Directed and written by Puss in Boots: The Last Wish filmmakers Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the animated fantasy adventure film Forgotten Island premiered at CinemaCon on April 15, 2026, and screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2026 before receiving its wide theatrical release in the United States on September 25, 2026. Produced by DreamWorks Animation alongside producer Mark Swift and distributed globally by Universal Pictures, the 108-minute feature was mounted on an $80 million production budget. The animated feature opened to overwhelming critical acclaim, achieving a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes prior to its theatrical launch, with critics praising its stunning animation, emotional depth, and rich celebration of Filipino culture and folklore. WHERE TO WATCH & STREAMING AVAILABILITY Following its theatrical window, Forgotten Island is slated to transition to digital transactional video-on-demand services, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google TV, and Fandango at Home, for purchase and rental in 4K Ultra HD resolution with High Dynamic Range and spatial audio support. For subscription streaming, the film will make its exclusive home streaming debut on Peacock in North America as part of Universal Pictures' theatrical release pipeline, followed by a secondary streaming window on Netflix. Physical home media releases on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD will include behind-the-scenes featurettes on Filipino folklore, voice recording sessions, and director commentaries. INTRIGUING FACTS & TRIVIA The movie marks the first major Hollywood studio animated feature centered entirely around Filipino culture and mythological traditions. Grammy and Oscar winning musician H.E.R. makes her feature animated voice acting debut as co-lead Jo, starring alongside international Filipino actress Liza Soberano as her best friend Raissa. Broadway legend and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga provides the voice for the film's main antagonist, the terrifying winged creature known as the Dreaded Manananggal. BACKSTORY & THEMATIC ANALYSIS The narrative follows best friends Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano) during their very last night together in their coastal town before Raissa leaves for college in California. Unresolved emotional tension and fears of growing apart cause a rift between them, inadvertently opening a portal to Nakali, a fantastical, hidden island home to all the legendary creatures of Filipino folklore. Waking up in this magical realm, Jo and Raissa team up with a well-meaning weredog named Raww (Dave Franco) and an eccentric cast of mythological beings to find a portal back home. However, as they navigate the realm and evade the monstrous Manananggal, they discover a heartbreaking catch: leaving Nakali requires sacrificing the memories of their entire friendship, which are represented by their friendship bracelet charms. To return home without losing each other forever, the two friends must confront their deepest fears and reconcile their emotional distance. Thematically, Forgotten Island explores friendship, fear of abandonment, memory, and the pain of growing up. By using mythical monsters as allegories for emotional barriers, the narrative demonstrates that genuine love and connection are worth fighting for, even when life takes people down separate paths. BEHIND-THE-SCENES INSIGHTS Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado collaborated with character animators to blend vibrant modern animation styles with traditional cultural aesthetics, creating a lush visual world for Nakali. Composer Nathan Matthew David developed a rich musical score incorporating traditional Filipino instruments alongside energetic 1980s pop tracks to heighten the emotional beats of Jo and Raissa's journey. Through its heartfelt voice performances, groundbreaking cultural representation, and vibrant visual craft, Forgotten Island stands out as a triumphant addition to modern animated cinema. Check out the Forgotten Island Official Trailer to preview the animation, voice cast, and story world of this DreamWorks feature.