Directors: Joel Crawford, Januel P. Mercado
Writers: Joel Crawford, Januel P. Mercado
Stars: Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto
Synopsis: Two best friends become stranded on the mystical world of Nakali, where their only escape might cost them their shared lifetime of memories.
The new DreamWorks animated film Forgotten Island brings another round of hybrid animation to the silver screen, pairing eye-popping visuals with a story that stirs the imagination and a wonderful amount of heart. The film is ambitious, hardly boxing itself in, and changes its visual language as each character takes over a scene. The result is one of the few mainstream examples of the genre with well-drawn, three-dimensional characters. Yes, we get the irony.
Unlike other animated films, particularly the big three like DreamWorks, Illumination, and Pixar, the filmmakers fill Forgotten Island with bold, kinetic silhouettes; graphic streaks that exaggerate movement and impact; and raging anime-style speed lines built for this generation’s image-heavy culture. Yes, Forgotten Island pays nostalgic homage to Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter, and Sailor Moon.
And while the film offers something louder, stranger, and more visually untamed, what makes it special is its unwavering emotional resonance: it keeps universal themes of family and friendship simple while crafting impressive, sophisticated, and immersive visual storytelling. All while folding in the tradition of passing down Philippine mythology, including the Manananggal, close-knit family bonds, and culturally specific imagery.
Set in the 1990s, the story follows Jo (voiced by Academy Award and Grammy Award winner H.E.R.) and Raissa (Lisa Frankenstein’s Liza Soberano), childhood best friends now navigating the end of their senior year in the Philippines. They complement and balance each other, as Jo’s rowdy ways break her education-oriented BFF Raissa out of her shell. In turn, Raissa offers Jo a support system she never had before.
Jo was raised by her grandmother (Dolly de Leon of Triangle of Sadness fame), who passed down stories of Nakali, a fantastical island filled with mythical creatures and colorful magic, through generations. Then, before Raissa leaves for school, the two stumble through a portal that transports them to the very land where they meet a talking dog named Aspin (Dave Franco), on an island they thought was only a legend.
Forgotten Island comes from animated filmmakers Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, who made The Croods: A New Age and the Oscar-nominated Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The dynamic, eclectic doodling duo’s new film uses that same throw-everything-at-the-kitchen-sink approach, drawing on multiple animation techniques the genre has to offer. Which may cause tonal whiplash for some, ignite the minds of others.
We are talking a heavy ‘90s graphic-design and street-art aesthetic, with multiple examples of anime and manga homages, along with traditional hand-drawn animation and highly stylized 3D CG, all masterfully evoking different characters’ emotions and memories. That is one thing about Crawford and Mercado’s script that has modern touches while still embracing classic family storytelling.
While Forgotten Island is far from perfect, its clutter of ideas occasionally brings the film dangerously close to visual gluttony, threatening to become more distracting than anticipated. So much so, it may achieve the rare feat of having so much going on that it actually calms an ADHD brain. Yes, less can be more, but it is almost refreshing to see a studio give you more that exceeds audiences’ expectations.
Yet, it is the teenage female friendship that keeps the viewer invested in this engaging adventure. Still, Forgotten Island is a dazzling example of breathtaking, beautiful animation powered by a warm, beating heart, while honoring the cultural oral tradition handed down over generations. Let the creative breath of fresh air wash over you.
You can watch Forgotten Island exclusively in theaters on September 25th!
