Forgotten Island: Honest Review — Is It Worth Watching? | 7.6/10
Forgotten Island is a genuinely touching animated film that doesn’t talk down to its audience, mixing genuine laughs with real emotional stakes about friendship that actually land. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s the kind of film that sneaks up on you with how much it cares about its characters and their story.
| Director | Januel Mercado |
| Cast | H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Lea Salonga, Jenny Slate |
| Runtime | 109 min |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Family |
| Year | 2026 |
Forgotten Island: The plot (no spoilers)
Forgotten Island opens with Jo and Raissa—best friends on their last night before graduation—stumbling through a portal into Nakali, a lush and weird island filled with the kind of visual whimsy you expect from animation done right. The hook is merciless and clever: they can go home, but they’ll lose every memory of their friendship in the process. It’s the kind of premise that could’ve been mawkish in less careful hands, but here it feels genuinely consequential.
The tone walks a tightrope between genuine adventure and real emotional vulnerability, never letting you forget what’s actually at stake for these two characters. The film refuses to dump the weight of its concept just to be cute, and that restraint is what makes it work with both kids and adults who remember what it felt like to face that particular kind of loss.
Acting & direction
H.E.R. and Liza Soberano have genuine chemistry as Jo and Raissa, delivering vocal performances that feel lived-in rather than performed, and that distinction matters enormously in animation. Dave Franco brings a charming goofiness as a side character, while Lea Salonga and Jenny Slate add depth to what could’ve been throwaway supporting roles with smart, human line readings that elevate every scene they’re in.
Januel Mercado’s directorial touch is surprisingly assured—the pacing never drags even at 109 minutes, and the visual language of Nakali feels cohesive without being derivative of other animated properties you’ve already seen. The color palette shifts beautifully between scenes, and there’s a real attention to how light and shadow can communicate emotional beats without beating you over the head with them.
The strengths
- The central friendship between Jo and Raissa feels authentically messy and real in ways that most animated films completely botch.
- The film takes its premise seriously and refuses to undercut genuine emotional moments with cheap comedy, trusting the audience to sit with discomfort.
- Mercado’s visual direction creates a world that’s fantastical without feeling weightless, grounding the absurdity of the island in something that feels geographically and emotionally coherent.
- The voice cast elevates material that could’ve been saccharine into something that feels earned and honest.
The weaknesses
- The third act relies a bit too heavily on convenient plot mechanics that feel slightly rushed compared to the patient, character-driven first two acts.
- Some of the supporting characters exist mainly to move the plot forward rather than genuinely surprise or delight you, which is a missed opportunity in a film this thoughtful about its leads.
Who should watch it
If you love character-driven adventure films with heart—think Gravity Falls meets Amphibia‘s emotional maturity—then this is absolutely worth your time. Parents who are exhausted by cynical “kids’ entertainment” will appreciate how much care Mercado puts into making something that respects both children and adults, and cinephiles who care about animation as a craft should pay attention to how the film uses visual storytelling to deepen its themes.
Final verdict
Forgotten Island is the kind of film that sneaks into theaters without massive fanfare and ends up being remembered specifically because it bothered to develop its characters beyond their function in a plot. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a genuinely solid, emotionally intelligent piece of entertainment that treats its audience like they have feelings worth respecting. For a 2026 animated family film, that’s genuinely rare enough to deserve your attention. Seven-point-six out of ten is absolutely fair, but I suspect time will be kinder to this one than critics who were busy looking for the next big franchise moment.
FAQ
Is Forgotten Island appropriate for young children?
Yes, it’s rated for family audiences, though the core theme about losing memories of a friendship might hit harder for kids over eight who understand what that kind of loss actually feels like emotionally.
How does Forgotten Island compare to other animated adventure films?
It’s more emotionally grounded than typical action-adventure animation, leaning closer to character-focused work like Gravity Falls rather than high-spectacle blockbusters, which is precisely where its strength lies.
Who voices the main characters in Forgotten Island?
H.E.R. voices Jo and Liza Soberano voices Raissa, the two best friends at the center of the story, and both deliver performances that feel natural and unforced.
What’s the runtime for Forgotten Island?
The film runs 109 minutes, which gives Januel Mercado enough space to develop the friendship and emotional stakes without feeling bloated or rushing toward a convenient ending.
Is there a post-credits scene in Forgotten Island?
Stay through the credits if you want a small character moment that provides gentle closure, though it’s not essential to the overall experience of the film.
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