MANILA, Philippines — The wait is almost over. Following the much-anticipated Philippine homecoming of Liza Soberano, H.E.R., writer-directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, tickets to DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” are now on sale.
Set to open in Philippine cinemas Sept. 23, “Forgotten Island” brings Filipino folklore, mythology, friendship and family to the big screen in an original animated adventure that has already struck a special chord with Filipino audiences.
The recent Philippine visit of the film’s stars and filmmakers gave fans an early glimpse into the heart behind the story. During their Manila homecoming, Soberano and H.E.R. shared their personal connections to Filipino culture, while Crawford, Mercado and producer Mark Swift spoke about the Filipino influences woven throughout the film — from its mythical creatures and visual details to the values of friendship, family and bayanihan.
For Crawford and Mercado, the opportunity to tell a story of their own was always going to be shaped by their friendship. They have been constant partners on projects such as “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “The Croods: A New Age.”
“We just organically found that we have the same sensibilities,” Crawford says. “We enjoy making each other laugh. We like the same movies. There is so much overlap in the way we think that we developed this shorthand, almost like an unspoken agreement. Writing together feels seamless, and that opens the door to special moments in the script.”
In “Forgotten Island,” they bring to the spotlight a culture that shaped both their lives, with Mercado being Filipino American and Crawford having married into the culture through his Filipina wife.
“We both have personal connections to the Philippines, so this movie is a love letter to our families and a culture that shaped our values,” Mercado says. “We thought a lot about the people who shape our lives, the loved ones who influence who we become and the way we move through the world.”
Crawford adds, “Not only did we set out to write what we know, but rather who we know.”
In “Forgotten Island,” high school graduates Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano) embark on one last celebration before life takes them on different paths. As the night goes on, a magical portal transports them to Nakali, a mythical island from the stories of their families. Creatures reside on the mysterious island, both fierce and friendly, and when they are faced with the disappearing memories of their friendship, they race to find a way out of Nakali.
Producer Mark Swift was immediately invested in the story of “Forgotten Island,” emphasizing the importance of original stories.
“Every movie I have done up until now has either been a sequel or based on a book,” Swift says. “To work on an original film is exciting because you are truly starting from scratch. There are no existing designs for the characters, no established personalities. Every idea is a new idea, and each one can take you down a different path. What is great about Joel and Januel’s partnership is that it came out of friendship. They completely trust each other and know what each brings to the table, so being on that journey with them has been fantastic.”
To prepare for the film, the filmmaking team traveled around the Philippines for research. Mercado’s family threw a massive welcome party, which inspired Raissa’s going-away party in “Forgotten Island.”
“The Philippines is beautiful,” Crawford says. “The culture was a huge part of what we wanted to celebrate in this movie. It is incredibly warm and welcoming, the kind of place where, if you are there, you are family. Everyone is singing, dancing, eating and drinking together. And the myths still feel very alive there. Everyone we met had a story about seeing Manananggal.”
In the end, “Forgotten Island” is still about the universal experience of unforgettable memories with loved ones.
“As specific as our story and our experience may be, anyone can relate to it,” Mercado says. “We all have friends, family and people we are connected to. We are all capable of making beautiful memories. At the heart of this story is friendship, the growing pains of life, the fear of being forgotten and the fragile nature of memory. Memories are valuable because they do not last forever, and that is what makes them so important.”
Don’t miss the magical tale of Forgotten Island, arriving in Philippine cinemas on September 23.
