A montage from the animated film Forgotten Island. DREAMWORKS

DreamWorks Animation has unveiled the first trailer for its upcoming animated film “Forgotten Island,” marking a major milestone for Philippine mythology on the global stage. Set in the 1990s, the story follows two best friends, Jo and Raissa, voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano. As they prepare to go their separate ways after high school, the pair stumble upon a magical portal during a night of karaoke, junk food and jeepney rides. The portal transports them into a world inspired by Filipino folklore, filled with shapeshifters, witches, demons and mythical creatures. As they navigate this unfamiliar realm, their friendship is tested while they try to find their way back home. The film is directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, who said the story draws from their own friendship. The two first met while working on “Kung Fu Panda 2.” “We very quickly found out we have very similar sensibilities,” Mercado said. The film also features a diverse voice cast including Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon and Jo Koy. For H.E.R. (stage name for artist Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson), the project marks her first venture into voice acting. She said the story felt deeply personal. “I was so excited. You have no idea. We were in the Philippines in 2019, and my mom was trying to scare us about all these stories. I literally grew up on them. I get to share a piece of my childhood in this work and with the world,” said the Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter who was born in California to a Filipino mother and African-American father. For Soberano, the film fulfills a long-time goal of representing Filipino culture on a global platform. “It’s been a long-time dream of mine to be able to be in a project that really represented the Philippines in a very accurate way, but at the same time, is universal enough for people to be able to relate to,” she said. The directors chose the 1990s setting to highlight a time before smartphones, where friendships relied more on shared experiences than constant communication. “It was telling a story about friends growing apart and feeling like it’s going to be final,” Mercado said. “You can’t just FaceTime.” The animation blends modern techniques with hand-drawn textures, inspired partly by anime and previous work on “Puss in Boots.” “Forgotten Island” is set for release on September 25. ICA/Expat Media
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