Here’s my spoiler-free Forgotten Island movie review (I tried) of the animated film Forgotten Island as a moviegoer and a Filipino, while trying my absolute best to set aside being a Bloom (ang hirap ha! 😅).

Forgotten Island is, by far, THE best animated film I’ve seen in a very long time. 🤩 It easily made it to my list of favorite movies of all time — one of those films I know I’ll keep coming back to whenever I need a good cry or just want to relive the iconic references.

An Absolute Rollercoaster of Emotions

Watching it was a rollercoaster of emotions. It made me laugh — a lot! The Filipino humor was there, and I found it quite amusing how they managed to make it accessible for non-Filipinos/international viewers — though I still stand firm that Pinoy humor — in its purest form — can never be translated talaga. 😂

And then came the tears. I bawled my eyes out — iyak malala! 😭

I didn’t even bother hiding my tears or my sniffles, mostly because I also heard other people in the cinema crying. What made it interesting was hearing people tear up at different parts of the movie, proving just how deeply and uniquely it impacted everyone in the room. 😭

Above all, Forgotten Island left me in total awe. 😮

World-Class Animation & Craftsmanship

Sure, it’s a Dreamworks Animation and Universal Pictures movie so it’s expected that the film would be amazing.

BUT the art styles are uniquely beautiful. There were so many distinct animation styles that I lost count, yet never once did they feel disruptive to the storytelling. They blended effortlessly into the scenery. Ang galing! I’m sure a lot of creative people would appreciate that about the film.

The writing, pacing, and character development are commendable. They knew what to reveal, what to keep a mystery or hold back, and when to move forward. ‘Di ako na-bored. Walang dragging moments for me. It kept me hooked!

I especially loved how they didn’t feel obligated to over-explain every single character’s backstory. It left my BF and me with so much to discuss and analyze on the ride home!

The Soundtrack: A Musical Masterpiece

AND THE MUSIC?! OH MY GAD! Ang ganda ng pagkakalapat ng songs and score. The soundtrack elevated every single scene’s emotional weight.

Tagos malala yung pagpasok ng “A Parallel World” ng BINI sa mga key parts ng movie. Yes, parts! The longer moment of the song got me all teary-eyed, 50-50 because of the moment in the movie and BINI’s beautiful voices singing it. But what really got me crying so hard was the next time it played in the background. Ang sakit huhuhuhu. 😭❤️‍🩹

Watching the movie made me love the Forgotten Island OST more.

I have a more intense appreciation of the song “B.R.B.” by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano.

I also liked how they used “Mga Kababayan Ko” in the movie — remake by SB19, original song by Francis M.

It got me bopping to the song “Salbahe Ako” by Ruby Ibarra (I’m a new fan!) and Carl Angelo.

And Sophia Laforteza‘s “Never Tear Us Apart” also emotionally wrecked me, in the best way possible!

Ang galing ni Nathan Matthew David! I really hope he gets nominations (yes, plural!) for this film kasi sobrang deserving!

A Proud Moment for Filipinos

But you know what made this film truly special for me? It made me so damn PROUD to be a Filipino. 🥰

It didn’t try too hard to impress or shove cultural references down anyone’s throat. They did it in such a lovely — many times amusing — way that you’ll be proud that Forgotten Island was made by Filipinos (at least mostly 😁), about Filipinos, for Filipinos.

Sure, may minor lapses here and there — like yung banana lumpia na dapat ata lumpia with banana ketchup (basta, watch it! 😅) — but nothing that took me out of the experience. It balanced global appeal without sacrificing its Filipino identity. Kudos to the Forgotten Island team!

No cringe moments — just pure heart, nostalgia, and a lot of HAHAHAHAHAHA moments. 😅😂😁

There were sooooo many relatable moments and familiar traditions that made me miss the 90s — what I consider our “simpler times.” I didn’t really have very close family relationships with my titas and titos (except for one — I still miss you, Ninang Perla!) , but I’ve seen those family moments in my friends’ homes.

I also absolutely LOVE how they made our folklore, especially the manananggal, even more intriguing — and terrifying — in such an artistic way. The animation effects, transitions, and the way they introduced the mythical creatures were so fascinating to watch, especially yung kapre, si Manang, and the Batibat. It’s the kind of creative storytelling that makes you appreciate the richness of our own culture all over again.

When the film ended, I was left with this warm feeling na finally, nagka-moment din tayo ng ganito. Because the world needs to see how beautiful we are as a people — our culture, our sense of family, and even our humor.

(Though, of course, I can’t really speak for how successfully Forgotten Island is introducing Filipino culture to the rest of the world, since I’m a Filipino myself, and the film is about people and experiences that are already familiar to me.)

But it made me realize one important thing: Kaya naman pala. KAYANG-KAYA NAMAN PALA. 🇵🇭

Kudos to directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado for this breathtakingly amazing animated fim. The entire voice cast, especially Liza Soberano, H.E.R., Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy, Dolly de Leon, Ronny Cheng, and Dave Franco, who brought the movie so much life!

I hope this is just one of the many more Filipino winning moments in the global stage in the years to come. We’re already doing it in sports, arts, and music. I hope we also see it more in international movies, and TV shows even!

For now, let’s start by watching Forgotten Island. It’s a MUST-SEE!

This film deserves to be seen, especially by the Filipinos it was made for. 🥰

Let’s show up for our own. TAYO NA!! 😍

#ForgottenIsland #ForgottenIslandPH