The Makers of Forgotten Island Bring a New Vision to Animation

Universal Pictures India (distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery) is set to bring a heartfelt new story about friendship to audiences across the country with Forgotten Island, releasing in cinemas on 25th September 2026. The new original film is written and directed by Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado, and produced by Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The film stars Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R. and international star Liza Soberano as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, alongside an all-star voice cast featuring Emmy nominee Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon, global comedy superstar Jo Koy, and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng.

Forgotten Island follows the story of 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. As they navigate this mysterious new world, their friendship becomes the heart of an extraordinary adventure.

For Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, Forgotten Island became an opportunity to push animation beyond its familiar boundaries. The film’s visual language was designed to stretch the possibilities of animation. “For so long, animation has been put in this box, especially Western animation, where it is expected to be one thing,” Crawford says. “We really wanted to break out of that. Animation can tell any kind of story, and Januel and I set out to make an original film that felt truly original in every sense. There is broad comedy inspired by anime, but there are also cinematic, subtle, emotionally grounded moments. All of that can coexist in one movie. For Januel and me, it all feels authentic.”

Experience the limitless world of Forgotten Island on the big screen, only in theatres on 25th September, 2026.