‘Forgotten Island’ Voice Cast and Character Guide: Meet the Stars of DreamWorks’ Mythic Adventure

In recent years, the animation landscape has experienced a monumental shift toward bold, culturally grounded stories that eschew predictable formulas for expressive personal artistic visions. Contemporary audiences increasingly gravitate toward productions that merge distinctive aesthetic approaches with deeply emotional explorations of human connection.

Studio storytellers have responded by embracing vibrant cross-cultural folklore, transforming traditional legends into kinetic cinematic worlds that resonate across international demographics. This creative evolution demonstrates how specific cultural traditions can provide fertile ground for universal coming-of-age tales that linger long after the credits roll.

Nowhere is this evolution clearer than in ‘Forgotten Island’, the 2026 animated fantasy adventure crafted by filmmakers Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado following their celebrated work on ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’. The narrative follows two inseparable companions who accidentally stumble through an enchanted portal into the spirit sanctuary of Nakali on the eve of their high school separation. Co-director Januel Mercado in an interview with The Hollywood Handle explained that “this movie is about friendship, and it’s about memories, and it’s about Filipino mythology and culture.”

The Heroic Best Friends at the Heart of Nakali

Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R. brings passionate vocal warmth to Jo, an imaginative, music-loving artist struggling with the anxiety of adulthood. Outfitted in nostalgic 1990s streetwear and accompanied by her cassette boombox, Jo embodies the fear of losing touch with the person who knows her best. When the duo lands in Nakali, Jo must confront the reality that clinging too tightly to the past might cost her the very memories she treasures.

Opposite H.E.R., acclaimed actress Liza Soberano portrays Raissa, Jo’s academically driven and fiercely loyal counterpart preparing to depart for Caltech. Raissa balances Jo’s impulsive spontaneity with rational determination, providing the intellectual compass that helps the duo survive the realm’s disorienting trials. Soberano imbues the character with a poignant emotional weight that captures the quiet heartbreak of entering an unfamiliar future.

The Wild Pack: Loyal Companions and Mythic Mischief

Joining the girls along their journey is Raww, an endearing yet perpetually anxious were-aspin voiced by Dave Franco. Designed as a comical blend of domestic street canine and supernatural creature, Raww quickly becomes a chaotic guardian for the lost teenagers. Franco supplies the character with manic charm, lending frantic vocal velocity to the shapeshifter’s desperate attempts to guide the newcomers safely across the wilds.

Comedy powerhouse Jenny Slate voices Batiba, a mystical arboreal creature inspired by the batibat spirit traditionally tied to dreams and rest. In this adventure, Batiba acts as a temperamental custodian of lost memories, helping the protagonists understand why their precious recollections begin vanishing the longer they remain stranded. Slate delivers an energetic, quirky performance that ensures the oddball creature serves as both comic relief and a vital plot anchor.

Rounding out the ragtag pack of guides is Bungi, a spirited, sharp-toothed demon baby known as a tiyanak, voiced by Manny Jacinto. Rather than leaning purely into folklore terror, Jacinto brings mischievous charisma and surprising innocence to the ferocious little spirit. Bungi’s fiery demeanor and sharp comedic beats deliver some of the film’s funniest moments during fast-paced skirmishes across the island.

Folklore Legends, Village Elders, and Royal Curiosities

Broadway icon and Disney Legend Lea Salonga takes on a deliciously menacing turn as The Dreaded Manananggal, the most feared creature in the skies of Nakali. Known in Philippine folklore as a vampire-like being capable of severing her torso, the villain tests the heroines’ loyalty by preying upon their deepest insecurities. As Variety reported regarding the film’s musical canvas, Salonga also lends her celebrated vocal talents to the production’s orchestral score, deepening the mythic gravity of the antagonist.

BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon voices Lola Fatima, Jo’s affectionate grandmother whose bedtime stories preserve the ancient myths that prepare the girls for their trial. De Leon grounds the family dynamics in heartfelt authenticity, highlighting the ancestral bonds that keep diaspora families tethered across multiple generations. Meanwhile, comedic star Jo Koy lends his distinct bravado to Datu, an eccentric chieftain spirit who oversees the realm’s bustling marketplace settlements.

The colorful voice roster is capped by Kevin McCann as Prince Mermahn, an excessively vain merman based on the traditional siukoy. Alongside character appearances from Ronny Chieng and Amielynn Abellera, the supporting players populate the island with distinctive cultural energy. Together, the talented ensemble transforms the fantastical landscape into a heartfelt celebration of community, memory, and heritage.

Which member of the ‘Forgotten Island’ voice cast are you most excited to see bring these legendary creatures to life on the big screen?

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