Forgotten Island Release Date, Cast & 7 Things to Know
Forgotten Island opens in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026. DreamWorks Animation’s fantasy adventure follows best friends Jo and Raissa after they become stranded in the mystical world of Nakali, where escaping may cost them their shared memories.
When is Forgotten Island coming out?
DreamWorks lists Forgotten Island for a September 25, 2026 theatrical release. The film has already appeared at festivals, but this date marks its major U.S. theatrical launch.
IMDb lists the movie at 1 hour 49 minutes with a PG rating. Its genres span animation, adventure, comedy, family fantasy, music, and mystery.
1. Forgotten Island is inspired by Filipino folklore
The film draws directly from Philippine mythology and culture rather than using them as background decoration. Reuters reports that the Manananggal, a legendary creature associated with Filipino folklore, is among the mythological figures incorporated into the story.
That cultural foundation is one of the movie’s clearest distinguishing features. It gives DreamWorks a fantasy world that looks and behaves differently from its existing franchises while allowing the filmmakers to build the adventure around stories with personal meaning.
2. Jo and Raissa are the heart of the story
The central relationship belongs to two best friends, Jo and Raissa. They become trapped in Nakali and discover that getting home may require sacrificing the memories that define their friendship.
That creates a more personal conflict than simply defeating a villain. Escape has a cost, and the cost threatens the relationship that gives the journey meaning.
3. H.E.R. and Liza Soberano voice the leads
H.E.R. voices Jo, while Liza Soberano voices Raissa. The broader voice cast includes performers such as Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, and Lea Salonga.
Lea Salonga’s role is particularly connected to the film’s folklore. Reuters identifies her character Manang as a feared Manananggal, linking a major Filipino performer directly to one of the story’s mythological elements.
4. Who directs Forgotten Island?
Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado direct and are credited as writers. Their collaboration is important because the movie combines DreamWorks’ established feature-animation experience with a story deeply influenced by Filipino culture.
The filmmakers have discussed the women and traditions that helped inspire the movie. That personal connection gives the fantasy world a specific cultural foundation rather than a generic tropical-island setting.
5. What is Nakali?
Nakali is the mystical world where Jo and Raissa become stranded. The location functions as both an adventure setting and the mechanism that tests their friendship. Its creatures and rules draw from mythology while the memory-based escape condition raises the emotional stakes.
The setup allows the movie to move between comedy, fantasy, danger, and mystery without losing its central question: what is a friendship worth if getting home means forgetting it?
6. How long is Forgotten Island?
IMDb lists a runtime of 1 hour 49 minutes. The PG rating positions the film for family audiences while leaving room for mythological creatures and more intense fantasy sequences.
The length also suggests a full-scale DreamWorks adventure rather than a short-form streaming project. The September 25 date puts it directly into the theatrical marketplace.
7. Why the movie is attracting attention now
The theatrical release is only days away, and fresh coverage is emphasizing the film’s Filipino folklore. That creates several active search intents at once: release date, cast, mythology, characters, runtime, and whether the story is suitable for families.
It also arrives as an original animated property rather than a sequel. That makes introductory “what to know” coverage useful because audiences cannot rely on an earlier installment to explain the world.
What Filipino mythology appears in Forgotten Island?
The Manananggal is the clearest confirmed example in current reporting. Traditionally, the creature is known for separating its upper body from its lower half. The film adapts folklore for an animated fantasy context rather than presenting a documentary account of the legend.
Viewers interested in the mythology should therefore separate the movie’s creative interpretation from the many regional versions and traditions surrounding these stories.
Is Forgotten Island a musical?
IMDb includes music among the movie’s genre descriptors, while the film’s main marketing emphasizes fantasy adventure, friendship, and folklore. Audiences should expect music to be part of the experience without assuming the movie follows the exact structure of a traditional stage-style musical.
Forgotten Island release details
Release date: September 25, 2026
Studio: DreamWorks Animation
Directors: Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado
Lead voices: H.E.R. and Liza Soberano
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes
Rating: PG
Frequently asked questions
What is Forgotten Island about?
Two best friends become stranded in Nakali and face an escape that may cost them the memories of their friendship.
Is Forgotten Island based on Filipino folklore?
Yes. Philippine mythology and culture are central influences, including the Manananggal.
When does Forgotten Island open?
DreamWorks lists the U.S. theatrical release for September 25, 2026.
Sources: DreamWorks, IMDb and Reuters reporting published ahead of the theatrical release.