FORGOTTEN ISLAND (2026)

Genre: CG Animation
Director: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
Cast: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, Lea Salonga
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Frightening Scenes)
Released By: UIP
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 24 September 2026

Synopsis: Grammy and Academy Award ® winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to embark on separate life paths. While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- haplessweredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.

Movie Review:

It takes quite a lot for a kid-friendly movie to introduce a character who proudly thinks she is wearing a crown, only for us to realise that the “crown” was actually a nipple ring attached to a monster-like creature. And that is just one of the many out-of-this-world things happening in Forgotten Island, a wonderfully manic animated adventure that rarely gives its audience a moment to catch its breath.

The film follows a two close-knit friends who find themselves stranded on a mystical island, where the rules of reality seem to have been thrown out the window. As they navigate strange creatures, bizarre situations and one increasingly wild night, Forgotten Island becomes something of an animated version of The Hangover (2009) — except instead of waking up in Las Vegas trying to piece together what happened, the characters are dealing with Filipino folklore, magical creatures and a whole island of unpredictable surprises. And the protagonists are teenage girls!

One of the film’s most refreshing aspects is how prominently Filipino culture is woven into its world. It is rare to see a mainstream animated movie embrace Filipino culture to this extent, with Filipino words naturally incorporated into the characters’ dialogue and several of the voice cast — including Liza Soberano, Manny Jacinto, Lea Salonga and Jo Koy — bringing Filipino heritage to the production.

The creatures themselves are inspired by actual figures from Filipino folklore, while the soundtrack also features music from Filipino artistes, giving the film an identity that feels distinctly its own rather than simply using the culture as window dressing.

The result is a movie that feels as though someone took a handful of folklore, comedy, fantasy and friendship, threw everything into a blender and pressed the highest setting.

The animation complements that energy particularly well. Colours are used effectively to reflect just how increasingly wild the characters’ night becomes, with the visuals growing as unpredictable and colourful as their experiences.

There is a constant sense of movement and escalation, and the film rarely settles into a slow rhythm. If you are looking for something quiet and relaxing, this probably is not the movie to unwind with. But if you are willing to run along with its manic pace, there is plenty to enjoy.

Several moments are simply ridiculous in the best possible way. A merman with singing stars strategically covering his nipples is exactly the sort of visual gag that tells you what kind of movie you are watching, while the Bungi’s desperate attempt to free himself from his mother by literally cutting the umbilical cord takes absurdity to another level. These are the kinds of moments that caught this reviewer off guard and genuinely elicited laughs.

Yet beneath all the chaos is a surprisingly sincere reflection on memories, friendship and growing apart. As the characters face the prospect of being separated by distance, Forgotten Island finds something heartfelt amid its madness: memories can keep people connected even when they can no longer be together.

Wild, colourful and unapologetically strange, Forgotten Island may throw some viewers off guard. But for those willing to embrace its wonderfully chaotic energy, there is plenty of fun to be had on this mystical island.

Movie Rating:

(A wonderfully bonkers Filipino folklore adventure that finds genuine emotion beneath its parade of bizarre creatures and outrageous gags)

Review by John Li