How ‘Forgotten Island’ became a love letter to Filipino culture - INQUIRER.net USA

For the team behind DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island,” Filipino representation is about more than seeing Filipino names in the credits – it’s about bringing Filipino stories to life through the voices and experiences of Filipino talent.

Set in the mythical island of Nakali, “Forgotten Island” follows lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa as they journey through a world inspired by Philippine mythology while confronting the memories that define their friendship. 

The DreamWorks original, directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, marks the studio’s first animated featured centered on Filipino culture and folklore.

For Crawford and Mercado, bringing that heritage to the big screen was not simply an opportunity to introduce audiences to mythical creatures and traditions. It was a chance to create a world inspired by their own connections to Filipino identity.

“It’s personal,” Crawford said, explaining how his family influenced the project. His wife is Filipina and his three children are Filipino, making the film a reflection of the culture that is already part of his everyday life.

Mercado shared a similar motivation behind the film, saying the team wanted to explore “the impact of those loved ones in your life” and how those relationships shape the people we become.

“We really thought about what is the impact of those loved ones in your life,” he shared. “And I really wanted to make this love letter to my family.”

That personal foundation is what drew the cast and creative team into the project. Liza Soberano, who voices Raissa, said she immediately noticed the genuine care behind the production.

“From Joel and Jan’s world and the whole team you could tell there was so much love and appreciation for the Filipino people and the culture,” she shared.

H.E.R., who voices Jo, also recognized how the filmmakers’ own experiences shaped the story. She said audiences can feel the emotional connection because the film was built from moments and memories that came from real life.

“You can feel it when you watch the film because of the way that they pulled from their own lives in this movie,” the Grammy-award winning singer explained.

The level of authenticity extends to the film’s depiction of Filipino folklore. For many of the artists involved, the creatures, traditions and stories featured in “Forgotten Island” were part of the stories they grew up hearing.

Character designer and story artist Genevieve Tsai, who is Taiwanese Filipino, recalled how her mother introduced her to Filipino mythology as a child. “The monsters and the mythology intrigued me as a kid,” she said, sharing how those early experiences influenced her creative work in the film. 

Story artist Tiffany Ford also reflected on seeing familiar traditions celebrated through animation, describing the experience as “overwhelming.”

The film’s voice cast believes that highlighting Filipino folklore through homegrown talent adds another layer of meaning.

Lea Salonga, who voices Manang, emphasized the importance of having Filipino performers bring these stories to life, noting that “so much Filipino folklore is also being given voice by Filipino actors,” lending the film a stronger sense of authenticity.

Manny Jacinto, who voices the Bungi Tiyanak, described joining the project as “an incredible honor” and an opportunity to explore and celebrate a rich storytelling tradition.

For Jo Koy, who plays Datu, Filipino stories have the ability to connect with audiences across cultural boundaries. He said people may discover similarities between their own experiences and Filipino narratives.

“You just hear one of our stories, you’ll notice that it’s similar to your story,” Koy said, adding that storytelling becomes “an indirect way of just letting people know who we are and how proud we are.”

The film’s Filipino identity is also reflected in its music. Composer Nathan Matthew David incorporated indigenous Filipino instruments into the score, drawing from years of studying traditional sounds.

He further shared that Crawford and Mercado wanted to create a distinct musical world for the film, leading the team to record the historic bamboo pipe organ in Las Piñas.

For Katseye’s Sophia Laforteza, being part of the project represented another meaningful connection to Filipino culture.

She described the experience as one of the most beautiful things she has been part of, especially because voice and music hold a special place in Filipino identity.

Ultimately, the story is about more than mythical creatures and forgotten worlds. At its heart, Mercado said, are the memories and relationships that shape people’s lives.

“‘Forgotten Island’ is about friendship and memories,” Mercado said, explaining that audiences can connect with the way memories influence “the life you have and the person you become.”

Forgotten Island opens in theaters in the Philippines on Sept. 23 ahead of its global release on Sept. 25.