DreamWorks' Forgotten Island Brings Filipino Myths to Life
DreamWorks sends two best friends into a world of Filipino myth in Forgotten Island, due in cinemas in September 2026. Variety, in its review published on 24 September, described the film as a delightful animated adventure that utilises Filipino mythology to tell a story about friendship. Variety Two friends. One lost island.
The film was co-directed by Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado, who previously co-directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish together. The official site for the film also lists Crawford and Mercado as its writers and directors, with Mark Swift listed as producer. Variety
Forgotten Island follows best friends Josephine “Jo” Yuson and Raissa Molina. H.E.R. voices Jo, while Liza Soberano voices Raissa. Dolly de Leon voices Lola, Jo’s grandmother, keeping family close to the centre of the adventure.
Once the girls leave home, they meet a crowd of strange islanders. Dave Franco voices Raww, a were-aspin dog-human hybrid from Filipino folklore. Jenny Slate voices Batiba, a catlike creature. The cast is wide. The world is crowded.
Ronny Chieng voices Truffle Wuffle, king of the Duwende people. Lea Salonga voices Manang, a vampire-like monster. Both roles come straight from the film’s book of local legends and creatures, where humans, spirits and monsters share the same ground.
The film is rated PG, meaning parental guidance is suggested for younger viewers. It is a DreamWorks title, and NBC Insider listed it for release in September 2026. NBC Insider
What makes this stand out is the choice of source material. Big-screen animation does not often build its story around Filipino myths. Here those myths shape the island, its rulers and its monsters, and the friendship that has to survive them.
