DreamWorks Animation’s latest feature film, Forgotten Island, blends Philippine mythology with the frantic energy of a 1990s teen road trip adventure. Directed and produced within the studio’s contemporary house style, the movie follows childhood best friends Jo Yuson and Raissa Molina as they navigate the complexities of growing apart, only to wake up on a mythical island with missing memories and supernatural entities in pursuit.
The Plot and Characters of Forgotten Island
Jo Yuson, voiced by H.E.R., and Raissa Molina, played by Liza Soberano, form the emotional core of the narrative. As teenagers in the 1990s, their bond is cataloged by a friendship bracelet strung with charms representing their shared escapades.
Conflict arises when high school ends. Raissa prepares to leave the Philippines to study at CalTech in the United States, while Jo faces an uncertain future working as a fast-food mascot following the death of her lola, Dolly de Leon. Seeking one final night together before the impending separation, the duo unlocks a path to Nakali, the forgotten island from Jo’s grandmother’s folklore.
Supernatural Encounters and Missing Memories
Upon waking on Nakali, the friends discover they have lost their memories of the previous night’s events and misplaced the sand dollar key required to return home. Raissa sports unexpected wings originating from Manang, the Dreaded Manananggal, voiced by Lea Salonga. Their journey to retrace their steps introduces them to a roster of mythical figures, including a were-aspin named Raww, voiced by Dave Franco, and Batiba, an agoraphobic memory demon voiced by Jenny Slate who demands the memories of their friendship in exchange for passage off the island.
The film balances this emotional core with visual gags, such as a supporting Kataw named Mermahn, voiced by Kevin McCann.
Production and Musical Direction
The visual design of Forgotten Island integrates anime action aesthetics with the established DreamWorks animation pipeline. For the audio landscape, composer Nathan Matthew David traveled to the Philippines to research indigenous musical styles, integrating traditional sounds into an eclectic soundtrack that mixes period-appropriate bangers from the 1980s, ’90s, and early aughts.
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