Dreamworks Animation, home of acclaimed franchises How to Train Your Dragon, The Bad Guys, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and The Wild Robot, is embarking on an original work that it hopes will become a longtime member of the family. Forgotten Island, from directing duo Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), draws heavily from Filipino culture and folklore to tell its story of childhood friends stranded on a fantastical island, with a heavy price to pay to get back home.
The film features the voices of singer-songwriter Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson (aka H.E.R.) and Lisa Frankenstein actress Liza Soberano, as best friends Jo and Raissa. Friends since they were children, this wildly creative pair is set to take different paths in life, until they are transported to the reality-bending island populated by magical creatures, and learn the only way home would mean sacrificing all memories of one another.
Also in the voice cast are Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga.
SYNOPSIS: 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- hapless weredog Raww (Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (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.
The first thing you’ll notice is the stunning, kinetic, anime-influenced animation style that’s similar to what we’ve seen lately in the Spider-Verse films, KPop Demon Hunters, and GOAT. The other thing you might catch on to is a vibe similar to the classic movie about memory, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, especially when it comes to how we grapple with memories of the people we care for most.
Universal Pictures will open Forgotten Island in theaters on September 25th.
