Forgotten Island Cast Reveals Film’s Personal Filipino Roots

H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Manny Jacinto and the filmmakers shared how family, friendship and Filipino culture shaped the original DreamWorks movie.

DreamWorks Animation is transporting audiences into a fantasy world inspired by Filipino culture, mythology, and family traditions with Forgotten Island.

During the film’s press conference, writers and directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado joined cast members H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, and Manny Jacinto to discuss the personal experiences behind the animated adventure.

Forgotten Island follows lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by H.E.R. and Soberano. After graduating from high school, the pair prepares to follow separate paths for the first time.

Their final night together takes an unexpected turn when they discover a portal to Nakali. The mysterious island is filled with creatures pulled from the Filipino stories they heard while growing up.

Returning home comes with a devastating price. Jo and Raissa must escape before the island erases every memory of their friendship.

Forgotten Island Is A Love Letter To Filipino Families

Mercado described Forgotten Island as a love letter to the Philippines, family, friendship and the memories people carry throughout their lives.

The filmmaker said those ideas became the story’s key ingredients. He compared the creative process to combining everything inside a pot of adobo to produce something personal.

Many of the cultural details came directly from the families and celebrations Mercado and Crawford experienced. Mercado explained that they did not simply follow the idea of writing what they knew.

“We write who we know,” Mercado said.

Filipino mythology gave the filmmakers an enormous collection of creatures and stories to explore. Forgotten Island includes figures such as the duwende, tiyanak, and the dreaded manananggal, voiced by Broadway icon Lea Salonga.

Mercado acknowledged that the movie only scratches the surface of those legends. The team selected creatures they remembered hearing about from their own families.

Crawford married into a Filipino family and understood the responsibility of helping tell this story. He wanted the movie to celebrate the culture while remaining welcoming to viewers who may know nothing about it.

The goal was to recreate the warmth of attending a Filipino gathering where every guest quickly becomes part of the family.

“If you’re there, you’re family,” Crawford said.

The filmmakers also describe Forgotten Island as a “coming-of-all-ages story.” Its themes of friendship, memories, and change are meant to connect with children and adults.

Jo Was Inspired By Januel Mercado’s Sister

Forgotten Island contains several details inspired by Mercado’s real family. Jo was named after and visually influenced by his sister, who was present during the press conference.

The character’s overalls, hairstyle, and scrunchie came from what Mercado called the quintessential 1990s version of his sister. Jo even has a facial scar inspired by one his sister received after a puppy bit her when she was young.

The emerald in Jo’s crown is another family reference. Mercado chose the stone because his sister was born in May.

Jo and Raissa also share personality traits with Mercado’s sister and her wife, Cathy. He described Jo as the life of the party, while Raissa carries a focused “producer mindset.”

These personal touches helped transform the characters into more than fictional creations. They became tributes to the people who shaped Mercado’s life.

H.E.R. And Liza Soberano Connected With The Friendship

H.E.R. was immediately drawn to Forgotten Island because it combined two important parts of her life: Filipino culture and animation.

Meeting Crawford and Mercado made the decision even easier. Their friendship and passion for the project convinced her that she wanted to be involved in whatever they were creating.

The bond between Jo and Raissa also reminded H.E.R. of her own best friend. The two met when they were 8 years old and formed their own version of the Cheetah Girls.

When another child tried to remove her future best friend from the group, H.E.R. defended her.

“I fought for her, and she’s been fighting for me throughout the years,” H.E.R. said.

Their friendship has continued for approximately two decades. Now that they both live in New York, they have more opportunities to spend time together and make new memories.

Soberano found a similarly personal connection with Raissa. The character plans to leave the Philippines and attend college in America, placing her friendship with Jo at risk.

When Soberano received the script, she had recently left the Philippines to pursue opportunities in the United States. She understood the excitement of following a dream and the fear of becoming disconnected from everyone left behind.

One of the movie’s most emotional sequences brought back memories of Soberano’s grandparents, who adopted and raised her. Her family kept her connected to Filipino culture by telling stories about the duwende, aswang, and manananggal.

Soberano remembered listening to those stories with her brother and attempting to scare their grandmother with flashlights. Their mischief occasionally resulted in their grandmother throwing a chinela, or slipper, at them.

Filipino Hospitality Defines The Movie’s Cultural Heart

H.E.R. and Soberano hope Forgotten Island encourages audiences to learn more about the Philippines beyond the mythological creatures.

H.E.R. highlighted the relationship between Lola, Jo and Raissa. Lola encourages the girls to remain curious, embrace adventure, and believe in themselves.

The singer and actress believes parents can take inspiration from that relationship. She also pointed toward the movie’s message that family can extend far beyond blood relatives.

Soberano hopes audiences recognize the Filipino spirit of hospitality. She described how Filipino families welcome people into their homes and make visitors feel like they belong.

“No matter where Filipinos go in the world, we’re able to bring people in,” Soberano said.

The film’s environments also take inspiration from the Philippines and its many tropical destinations. Soberano specifically mentioned Palawan and Siargao as places suited for adventurous travelers and people seeking a peaceful escape.

Food, karaoke, and large family gatherings add more recognizable pieces of Filipino life to the world of Forgotten Island.

Dave Franco Found Himself In Raww

Dave Franco voices Raww, a well-meaning but frequently hapless weredog who joins Jo and Raissa on their journey.

Crawford and Mercado originally introduced the movie to Franco by comparing elements of it to The Hangover, Superbad and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Franco considers all three among his favorite films and immediately connected with the filmmakers’ sensibilities.

He also recognized the importance of participating in a major studio movie centered on Filipino culture.

Franco admitted he shares more with Raww than audiences might expect. Both can appear confident while hiding a more introverted personality.

The actor described himself as intensely loyal to a small circle of loved ones. Away from work, he would rather stay home with his wife and two cats while watching a documentary.

His decision to avoid social media also comes from a desire to protect that personal space and avoid inviting negativity from strangers into his daily life.

Raww even inherited some of Franco’s Northern California background. The filmmakers included the word “hella” in his dialogue as a nod to the Bay Area.

Jenny Slate Brought Her Childhood Fears To Batiba

Jenny Slate voices Batiba, a friendly but anxious creature who wants to connect with others while remaining afraid of the world around her.

Slate saw parts of herself in the character’s combination of enthusiasm and social anxiety. Recording Batiba brought back painful memories of being left behind by classmates during middle school.

One moment involving a “BRB” sticky note reminded Slate of how a childhood embarrassment can feel permanent. Young people may view one bad experience as proof that the same rejection will follow them throughout their lives.

She used those feelings to make Batiba funnier and more emotionally complete.

Crawford and Mercado revealed that Slate improvised several lines during production. One of their favorites appears when Batiba realizes Jo and Raissa have left while she was making leche flan.

“This is such a specific humiliation,” Batiba says in the movie.

The filmmakers fought to keep the line because it captured the character’s comedy and sadness at the same time.

Manny Jacinto Became A Giant Filipino Demon

Manny Jacinto plays Bungi, a giant tiyanak whose name references the Tagalog word for someone missing a tooth.

Jacinto initially had doubts about joining the project. Crawford and Mercado quickly won him over with an energetic presentation that felt more like spending time with old high school friends than attending a professional meeting.

The opportunity to play a giant demon helped seal the deal.

Jacinto grew up in Canada, but his parents maintained a strong connection to Filipino culture at home. They spoke Tagalog and prepared dishes including adobo, kare-kare, and sinigang.

As he grew older, Jacinto developed an even deeper appreciation for those traditions. His parents also ensured that he remained connected with relatives living in the Philippines.

The Soundtrack Carries Jo And Raissa’s Memories

Music plays an important role in Forgotten Island and its 1990s setting.

Crawford and Mercado selected INXS’ “Never Tear Us Apart” early in the writing process. Crawford heard the song while driving home from Skywalker Ranch after completing work on The Croods: A New Age in 2020.

Although it was written as a love song, he believed its lyrics perfectly described Jo and Raissa’s friendship.

The filmmakers kept the song in the script throughout the movie’s development. Forgotten Island features the original INXS recording and a new reprise performed by Sofia Laforteza.

H.E.R. also worked with Ryan Tedder on an original song celebrating friendship. The track draws inspiration from late 1980s and early 1990s artists, including Tears for Fears, When in Rome, and INXS.

She approached the song as a conversation between Jo and Raissa before inviting Soberano to perform alongside her.

Soberano described the collaboration as an unexpected honor. The accompanying music video expands the world of the movie by bringing its vision of the Philippines into live action.

Forgotten Island arrives in theaters September 25.

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