Universal Pictures has released the trailer for DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” starring H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga. The film will be released in theaters on September 25th.
Plot Synopsis: 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.
What do you all think of the trailer? I’m really excited for this film, mostly because directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado already proved what they can do with “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” and everything about this new film suggests they’re building on that film’s success. Backed by Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation, there’s clearly a lot of internal excitement I’ve been hearing, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the film follows a similar path to “The Wild Robot” with a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before its theatrical rollout. The story itself sounds right in DreamWorks’ wheelhouse, echoing the studio’s legacy from “How to Train Your Dragon” to “Shrek,” this time centering on two lifelong best friends who are on the verge of drifting apart as they transition out of high school. Seems like it will be highly emotional with visually inventive storytelling. With a stacked voice cast and, I’m sure, an upcoming original song (or maybe more than one) written by its musical stars, the has all the ingredients for broad appeal. Given this pedigree, the studio backing, and the apparent awards strategy, “Forgotten Island” already feels like a surefire contender this year for Best Animated Feature. But what do you all think? What do you all think of the trailer? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
