Let’s get this out of the way first: Forgotten Island is an absolute blast. It’s chaotic, funny, and scary in the best way, hitting you emotionally before you even realize it. DreamWorks Animation’s latest film, arriving September 25, is the kind of movie that has a packed theater laughing one minute, singing the next, and wiping away tears after that. If you see only one animated film this year, make it this one. 

This is the first major Hollywood animated feature built entirely around Filipino folklore and mythology. Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, longtime friends and DreamWorks veterans, have clearly spent their entire careers working toward this moment. The result feels personal — something you don't get from studio animation. 

The setup is simple. Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano) are best friends facing adulthood. High school is over, Raissa is leaving for Caltech, and Jo is stuck, not moving forward. On their last night together, they fall through a portal and land on Nakali, a mystical island straight out of Jo’s grandmother Lola’s folk tales. They wake up 12 hours later with missing memories and mysterious tattoos, and Raissa has somehow grown wings. From there, things only get stranger. 

To piece together what happened, they recruit Raww (Dave Franco), a charming, wisecracking were-dog who claims to have seen it all. Their search takes them across Nakali and into one wild encounter after another: with a memory-eating demon (Jenny Slate); a giant, weeping demon baby (Manny Jacinto); a half-naked mermaid prince (Kevin McCann) with singing starfish covering his nipples; and a terrifying manananggal (Lea Salonga) who can literally split herself in two. Once they uncover the truth, Jo and Raissa learn that returning home requires a single major sacrifice: the memory of their friendship. 

The advanced screening I attended felt like a celebration. The audience was fully engaged and loved the animation, the characters, and the unusual story. Everyone enjoyed the film, which transported viewers from reality into fantasy. 

To conclude, I'll say it again: Forgotten Island is a fun, wild ride. See this soon-to-be Oscar-nominated film on the biggest screen you can. You won’t be disappointed. 

DISCLAIMER: No seatbelts are provided, so hold tight!