Before ‘Forgotten Island’ Opens, Liza and H.E.R. Land in Manila

Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the writer-directors behind DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island,” are heading to Manila alongside lead voice actors Liza Soberano and H.E.R. and producer Mark Swift. The group will appear at the “Tayo Na, Philippines!” celebration at SM Mall of Asia’s Main Atrium on August 25, marking the Philippines as the first international stop on the film’s global promotional tour.

Two Best Friends, One Portal

Soberano and H.E.R. voice Jo and Raissa, two best friends since grade school who are about to take separate paths after high school. On their last night together, the pair stumbles onto a portal that pulls them into Nakali, an island filled with magical and mythological creatures drawn from the stories they grew up hearing from their Filipino families. Getting home costs them something: their memories of each other. Both leads voice their characters in Tagalog for parts of the film.

A Homecoming for Everyone

Soberano and H.E.R. are returning to celebrate the film with local audiences. Mercado is Filipino American, a detail also noted by Philstar, and Crawford’s wife is Filipina, per Deadline. Swift made several research trips to the Philippines while the film was in development. Crawford and Mercado previously directed the Academy Award nominated “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” and this time set their story in the Philippines during the 1990s.

The Soundtrack

Disney Legend Lea Salonga voices the mythical Manananggal. The soundtrack features Filipino artists including SB19 and BINI, along with KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza, and lands September 18, a week ahead of the film.

Where and When to Catch It

The “Tayo Na, Philippines!” event runs at SM Mall of Asia’s Main Atrium starting at 7 p.m. on August 25. “Forgotten Island” hits theaters on September 25, distributed by Universal Pictures.