Why Forgotten Island Is The 90s Filipino Folklore Fever Dream We Needed 🌴🔥 The animation wars are officially over, and DreamWorks just dropped a tactical nuke of nostalgia and representation that nobody saw coming.
If you haven’t seen the trailer for Forgotten Island yet, I need you to pause whatever you’re doing and witness the absolute visual feast that DreamWorks just served on a silver platter. We are officially entering a new era of animation where "standard" 3D is being tossed out the window in favor of something that actually has a soul, and I am here for it. Set in the 1990s, this film follows the journey of Jo and Raissa, voiced by the powerhouse duo of H.E.R. and Liza Soberano. The premise is simple but emotionally devastating: two best friends are about to go their separate ways after high school, sharing one last night of karaoke and junk food before reality kicks in. But then, because this is DreamWorks and they love to keep us on our toes, they stumble into a magical portal that leads straight into the heart of Filipino folklore.
Let’s talk about the vibe first, because the aesthetic is everything. Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the masterminds who gave us the masterpiece that was Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, are leaning heavily into a 90s nostalgia that feels earned rather than forced. During a press event at DreamWorks HQ in Glendale, they explained why they chose the 90s. It wasn't just for the cool windbreakers and the lack of social media. It was about the stakes of friendship. In a world before cell phones and FaceTime, going away to college meant a high probability of actually losing touch with someone. The "finality" of that era is represented through Polaroids, a central theme in the film. A Polaroid pack only has twelve pictures. You have to be intentional. You have to care. That translates so beautifully into a story about memories and the fear of being forgotten.
The folklore aspect is where this movie goes from "cute coming-of-age story" to "absolute cinematic epic." We are talking about a deep dive into Filipino mythology--places where shapeshifters, demons, witches, and monsters are a very real threat. For those of us who grew up with these stories, or for those who are just discovering them, seeing this level of cultural specificity from a major Hollywood studio is genuinely groundbreaking. H.E.R., also known as Gabi Wilson, shared that her mother used to tell her these stories in the Philippines to scare her as a kid. Now, she’s voicing a character navigating that same world. The level of authenticity here is off the charts. Liza Soberano also mentioned how much it means to have the Philippines represented in a way that is both accurate and universal. It’s not just "representation" for the sake of a checkbox, it feels like a genuine story born from the directors' own friendship and heritage.
Visually, Forgotten Island is pushing the medium in ways that make the competition look stagnant. They are evolving the hand-drawn, painterly textures that we fell in love with in recent years. Crawford and Mercado mentioned ties to anime in terms of action and character expressions, which explains why the trailer feels so kinetic and alive. There is a specific mention of cinematography where they treat the animation like a live-action film, with wide lenses and light leaks that mimic the imperfections of a physical camera. This all ties back to the theme of nostalgia. It’s meant to look like a memory--vibrant, slightly imperfect, and deeply personal. It’s a bold choice that separates DreamWorks from the "safe" hyper-realism that other studios have been clinging to for a decade.
The supporting cast is also a literal dream team of talent. We have the legendary Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, Jenny Slate, Jo Koy, Dolly de Leon, and Ronny Chieng. This isn't just a voice cast--it's a cultural movement. Having actors like Dolly de Leon and Jo Koy involved ensures that the humor and the heart of the film stay rooted in the culture it’s trying to honor. The chemistry between H.E.R. and Liza is already palpable in the snippets we've seen, capturing that specific brand of "best friend energy" where you can communicate entire sentences with just a look.
What really strikes me about this project is the "safe-rant" I have to go on regarding the state of modern storytelling. Often, "diverse" stories feel like they are being explained to a Western audience, which can make them feel clinical. Forgotten Island doesn't seem to be doing that. It drops you into the deep end of Filipino mythology and expects you to keep up with the emotional weight of the friendship at its core. It’s smart, it’s sharp, and it’s unapologetically confident in its identity. The monsters aren't just there for a jump scare--they represent the trials these two friends have to face as they realize their world is changing.
As the film heads toward its September 25th release date in the United States, the hype is only going to grow. We are looking at a film that tackles the universal fear of growing apart through the lens of a culture that has so much beauty and terror to share with the world. DreamWorks is proving once again that they aren't afraid to take risks, whether it’s with animation style or subject matter. If the trailer is any indication, we are in for an emotional rollercoaster that will have us all digging through our old shoeboxes for those faded Polaroids of the friends we promised we’d never forget.
In a landscape filled with sequels and reboots, Forgotten Island feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s original, it’s vibrant, and it’s deeply rooted in human connection. Whether you're a fan of high-octane animation, a 90s kid looking for a trip down memory lane, or someone who just wants to see a damn good story about friendship, this is the movie to watch. DreamWorks has set the bar high for 2026, and honestly, I don't think anyone else is jumping this high.
Comments
Post a Comment