Forgotten Island opens in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026, and its fantasy world is built around Filipino mythology rather than a generic fictional kingdom. The DreamWorks Animation movie follows best friends Jo and Raissa after a mysterious portal transports them to the island of Nakali.
What is Forgotten Island about?
DreamWorks describes Jo and Raissa as lifelong best friends facing separate life paths after high school. On their final night together, they discover a portal that takes them to Nakali, a magical island filled with creatures and stories connected to their Filipino families.
The central problem is bigger than simply finding a way home. The friends learn that their memories of their friendship could become the price of leaving the island.
What is a Manananggal?
The Manananggal is a creature from Filipino folklore traditionally described as a supernatural being capable of separating its upper body from its lower body and flying through the night. In Forgotten Island, that folklore becomes part of the movie's fantasy mythology.
DreamWorks casts Tony Award winner Lea Salonga as the Dreaded Manananggal, presenting the creature as one of the most feared figures Jo and Raissa encounter in Nakali.
Why Filipino folklore is central to the movie
The mythology is not just a collection of monsters placed into an adventure plot. Reuters reported that the filmmakers drew from Filipino stories and personal family experiences, while H.E.R., who has Filipino roots, connected her role to stories about the Manananggal that she heard from her mother.
That cultural connection gives the movie a different starting point from fantasy stories built primarily from European folklore.
Who voices Jo and Raissa?
- H.E.R. voices Jo.
- Liza Soberano voices Raissa.
- Lea Salonga voices the Dreaded Manananggal.
- Dave Franco voices Raww, a well-meaning weredog.
- Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy and Ronny Chieng also appear in the voice cast.
Why the friendship story matters
DreamWorks frames the movie around the idea that a best friendship is worth fighting for. The fantasy adventure is therefore tied to a very recognizable coming-of-age problem: Jo and Raissa are about to leave school and begin separate lives just as their supernatural journey puts their shared memories at risk.
Is Forgotten Island based on Filipino mythology?
Yes, the movie is explicitly inspired by Filipino mythology and cultural stories. It is not an adaptation of one single traditional legend. Instead, the filmmakers use multiple mythological figures and ideas as the foundation for the fictional world of Nakali.
Forgotten Island release details
- U.S. theatrical release: September 25, 2026
- Studio: DreamWorks Animation
- Directors: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
- Voices: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, Dave Franco and others
- Setting: The fantasy island of Nakali
What makes the movie distinctive
The most searchable part of Forgotten Island may be its release date, but the deeper story is its use of Filipino folklore as the foundation of a major animated adventure. The Manananggal, Nakali and the friendship between Jo and Raissa are all connected to that cultural framework.
Sources
DreamWorks Animation — Forgotten Island and Reuters — Filipino folklore in Forgotten Island.
Author: Shivam Das
