifting from its primary contemporary computer-generated animation to anime-influenced 2D animation. These stylized 2D sequences are used during flashbacks, referencing the style of anime series such as Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter, and Sailor Moon, depending on which character recalls a memory. These sequences were animated by Manila-based studio Snipple Animation, reflecting the history of Philippine studios working on outsourced anime series. At the film's Annecy presentation, the filmmakers highlighted the contributions of these Filipino animators, noting that the local culture served as the project's foundation rather than a mere influence.[16][17] Sony Pictures Imageworks also assisted on the animation in some shots throughout the film.[18]

Music

[edit]
Forgotten Island (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Nathan Matthew David and various artists
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2026 (2026-09-18)
Genres
Languages
  • English
  • Filipino
LabelBack Lot

In October 2025, it was announced that Nathan Matthew David would compose the score for the film.[19] Composing the score for Forgotten Island, David travelled throughout the Philippines to research on different indigenous music, including by spending time in Cordillera and Kalinga, and with the T'boli people in Lake Sebu. He also recorded the Bamboo Organ, a 19th-century church pipe organ made with bamboo, in Las Piñas, Metro Manila.[20] Musician Farid Guinomla travelled from Mindanao to play and record the gong and kulintang instruments in Los Angeles.[20] The recording was done in Abbey Road Studios in London with the score's vocals contributed by Salonga.[21]

The soundtrack album was released digitally by Universal's Back Lot Music label on September 18, 2026, ahead of the film's release date.[22][23] It features performances by local Filipino acts Bini, Lea Salonga, SB19, Francis Magalona, Katseye's Sophia Laforteza, Ruby Ibarra and Carl Angelo, in addition to leads H.E.R. and Liza Soberano.[24][25]

All tracks are written by Nathan Matthew David, except where noted.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Artist(s)Length
1."B.R.B."
H.E.R. and Liza Soberano3:33
2."Pasakalye" (Street)  0:56
3."Tayo Na" (Let's Go)  1:18
4."A Parallel World"
Bini3:38
5."Lola" (Grandma)  0:55
6."Tadhana" (Destiny)  1:48
7."Never Tear Us Apart"
Sophia of Katseye3:16
8."Nakalimutan" (Forgotten)  0:54
9."Susmaryosep! Hay Naku! Maanghang!" (My Goodness! It's Spicy!)  0:43
10."Salbahe Ako[fn 1]" (I'm Bad)
Carl Angelo and Ruby Ibarra3:05
11."Ninakaw sa Akin" (What Was Stolen from Me) (feat. Lea Salonga)  1:32
12."Batiba"  0:58
13."Sarimanok"  1:03
14."Mga Kababayan" (My Countrymen)
SB193:33
15."Bungi" (Toothless)  1:08
16."King Truffle Wuffle"  1:46
17."Prince Mermahn" (feat. Nico Santos)  1:49
18."Jerk in the Box"
H.E.R. and Liza Soberano0:22
19."Double Up"
Guapdad feat. P-Lo1:59
20."Kapre"  1:40
21."If We Remember"  1:25
22."Magnanakaw" (Thief) (feat. Lea Salonga)  4:17
23."Hulihin" (Catch)  4:40
24."It Was You"  2:35
25."Balik" (Return) (feat. Lea Salonga)  2:16
26."All of Them"  2:07
27."One Last Deal"  2:44
28."Forgotten Friendship"  2:32
29."I'm So Sorry, Apo"  2:13
30."Without You"  0:59
31."Memories Are Magic"  0:58
32."Bahagi Mo" (A Part of You) (feat. Lea Salonga)  1:22
33."Paalam, Nakali" (Farewell, Nakali)  1:52
34."Jo and Raissa Suite"  6:14
35."Ang Manananggal Suite" (feat. Lea Salonga)  6:51
36."Batiba Suite"  4:30
37."A Parallel World"
  • Wasabi
  • David
Bini feat. Lea Salonga4:13
  1. ↑ Samples The Shadows' "Apache"

Marketing

[edit]

The first trailer was released on March 25, 2026.[15] On July 24, members of the cast took part in the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con to promote the film. They were joined by Bini, who performed one of the film's songs, titled "A Parallel World".[26]

Release

[edit]

Forgotten Island was released in the United States on September 25, 2026.[27] A work-in-progress cut was screened at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 15, 2026,[28] and at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France on June 24, receiving a five-minute standing ovation at the latter festival.[29]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

As of October 1, 2026, Forgotten Island has grossed $16 million in the United States and Canada, and $10 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $26 million.[3][4]

In the United States and Canada, Forgotten Island was released alongside Primetime, Heart of the Beast, and Avengers Endgame: Encore, and was projected to gross $15–17 million in its opening weekend.[2] The film made $4.3 million on its opening day,[30] and went on to debut to $12.8 million, finishing in fifth place.[31]

Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 105 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "A candy-colored ode to friendship and Filipino folklore, Forgotten Island bursts at the seams with imagination while never losing sight of the compelling relationship at its core."[32] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[33] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while 83% of those surveyed by PostTrak said they would definitely recommend it.[31]

Matt Goldberg of TheWrap gave the film a three-and-a-half out of five rating and wrote, "With influences ranging from The Hangover to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the DreamWorks animated feature is admirably ambitious."[34] Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film three-and-a-half out of four rating and says: "The movie is so imaginative, energetic, and sincere that it should be fun for just about everyone."[35]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Forgotten Island [12]" (in Korean). Korea Media Rating Board. August 24, 2026. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Rubin, Rebecca (September 23, 2026). "'Avengers: Endgame Encore' Could Top Box Office, Brad Pitt's 'Heart of the Beast' and Robert Pattinson's 'Primetime' Vie for No. 3". Variety. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Forgotten Island (2026) - Box Office and Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on September 18, 2026. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Forgotten Island". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ Patton, Joshua M. (September 27, 2026). "DreamWorks' New Fantasy Brings Filipino Folklore to Life — With One Frustrating Flaw". CBR. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ Mendelson, Scott (September 19, 2026). "Review: 'Forgotten Island' Is One of DreamWorks' Best Movies". The Outside Scoop. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ "'Forgotten Island' Review - One of DreamWorks' Finest to Date". September 20, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Forgotten Island". IGN Southeast Asia. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ Villanueva, Angelica (September 22, 2026). "'Forgotten Island' earns 100% Rotten Tomatoes score ahead of US release". Manila Standard. Archived from the original on September 23, 2026. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (April 15, 2025). "DreamWorks Animation Reveals New Film 'Forgotten Island', Sets Fall 2026 Release". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ Manalo, Mike (April 17, 2025). "Dreamworks Unveils Filipino Animated Film 'Forgotten Island' for September 2026". The Nerds of Color. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  12. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (March 26, 2026). "H.E.R., Liza Soberano Get Emotional as Trailer for Animated 'Forgotten Island' Celebrates Filipino Culture". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 26, 2026. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  13. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 29, 2025). "Six Heading To DreamWorks Animation's 'Forgotten Island'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 26, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  14. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (March 20, 2026). "Dreamworks Animation's 'Forgotten Island' Adds Jo Koy, Dolly de Leon, Ronny Chieng and Amielynn Abellera (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Tangcay, Jazz (March 25, 2026). "'Forgotten Island' Trailer: H.E.R. and Liza Soberano Star in DreamWorks' Filipino Folklore-Inspired Animated Movie". Variety. Archived from the original on June 28, 2026. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  16. ↑ Lang, Jamie (June 23, 2026). "DreamWorks Takes Us To 'Forgotten Island' In Annecy Preview". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  17. ↑ Goldbart, Max (June 23, 2026). "'Forgotten Island' Team Talk Filipino Culture & Casting Lea Salonga". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 26, 2026. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ Idelson, Karen (September 4, 2026). "'Forgotten Island' Directors Joel Crawford & Januel Mercado Take Us on Their Enchanted Journey". Animation Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Nathan Matthew David to Score DreamWorks Animation's 'Forgotten Island'". Film Music Reporter. October 29, 2025. Archived from the original on November 11, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Chavez, Yong (September 18, 2026). "Here in Hollywood: How Nathan Matthew David brought Filipino music to 'Forgotten Island'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2026. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  21. ↑ Custodio, Bianca (August 21, 2026). "Nathan Matthew David Scores DreamWorks' 'Forgotten Island'". Vogue Philippines. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Forgotten Island Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. September 15, 2026. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  23. ↑ Evangelista, Jessica Ann (August 18, 2026). "Lea Salonga, BINI, SB19, Sophia Laforteza lead Forgotten Island full track listing". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
  24. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (June 19, 2026). "H.E.R., Bini, Lea Salonga, Katseye's Sophia Laforteza Lead Dreamworks Animation's Forgotten Island Soundtrack (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 19, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  25. ↑ De Guzman, Alyana (June 20, 2026). "BINI, Lea Salonga, Sophia Laforteza, H.E.R. lead soundtrack for DreamWorks Animation's 'Forgotten Island'". Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  26. ↑ Verallo, Joseph (July 24, 2026). "BINI Joins Comic-Con for DreamWorks' 'Forgotten Island'". Archived from the original on July 25, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  27. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 15, 2025). "DreamWorks Animation Dates 'Forgotten Island' For Fall 2026". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  28. ↑ Taylor, Drew (April 15, 2026). "'Forgotten Island' First Look: Bold and Dazzling, This Movie Is Everything DreamWorks Animation Can Be". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  29. ↑ Licsi, Ayae (June 25, 2026). "'Forgotten Island' earns five-minute standing ovation at Annecy International Animation Film Festival". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  30. ↑ "'Avengers: Endgame' Snapping Up $26M at Box Office Amid Crowded Weekend". Archived from the original on September 26, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  31. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 26, 2026). "'Avengers Endgame: Encore' Assembles $24M-$26M At No. 1 In Second-Best Late September Weekend Ever For Marketplace – Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 25, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Forgotten Island". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Forgotten Island". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on August 7, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  34. ↑ Goldberg, Matt (September 23, 2026). "'Forgotten Island' Review: A Joyful Noise That Occasionally Bleeds Into Cacophony". TheWrap. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Forgotten Island review: The "Puss in Boots" team delivers another animated winner". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
[edit]
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