{
  "id": 9635575,
  "title": "Forgotten Island is a head-spinning, vivid DreamWorks romp through Filipino fantasy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/forgotten-island-is-a-head-spinning-vivid-dreamworks-romp-through",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T15:00:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/forgotten-island-review-dreamworks-her-filipino-animated-movie"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "\"Forgotten Island,\" the latest DreamWorks animated film, offers a dizzying and visually captivating journey through Filipino fantasy. Co-directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the movie follows the friendship between Jo and Raissa, two best friends who bond over their shared love of Predator and mythology. After Raissa is accepted to Caltech, a portal transports them to the mystical island of Nakali, the home of deities and cryptids significant to their lives.\n\nThe island, populated by mythic creatures like the Duwende people led by Truffle Wuffle, throws a lot of fantastical elements at Jo and Raissa. They are accompanied by Raww, a reactive weredog, and must find a lost sand dollar that opened the portal while enjoying a wild night of potion-induced revelry. The film is filled with memorable characters, including a looksmaxxing merman, an unsettling demon baby, a memory-hoarding bat, and a winged vampire whose wings Raissa eventually dons.\n\nDespite its chaotic nature, \"Forgotten Island\" maintains a sense of coherence through its striking animation and rapid-fire jokes. The filmmakers don't shy away from experimenting with various visual styles, including anime-inspired reveries and emoji-infused thought bubbles. The movie's message about wishes and growing up is conveyed effectively for young audiences, even as it presents Jo and Raissa with numerous trials.\n\nHowever, the film's frantic pace and overabundance of characters and plot points occasionally hinder its emotional impact. While it boasts a colorful and imaginative world, \"Forgotten Island\" occasionally loses its focus when attempting to convey deeper emotions. Despite this, the film remains funny and charming, with a strong foundation of right parts in the right places. Ultimately, it may be wise to pare down some of the excess in order to allow its central story to shine.",
  "summary": "The latest maximalist animated adventure from the Puss In Boots: The Last Wish team, Forgotten Island is plenty of fun, but overstuffed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Movie Review: ‘Forgotten Island’ is a trippy ode to friendship set against rich Filipino folklore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/movie-review-forgotten-island-is-a-trippy-ode-to-friendship-set",
        "published": "2026-09-23T15:08:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}