Memories keep on slipping away as worlds collide in the spellbiding trailer for DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island

Who says the power of friendship bracelets is dead? Clearly, they’ve not seen the eye-popping trailer for Forgotten Island, the latest animated epic from DreamWorks, the same studio that, in 2024, brought us The Wild Robot, a brilliant film that defied expectations and became one of my favorite animated films of all time. I don’t know about you, but today’s Forgotten Island trailer is giving Life is Strange / Lost Records: Bloom and Rage vibes. Those are video games, but I stand by the comparison.

What’s Forgotten Island about?

The new original film is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, with production by Academy Award nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Grammy and Academy Award-winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to embark on separate life paths.

While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. 

Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony-winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.

Who else stars in Forgotten Island?

The film’s all-star voice cast also includes Emmy nominee Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Dying for Sex), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Top Gun: Maverick), BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness, Ghostlight), global comedy superstar Jo Koy (Haunted Mansion, Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn) and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, M3GAN).

Let’s freakin’ go!

How is this the first I’m hearing about Forgotten Island, and why can’t I watch it right now? Ever since The Wild Robot, I’ve been excited to see what DreamWorks brings to the table. I’ve always enjoyed their output (to varying degrees). Still, we’re clearly entering a new era in which the studio is putting a new coat of polish on its animation, perhaps taking cues from Sony Pictures Animation and its Spider-Verse series. I absolutely love the look of Forgotten Island, and the story looks touching, frantic, and exploding with color. Plus, did you see the cast or hear the soundtrack? I am all in for this one. DreamWorks, let’s get in touch!

Forgotten Island comes to theaters on September 25!

The post Memories keep on slipping away as worlds collide in the spellbiding trailer for DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island appeared first on JoBlo.