Forgotten Island Movie Review (2026)
A vibrant animated adventure about two lifelong friends transported to a fantastical island filled with the Filipino folklore they grew up hearing about, Forgotten Island includes entertaining animation styles, hilarious characters, and a heartfelt story about friends, loyalty, and chosen family.
One of the little secrets that I don’t talk about all that often is how regularly I watch what are “supposed to be” kids’ movies. I love a good animated film, whether it’s Moana – a movie that makes me cry every time I watch it – or Grave of the Fireflies – a movie that had me crying for very different reasons. Just because it’s animated doesn’t mean that it’s only for kids. It’s often a film that can be enjoyed by all ages, and I would happily discuss why both Moana and the Frozen movies are really stage musicals in disguise.
Forgotten Island is about Jo and Raissa, two girls who have been best friends since elementary school. Raised with stories of Filipino folklore, and with Jo’s grandma saying she had been to the land of Nakali, a mythical island, the girls begin to grow apart as they age. With Raissa about to leave for Caltech for college and Jo working at various fast food restaurants and with no future prospects, the girls are suddenly whisked away to Nakali, where they meet various creatures and their friendship is tested.
This joyful movie is like a love letter to the Filipino community with a huge “Welcome” sign for the rest of us. The film is peppered with rich cultural references, like banana lumpia and coconut, and creatures on the island, like the Manananggal (a vampire that separates at the waist and has wings) and the Kapre (tree-dwelling giants).
One of the things you’ll notice very quickly is the different styles of animation used in this movie. You’ve got traditional animation, like you’ve seen in typical DreamWorks films, but there are also Japanese-inspired segments (where someone gets excited and their eyes turn to pinholes, for example), 2D animation, and other choices that I couldn’t pick out with one viewing. I loved every second of the differences, and they made the viewing experience richer.
The friends found on the island are very funny and lovable, but it’s the relationship between Jo and Raissa that grounds the movie. These are girls who would and have done anything for each other, each wearing a charm bracelet full of memories that they’ve shared. They have their own minds and drives, but they keep coming back to each other.
Forgotten Island is a playful film full of absurdities, familiar 80s music, and hilarious characters, while also being a heartfelt, warm exploration of friendship and what you would do for those you love. I laughed a lot and I cried at the most touching part. I’m definitely going to add this to my list of movies I watch all by myself on the sly.
Runtime: 109 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: PG
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Yes, I did
My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Available: In movie theaters September 25th
