I sat in a near-empty theater as lights rose and heard a handful of people whisper the title to each other. You could tell they had loved it—but most left convinced it would be one of those quiet treasures the world forgets. That prick of unfairness is why I want you to meet Forgotten Island now.
I’m calling this a slept-on gem for a reason: Forgotten Island arrived with high praise from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, yet it barely registered at the box office. I want to walk you through why this DreamWorks animated adventure deserves a second life in your living room, and what the home release offers that could change how you remember it.
At a crowded film festival bar, people swapped recommendations and this title came up more than once.
The film comes from the team behind the Oscar-nominated Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and it wears that pedigree with quiet confidence. Forgotten Island blends modern animation techniques with Philippine myth, and the result is a story that critics loved and viewers who caught it loved even more.
Forgotten Island is a secret map, folding family lore into an animated quest. The directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado steer a voice cast that includes H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga—names that give the movie both star wattage and cultural authenticity.
When does Forgotten Island arrive on digital and physical formats?
It hits digital on October 27, followed by a 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on December 1. If you missed its theatrical window, those dates are the tidy second chance the film needs to find you.
At family gatherings I’ve seen people point at the screen when creatures look familiar to grandparents’ bedtime tales.
The story centers on best friends Jo and Raissa, who step through a mysterious portal to Nakali—a myth-filled island that threatens their memories as they try to get home. The emotional spine is friendship and the danger that memory itself can erode; it’s an intimate theme dressed in big, vivid visuals.
Is Forgotten Island rooted in Filipino mythology?
Yes. The filmmakers traveled through the Philippines (see the home release feature “Friendship and Filipino Culture”) to source creatures, music, and motifs. The film treats folklore with respect while giving it an accessible, modern edge that will feel familiar to anyone with Filipino heritage and surprising to those who aren’t.
Walking the toy aisle, I noticed kids pointing at creatures on packaging that look like the film’s designs.
The home release is packed with extras aimed at fans and curious newcomers. Here are the highlights you’ll actually want to watch:
- FRIENDS FOR LIFE — H.E.R. and Liza Soberano talk about the characters’ bond and why it feels like family.
- CREATURES OF LORE — Cast and filmmakers reveal their modern take on Filipino mythic creatures.
- TAYO NA! THE MAKING OF FORGOTTEN ISLAND — A behind-the-scenes look at the anime-inspired aesthetic, Nakali’s design, and the character work.
- FRIENDSHIP AND FILIPINO CULTURE — Directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado travel through the Philippines to explore the film’s roots.
- THE SOUNDS OF FORGOTTEN ISLAND — The soundtrack’s cultural mixing and scoring choices explained.
- “A PARALLEL WORLD” LYRIC VIDEO — A vibrant BINI track video celebrating friendship and discovery.
- HOW TO DRAW: THE WILD PACK — Guided sketches for Bungi Tiyanak, Prince Mermahn, and Raww.
- FEATURE COMMENTARY — Writer-directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado share a track.
On social feeds I saw clips of people trying to name every creature they spotted.
The film’s visual language works with its storytelling: animation choices, color timing, and cultural music combine to create memory-focused stakes. The soundtrack is a lullaby, threading cultural rhythms through memory and mood—an audible engine that keeps the emotional current moving.
If you missed it in theaters, the home release gives you context and extras that turn a single viewing into a conversation: commentary from the directors, cultural featurettes, and creative how-tos that connect the film to real Philippine traditions. Platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and DreamWorks’ own PR materials have already framed the movie as one of the year’s quiet critical successes; now it’s time to form your own opinion at home.
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Will you let a good film slip into the crowd of forgotten releases, or will you give Forgotten Island the second life it clearly deserves?