"Forgotten Island" REVIEW

Published on 9/30/2026 

Written by: Braylon Mitchell 

Directed by: Joel Crawford, Januel P. Mercado 

Cast: H.E.R, Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, etc. 

Plot: Two best friends become stranded on the mystical world of Nakali, where their only escape might cost them their shared lifetime of memories. 

REVIEW 

Dreamworks has been on a hot streak recently with a handful of critically lauded and audience-adored hits such as "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and "The Wild Robot", and I'm glad to report that "Forgotten Island" sits at that same table of quality. The Alice in Wonderland down-the-rabbit-hole trope of being transported into a wondrous fantasy world and learning something about yourself trying to get home is an architectural narrative that we've all seen a thousand times, but tropes are just tried 'n' true structure if a fresh and new take is effectively applied—that's the case for this film, it may seem familiar but it unbridledly feels original. Both worlds in this film are so full of life, the fantasy island of Nakali with all its vibrant creatures and the country of the Philippines with its culture wonderfully represented in a lively manner that feels unforced. This film builds its conflict and stakes entirely around its emotional core; the entire film is shaped around the relationship and connection between two lifelong friends Jo and Raissa. Even as the film is cranking through its fairly short runtime with fast pacing, their relationship is thoroughly explored with depth, humor, and reliability. Paired alongside themes of how memories make us who we are and how precious the time we share with our loved ones is, the emotional punches this film throws in getting you to care and pulling at your heartstrings land with impact. This is one of the few films of the year that successfully brought me to tears. Vibrant and energetic in style, deeply moving in story and character, "Forgotten Island" is one of the best animated films of 2026. 

THREE BEST ELEMENTS

• Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado's direction. Coming from the directors of "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish",  Crawford and Mercado follow up that creatively high energy film with another creatively high energy film. Their high octane, smart style of animated filmmaking is fantastic but it's their keen focus on touching character focused stories that make this duo some of the best animated directors in Hollywood. 

• The animation. Blending 2-D and 3-D animation with an influx of anime influenced styles, this film's colorful and detailed animation is a joy to watch. 

• The voice acting. The entire cast deliver heartfelt, energetic, and emotional performances. 

WORST ELEMENT 

• The film is very fast paced, rapidly paced even, sometimes to a slightly overstimulating degree. 

RATING

8/10

It's a must see for animation fans, buddy!