Forgotten Island (2026) Trailer: Release Date, Story, Cast & the DreamWorks Movie About a Friendship Worth Fighting For

What if saving your best friendship meant risking every memory you shared?

DreamWorks Animation is taking audiences into a completely new world with Forgotten Island, an original animated adventure about friendship, growing up, Filipino mythology and two best friends who suddenly find themselves trapped on a mysterious island where memories don’t last forever.

The film follows Jo and Raissa, two lifelong friends who are about to graduate high school and begin separate lives. Before they go their different ways, the two stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to Nakali, a fantastical island filled with the magical creatures and mythological figures they grew up hearing about from their Filipino families.

But Nakali comes with a terrifying catch.

The longer Jo and Raissa remain on the island, the more their memories begin to disappear.

Now they must find a way home before the most important thing in their lives — their friendship — is forgotten completely.

Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Forgotten Island features a star-studded voice cast led by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, alongside Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga.

Here’s everything to know about Forgotten Island, including its trailer, release date, story, voice cast, Filipino mythology and where to watch it.

Forgotten Island Release Date

Forgotten Island opens exclusively in theaters on September 25, 2026.

DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures are releasing the film theatrically, with the official DreamWorks movie page confirming the September 25 date.

The film has also been presented at major animation and film-industry events ahead of its theatrical release, giving audiences an early look at the new DreamWorks adventure.

Forgotten Island (2026) Movie Details

Watch the Forgotten Island Trailer

The official trailer for Forgotten Island introduces Jo and Raissa and the fantastical world of Nakali.

The trailer quickly establishes that this isn’t simply a traditional fantasy adventure.

At the beginning, Jo and Raissa are facing a very real problem: their childhood friendship is about to change.

They are graduating from high school, and Raissa is preparing to leave for college in the United States. Jo isn’t ready to accept that their friendship could change once they begin living separate lives.

Then the impossible happens.

A mysterious portal transports them to Nakali, turning what should have been their final night together into the beginning of an extraordinary adventure.

But the island isn’t simply magical.

It is hungry for memories.

What Is Forgotten Island About?

Forgotten Island is set in the 1990s Philippines and follows childhood best friends Jo and Raissa.

They have been inseparable since grade school, but their lives are about to take very different directions.

Raissa is preparing to move to the United States for college, while Jo is terrified that their friendship will never be the same.

While celebrating their final night together, the two girls encounter a mysterious portal and are transported to Nakali, a magical island filled with creatures from Filipino mythology.

At first, Nakali appears like the ultimate adventure.

But Jo and Raissa soon discover that the island has a terrifying rule:

The longer they stay, the more they forget.

Their memories — including the memories that define their friendship — are slowly being consumed.

That means getting home isn’t simply about finding the right portal.

They need to escape before they forget why they wanted to go home together in the first place.

The official DreamWorks synopsis describes the central conflict as Jo and Raissa discovering that their memories of their entire friendship are the price of returning home.

What Is Nakali in Forgotten Island?

Nakali is the mysterious fantastical island where Jo and Raissa become trapped.

It is populated by magical and mythological creatures inspired by stories from Filipino families.

That gives Forgotten Island a very different fantasy setting from many traditional Western animated adventures.

Instead of building its mythology around familiar European fairy tales, the film draws from Filipino mythology and folklore, bringing creatures such as the Manananggal, Tiyanak, Batibat and Kataw into its world.

The island is therefore both beautiful and dangerous.

Some of its inhabitants become allies.

Others become enemies.

And the longer Jo and Raissa remain there, the greater the danger becomes.

The Dreaded Manananggal Explained

One of the biggest creatures in Forgotten Island is The Dreaded Manananggal, voiced by legendary Filipino performer Lea Salonga.

The Manananggal is presented as the most feared creature on Nakali.

For audiences unfamiliar with Filipino mythology, the Manananggal is a supernatural creature from Philippine folklore traditionally associated with a terrifying ability to separate its upper body from the lower half and fly through the night.

In Forgotten Island, the creature becomes one of the major threats facing Jo and Raissa.

And having Lea Salonga voice the character adds another major Filipino cultural connection to the movie.

Forgotten Island Voice Cast

DreamWorks has assembled an unusually prominent voice cast for the film.

H.E.R. as Jo

H.E.R. voices Jo, one of the film’s two central characters.

Jo has been Raissa’s best friend since childhood and struggles with the possibility that their friendship could change once Raissa leaves for college.

The character marks a major animated-film role for H.E.R., who is also an Academy Award-winning and Grammy-winning performer.

Liza Soberano as Raissa

Liza Soberano voices Raissa, Jo’s lifelong best friend.

Raissa is preparing to leave the Philippines for college in the United States, creating the emotional conflict that drives the story before the girls ever reach Nakali.

The film therefore isn’t only about surviving a fantasy world.

It is also about the fear of growing apart from someone who has been part of your life for as long as you can remember.

Dave Franco as Raww

Dave Franco voices Raww, a well-meaning but extremely hapless weredog who becomes part of Jo and Raissa’s group.

Raww provides much of the film’s comic energy while also becoming an unexpected ally during the girls’ journey through Nakali.

Jenny Slate as Batiba

Jenny Slate voices Batiba, a character based on the Batibat, a creature from Filipino mythology.

Manny Jacinto as Bungi

Manny Jacinto voices Bungi, a Tiyanak.

The Tiyanak is another creature rooted in Filipino folklore, giving the film another connection to the mythology that inspired Nakali.

Lea Salonga as The Dreaded Manananggal

Lea Salonga voices The Dreaded Manananggal, the most feared creature on the island.

Salonga’s involvement is particularly notable because she is one of the world’s best-known Filipino performers and has a long history of major musical and acting roles.

Dolly de Leon as Lola Fatima

Dolly de Leon voices Lola Fatima, Jo’s grandmother.

Jo Koy as Datu

Jo Koy voices Datu.

The comedian’s involvement adds another major comedic presence to the ensemble.

Ronny Chieng as King Truffle Wuffle

Ronny Chieng voices King Truffle Wuffle, another of Nakali’s colorful inhabitants.

Additional Cast

The voice cast also includes:

• Kevin McCann as Mermahn, Prince of the Kataw people
• Amielynn Abellera in an undisclosed role
• Sophia Laforteza in an undisclosed role

DreamWorks’ official listing confirms H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga among the principal cast.

Who Directed Forgotten Island?

Forgotten Island was written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado.

That pairing is particularly interesting for DreamWorks fans because Crawford previously directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, while Mercado worked as a key creative on the film.

The filmmakers are bringing that same creative team into a completely original world with Forgotten Island.

The film is produced by Mark Swift, another veteran of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

DreamWorks officially describes Crawford and Mercado as the writing and directing team behind the new original film, with Swift producing.

Is Forgotten Island Based on a True Story?

No.

Forgotten Island is an original animated fantasy adventure.

However, the movie is heavily inspired by Filipino culture, folklore and mythology.

The characters, creatures and world of Nakali draw from stories and mythological traditions associated with the Philippines, while the emotional story is built around a universal experience: the fear that growing up can mean growing apart from your closest friends.

What Makes Forgotten Island Different From Other DreamWorks Movies?

The easiest way to understand Forgotten Island is to think of it as a coming-of-age friendship story wrapped inside a Filipino mythology adventure.

The fantasy world gives the movie its large-scale adventure.

The mythology gives it its distinctive identity.

But the emotional center is Jo and Raissa.

They aren’t trying to save the world because they are chosen heroes.

They are simply two friends who don’t want to lose each other.

That makes the movie’s central threat surprisingly emotional.

The most frightening thing on Nakali isn’t necessarily the monsters.

It’s forgetting the person you came there with.

What the Forgotten Island Trailer Reveals

The trailers establish several important elements without giving away the entire story.

Jo and Raissa are about to separate

The story begins with a very recognizable coming-of-age problem.

High school is ending.

Raissa is preparing to leave.

And Jo is struggling with the idea that their friendship may not survive the transition into adulthood.

The portal changes everything

Their ordinary final night together suddenly becomes an adventure when the mysterious portal transports them to Nakali.

Filipino mythology is central to the world

The trailer showcases a wide range of unusual creatures and characters, making it clear that the mythology isn’t simply background decoration.

It is fundamental to the movie’s world.

Their memories are in danger

This is the movie’s biggest hook.

Jo and Raissa aren’t simply trapped somewhere.

They are slowly forgetting.

And if the process continues, they could eventually forget each other.

Is Forgotten Island a Kids Movie?

Yes, but it is designed as a family adventure rather than something aimed exclusively at very young children.

The movie combines comedy, fantasy, mythology, action and an emotional friendship story.

That gives parents and older children plenty to connect with while younger viewers can enjoy the colorful creatures and adventure.

The film’s PG rating in U.S. listings also points toward a family-oriented theatrical experience.

Where to Watch Forgotten Island

Can You Watch Forgotten Island in Theaters?

Yes.

Forgotten Island is being released exclusively in theaters on September 25, 2026 in the United States.

DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures are handling the theatrical release.

The movie is also scheduled for theatrical release in other international markets around the same period.

Will Forgotten Island Be on Netflix?

Not at launch.

Forgotten Island is a DreamWorks Animation film distributed by Universal Pictures, and its initial release is theatrical.

There has been no official announcement of a Netflix streaming date from DreamWorks in the information currently available.

So if you want to see Jo, Raissa and the creatures of Nakali when the movie first arrives, the theatrical release is the place to look.

Will Forgotten Island Stream on Peacock?

A streaming date has not been officially announced in the material currently available.

Because Universal Pictures is distributing the movie theatrically, audiences will have to wait for an official home-release announcement before a streaming platform and date can be confirmed.

Will Forgotten Island Be on Disney+?

No Disney+ release has been announced.

Forgotten Island is a DreamWorks Animation production distributed by Universal Pictures, not a Disney film.

Forgotten Island Runtime

Current listings put Forgotten Island at approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes.

That makes it a fairly compact theatrical adventure, particularly compared with some recent animated blockbusters.

Forgotten Island FAQ

When does Forgotten Island come out?

Forgotten Island opens in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026.

What is Forgotten Island about?

The movie follows childhood best friends Jo and Raissa, who are transported to the magical island of Nakali. They must escape before the island consumes their memories and causes them to forget each other.

Who voices Jo in Forgotten Island?

H.E.R. voices Jo.

Who voices Raissa in Forgotten Island?

Liza Soberano voices Raissa.

Who voices the Manananggal?

Lea Salonga voices The Dreaded Manananggal.

Is Forgotten Island based on Filipino mythology?

Yes. The movie draws heavily on Filipino mythology and folklore, incorporating creatures such as the Manananggal, Tiyanak and Batibat into the fantasy world of Nakali.

Is Forgotten Island a DreamWorks movie?

Yes. Forgotten Island is an original DreamWorks Animation feature distributed by Universal Pictures.

Who directed Forgotten Island?

The movie was directed and written by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado.

Is Forgotten Island connected to Shrek or Puss in Boots?

No. Forgotten Island is a new original story, not a sequel or spin-off of Shrek or Puss in Boots.

However, the film’s creative team includes Joel Crawford and Mark Swift, who worked on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Is Forgotten Island a sequel?

No. Forgotten Island is an original animated movie.

Where can I watch Forgotten Island?

The movie opens in theaters on September 25, 2026. A streaming release date has not yet been officially announced.

Forgotten Island looks like a very different kind of DreamWorks adventure.

Underneath the monsters, magical island and mythology is a simple but powerful question:

What if growing up meant forgetting the person who grew up with you?

Jo and Raissa’s friendship gives the movie its emotional foundation, while Nakali provides the fantasy world around them.

And the Filipino mythology gives Forgotten Island an identity that immediately separates it from many other animated adventures.

With H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga leading the voice cast, and the Puss in Boots: The Last Wish creative team behind the camera, DreamWorks is betting on an original story rather than another established franchise.

The result could be one of the more distinctive animated movies of 2026.

And with the movie arriving just before the fall movie season really heats up, there’s one particularly effective question at the center of its marketing:

Would you risk forgetting your best friend forever to find your way home?

Forgotten Island arrives in theaters September 25, 2026.