The latest trailer of Forgotten Island confirms that the animated feature is an ode to Filipino culture.
Set in the Philippines in the ‘90s, Forgotten Island follows Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano), two childhood best friends who find themselves on different paths. While celebrating their last night together with junk food and karaoke, the duo accidentally stumble on a portal, which sends them on a journey through another dimension as they try to make their way home.
For eagle-eyed viewers, the trailer features several Pinoy Easter eggs, from the school uniforms the two friends wear in grade school to the pair taking on the role of a manananggal in a school play (Raissa as the head and Jo as the legs). They can also be spotted driving a jeepney (complete with a “Mabuhay” sign above its front window) and hanging out by a palm tree-lined beach before the portal — which bears the same shape of the sun on the Philippines’ national flag — sucks them in.
Once they’re in the other dimension, it also looks like they’ll be going toe-to-toe with some of the monsters and mystical beings of Filipino mythology. Although the creatures have yet to be confirmed, there seems to be a giant ibong adarna and the bat wings of a manananggal.
Forgotten Island is directed and written by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado (the duo behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), who took inspiration from their own decades-long friendship. “[Forgotten Island] is dear to our hearts because it’s a story set in the Philippines,” Mercado said at the trailer’s official launch at Dreamworks HQ. “But… we feel like this theme of friendship is a very specific thing that we’ve all experienced. A universal thing that we all relate to.”
As for the film’s main stars, both of them are more than excited to showcase their Filipino heritage on the big screen. “I get to share a piece of my childhood in this work and with the world,” said H.E.R.
Soberano added, “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. To have Filipino culture showcased by a major studio is very exciting.”
H.E.R. and Soberano are not the only Filipino cast members of Forgotten Island. Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, Manny Jacinto, Amielynn Abellera, and Jo Koy have all confirmed that they will be lending their voices to the animated feature. Rounding out the cast are Ronny Chieng, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate.
Forgotten Island releases in Philippine cinemas on September 23.
