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FORGOTTEN ISLAND

What if the greatest adventure of your life came with the heartbreaking price of forgetting the people you love most? That's the premise of Forgotten Island, and it completely pulled me in. I love how this film combines adventure, magic, friendship, family, and Filipino culture into a beautiful story that is both exciting and emotional. It reminds me just how precious our memories are and how the people we share them with are such an important part of who we are.

This is an animated fantasy adventure film by DreamWorks Animation set in the 1990s in the Philippines. Recent high school graduates, Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano) are about to go their separate ways when Raissa leaves for college in America. While celebrating their last night together, they discover a mysterious portal to Nakali, a hidden island filled with the magical and mythological creatures from the stories of their childhood. But Nakali comes with a dangerous secret - the island slowly feeds on the memories of those inside. Jo and Raissa soon discover that the price of returning home is losing the memories of their entire friendship, forcing them to race against time to escape before they forget each other forever.

Forgotten Island features an incredible voice cast, including H.E.R. as Jo and Liza Soberano as Raissa, whose friendship is the centerpiece of this emotional adventure. I loved watching these two women navigate their friendship, their fears, and the possibility of growing apart as they enter a new chapter of their lives. The film also brings Filipino culture and mythology to life through its characters and magical creatures. The animation is absolutely beautiful! I love the colorful visuals and the anime inspired style, which gives the film a unique and vibrant look. Every part of Nakali feels imaginative and is filled with details that make you want to explore this magical world along with Jo and Raissa. I also love that this is a story families can experience together, with plenty of heart, humor, adventure, and a message that stays with you long after the movie ends.

The film is a beautiful reminder that memories are one of the greatest gifts we have. Life changes; people grow up; and sometimes the people we love take different paths; but the memories we make together stay with us forever. The film reminds us that friendship takes effort, that family and culture help shape who we are, and that the bonds we create with the people we love are worth fighting for.

I give Forgotten Island 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters September 25, 2026.

By Kennedy P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

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While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but-hapless weredog Raww and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal, the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.