Forgotten Island: A Winged, Vampire-Like Creature Capable Of Detaching Her Upper Body To Hunt After Dark

Forgotten Island Synopsis:

Set in the 1990s, high school best friends Jo and Raissa are transported to a fantastical world drawn from Philippine folklore on the eve of Raissa moving abroad. To escape the magical island of Nakali and survive threats like the Dreaded Manananggal, the duo allies with Raww, a clumsy aswang weredog, only to discover that the island feeds on their minds and the ultimate price for returning home is losing every memory of their lifelong friendship.

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family

Release Date: In theaters September 25th, 2026

Forgotten Island Fun Facts: A Winged, Vampire-Like Creature Capable Of Detaching Her Upper Body To Hunt After Dark

DreamWorks’ First Filipino-Centric Feature:
Forgotten Island is set to break new ground as the very first full-length animated movie from a major Hollywood studio to center its entire story around the rich folklore and unique culture of the Philippines. Produced by DreamWorks, this milestone film brings ancient Filipino myths, mythical creatures, and vibrant island traditions to a global audience like never before.

Based on Real-Life Friendship:
The creative heart of Forgotten Island is driven by a genuine, real-life connection and friendship. Co-directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado poured their own personal friendship directly into the project, drawing on a bond built over more than a decade of close collaboration. The duo first joined forces at DreamWorks Animation back in 2011 while working on Kung Fu Panda 2.

Spending years in the trenches together, storyboarding, brainstorming, and navigating the highs and lows of feature animation gave them a shared artistic language and deep mutual trust. By translating that real-world loyalty, shared humor, and creative synergy onto the screen, Crawford and Mercado bring an authentic sense of warmth and connection to the characters and the story they are telling.

Anime-Inspired Memory Flashbacks:
To bring the past to life in Forgotten Island, the film uses two totally different animation styles. While the main story is told using sleek 3D CGI, the memory flashback sequences jump back in time with stylized 2D anime. Visually, these flashback moments pay tribute to classic 1990s anime shows like Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter, and Sailor Moon, blending dramatic action, bold line work, and nostalgic pop-culture energy into the storytelling.

Animated Locally in Manila:
To keep the movie's cultural roots genuine, the filmmakers handed the 2D flashback scenes over to Snipple Animation, a studio based right in Manila. Having local Filipino artists handle these retro anime sequences ensured every detail felt authentic to the traditions and culture being represented.

Broadway Superstar Plays the Villain:
In an exciting cast reveal, Broadway superstar and Disney legend Lea Salonga voices the movie's central villain: The Dreaded Manananggal. Drawing directly from traditional Philippine mythology, the character is based on one of the country's most iconic and terrifying mythic figures, a winged, vampire-like creature capable of detaching her upper body to hunt after dark. Bringing a performer as celebrated as Salonga into such a darkly iconic role in Forgotten Island gives this legendary folklore figure a captivating, powerful presence on the big screen.

Star-Studded Cast & Crew:
Alongside Broadway legend Lea Salonga, the movie’s star-studded cast is led by Grammy and Oscar winner H.E.R. as Jo and Liza Soberano as her best friend, Raissa. They are joined by Dave Franco voicing Raww, a friendly weredog, and Manny Jacinto as Bungi, with additional comedy powerhouses like Jo Koy and Ronny Chieng bringing the story to life in Forgotten Island.

Source: youtube, wikipedia