Forgotten Island (2026) Review: Folklore, Friendship, and Fading Memories

This Forgotten Island review looks at DreamWorks' folklore-rich animated adventure from directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. It is a castaway story with a twist: the island slowly takes away the memories of the friends stranded on it.

Forgotten Island Review: The Setup (No Spoilers)

Jo and Raissa are inseparable best friends, until a mishap leaves them stranded on Nakali, a mystical island crowded with creatures lifted from folklore. The place is beautiful and strange, and it is also dangerous in a quiet way. Spending time there begins to wear away their memories, one by one.

The pair soon learn that leaving may come at a price. The very thing that binds them, a lifetime of shared moments, could be what the island demands in return.

What works

The central idea is the film's best asset. Our Forgotten Island review starts here because the premise turns a familiar castaway adventure into something more emotional. Memory loss gives the story a ticking clock, and it raises the stakes of every detour and every joke.

The Philippine mythology gives the film a distinct identity. DreamWorks has a long record of polished fantasy worlds, and drawing on creatures from Filipino folklore, including the Manananggal, makes Nakali feel less generic than a typical animated island. It is a welcome change from the usual European fairy-tale furniture.

The directing pair, Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, also wrote the film. Crawford previously directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and that pedigree suggests a confident eye for stylised action and character-led comedy. A shared writing credit tends to produce a consistent tone, and here the film's blend of whimsy and heartache feels deliberate.

Performances

The voice cast is a lively mix of pop, screen and stage talent. H.E.R. voices Jo and Liza Soberano voices Raissa, and the two need to sell a friendship that feels worth saving. That is the emotional engine of the film, and their chemistry carries a great deal of weight.

Dave Franco plays Raww, one of the island's inhabitants, and brings his usual loose, likeable energy. Lea Salonga, a legendary voice in musical theatre, is reported to play the Manananggal, which is a smart bit of casting for a character rooted in Filipino myth.

The wider ensemble includes Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Kevin McCann. That is a deep bench of comic and dramatic talent, though not every role is equally prominent.

Where it stumbles

The biggest risk is familiarity. Stories about friends tested by a magical place, with a sacrifice looming at the end, follow well-worn paths. If the film leans too heavily on those beats, the folklore setting is what keeps it fresh, not the plot.

A large supporting cast can also be a double-edged sword. With so many colourful creatures and recognisable voices, some characters may get only a moment to shine. Memory-loss stories also depend on precise pacing, and any stretch where the stakes feel vague will blunt the emotional payoff.

There is also a fair question about how deeply a big-studio animation can engage with a culture's myths. The best outcome is one that treats them with curiosity and respect rather than as surface decoration.

What to Know Before Watching Forgotten Island

Tone and Pace

The film blends whimsy with heartache. It is an animated adventure with jokes and colourful creatures, but the memory-loss premise gives it a ticking clock and a more emotional undercurrent than a typical island romp. Pacing matters here, because the story depends on the stakes staying clear from one stretch to the next.

What Sets It Apart

The setting of Nakali draws on Filipino folklore, including the Manananggal, rather than the usual European fairy-tale imagery. If you enjoy fantasy worlds that feel specific rather than generic, that is the main draw. The plot itself follows familiar friendship-adventure paths, so the mythology does much of the work of keeping things fresh.

How It Compares

DreamWorks has a long record of polished fantasy worlds, and Joel Crawford previously directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Expect a similar confidence with stylised action and character-led comedy, here paired with a gentler story about a lifelong friendship.

The Voice Cast

• H.E.R. voices Jo and Liza Soberano voices Raissa, the friendship at the centre of the film.

• Dave Franco plays Raww, one of the island's inhabitants.

• Lea Salonga is reported to voice the Manananggal.

• The ensemble also includes Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Kevin McCann.

With so many recognisable voices, some characters get only a brief moment on screen.

Who It's For

Families wanting an animated adventure with real emotional stakes, fans of folklore-driven fantasy, and anyone curious about Philippine mythology will find the most to enjoy. Viewers who love DreamWorks films that mix humour with heartfelt friendship stories are the natural audience.

Who will enjoy it

• Families looking for an animated adventure with real emotional stakes.

• Fans of folklore-driven fantasy and viewers curious about Philippine mythology.

• Anyone who loved DreamWorks films that mix humour with heartfelt friendship stories.

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• Further reading: Forgotten Island on en.wikipedia.org