DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island received a five-minute standing ovation after a surprise screening at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France on Wednesday, June 24. It’s not the first time the film, which features a Filipino cast and takes inspiration from Filipino folklore, received acclaim before its release in September, with critics singing its praises as early as April, during CinemaCon.
“This high-energy adventure about friendship and memory features stunning animation, irresistible characters, and one badass soundtrack,” said Television Academy member Scott Menzel on social media after the film’s work-in-progress screening at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. “Count on this being in the Academy’s Best Animated Feature conversation next year.”
Entertainment reporter Jonathan Sim also called the movie “exceptional,” “laugh-out-loud hysterical,” and “The Hangover for families.”
The Wrap’s senior film reporter Drew Taylor said that “while [Forgotten Island] breaks a significant amount of new ground, both technically and on a narrative level, it also feels like classic DreamWorks Animation,” and called the film “dazzling.”
‘FORGOTTEN ISLAND’ received a 5-minute standing ovation after the film was screened at #AnnecyFestival
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 24, 2026
“The best DreamWorks film of the decade.” pic.twitter.com/X6e1pxEzip
Daytime Emmy Award-winning animator Bobby Chiu, after seeing the film at Annecy, said, “The world is in for such a treat!”
Forgotten Island, co-written and directed by Joel Crawford and Filipino-American filmmaker Januel Mercado, is one of five other Filipino-led projects presenting at Annecy. It joins Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Carl Joseph Papa’s 58th, the animated web series Sun Chaser, and the adult animation short The Lovers.
The DreamWorks project stars H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga. The soundtrack includes music by P-pop groups BINI and SB19, KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza, and rappers Ruby Ibarra and Carl Angelo. H.E.R., Soberano, and Salonga also lend their voices to songs in the movie.
Forgotten Island will be released in Philippine cinemas on September 23.
Frequently Asked Questions
Forgotten Island is an upcoming DreamWorks animated film described as a high-energy adventure about friendship and memory. It draws inspiration from Filipino folklore and features a predominantly Filipino cast. It is co-written and directed by Joel Crawford and Filipino-American filmmaker Januel Mercado.
Forgotten Island received a five-minute standing ovation following a surprise screening at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France on June 24, 2026. Critics and industry figures praised the film’s animation, characters, and soundtrack.
Forgotten Island stars H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga. Its soundtrack features Filipino artists including P-pop groups BINI and SB19, KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza, and rappers Ruby Ibarra and Carl Angelo.
Forgotten Island is set for a wide release in September, with Philippine cinemas screening the film starting September 23, 2026.
Industry observers already see Forgotten Island as a likely awards contender. Television Academy member Scott Menzel predicted it would be part of the Academy’s Best Animated Feature conversation, following strong early reactions at both CinemaCon in Las Vegas and France’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival.
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- In This Article:
- Annecy
- Forgotten Island
- H.E.R.
- Lea Salonga
- Liza Soberano
