{
  "id": 16700081,
  "title": "WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Forgotten Island — The inventive animated film putting Filipino folklore in the spotlight",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/what-were-watching-forgotten-island-the-inventive-animated-film",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-27T03:40:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-27-forgotten-island-the-inventive-animated-film-putting-filipino-folklore-in-the-spotlight/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "DreamWorks Animation's inventive animated film, Forgotten Island, brings Filipino folklore to the forefront, offering energetic and inventive entertainment. The story follows the unlikely friendship between Jo Yuson, voiced by H.E.R., and academically gifted Raissa Molina, played by Liza Soberano. As they navigate the joys and challenges of friendship and growing up, they encounter fantastical creatures on the legendary island of Nakali. Forgotten Island stands out with its inventive animation style, blending Western and Eastern traditions, computer-generated visuals, and traditional 2D cartoons. The film's dynamic cinematography and catchy music hits mark it as part of a new generation of features that break from naturalism and embrace a pop collage aesthetic. While the movie may be frightening at times, it offers an opportunity for viewers, particularly older children, to explore the rich mythology of Southeast Asian folklore.",
  "summary": "Following the creative lead of the likes of KPop Demon Hunters and Into the Spider-Verse, Forgotten Island, from DreamWorks Animation, offers energetic and inventive entertainment against a rarely seen cultural backdrop.",
  "key_points": [
    "Forgotten Island features Filipino folklore on screen.",
    "Jo Yuson and Raissa Molina are central characters voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano.",
    "The film blends Western and Eastern animation styles."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Blending diverse animation styles and Southeast Asian mythology signals a shift toward pop collage aesthetics that move beyond traditional naturalism to center regional folklore in mainstream feature films.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}