Forgotten Island: Filipino Culture in Hollywood!
In a landmark milestone for representation on the big screen, DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures have released Forgotten Island—the largest animated feature of the year (with a 100% Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes during its first week of release in September 2026) and the very first Filipino culture-inspired animated movie produced by a major Hollywood studio.
For the Forgotten Island episode of Home Away From Home, we sat down with Filipino historian and the movie's cultural consultant, Kirby Araullo. His role was to ensure that the film feels authentic to Filipinos in the Philippines and to Filipinos in the diaspora and to ensure that there is balance between authentic representation and relatability, allowing the general public and other cultures to relate to the story.
Spotting Iconic Cultural Elements
We asked Kirby about his personal takes on some of the most iconic scenes and cultural elements in Forgotten Island.
From early trailers, fans around the world immediately noticed uniquely Filipino symbols anchored in both everyday life and modern pop culture:
The Jeepney & The Portal Sun: The iconic "King of the Road"—a WWII American military vehicle reimagined into a vibrant symbol of public transport—serves as a central visual anchor throughout the film alongside the radiant sun motif.
Fast-Food & '90s Music: A nod to urban youth culture and workforce experiences, the film features fast-food chicken stands, karaoke nights, and '90s-era pop and New Wave anthems that were just as popular in Manila and Cebu as they were in North America.
The Ultimate Family Gathering: One of the film's standout sequences captures a quintessential Filipino party featuring a table lined with lechon, lumpia, spaghetti, and hot dogs with marshmallows on sticks (displayed on a pineapple), set against the backdrop of Tinikling bamboo folk dancing and lively karaoke performances (voiced in part by director Januel Mercado himself).
Cross-Cultural Connections, Mythological Creatures, and Soundscapes
We dove deeper into the shared cultural traditions across borders, the rich mythological lineup, and the painstaking detail behind the film’s sound and animation styles.
One of the most talked-about subtle details in the film is characters pointing with their lips rather than their fingers. While widely recognized across the Philippines and shared with Austronesian relatives across Southeast Asia and Madagascar, the gesture struck a strong chord with Latin American viewers who share a similar everyday physical habit. Araullo noted that pre-colonial traditions across these regions historically viewed index-finger pointing as disrespectful, resulting in alternative ways to direct attention.
Bringing Mythological Figures to Life
Forgotten Island features a rich lineup of mythical creatures redesigned for a modern global audience:
Manang the Manananggal: A terrifying, iconic figure from Philippine folklore brought to life by the voice of Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga and through suspenseful visual design.
Raww the Were-Dog: Raww's character design balances supernatural origin with the friendly, everyday persona of a local aspin (Filpino mixed-breed dog) or a neighborhood tambay hanging out on the corner, ready to help when an emergency hits. It reminds Kirby of the mythic Sigbin in Filipino folklore.
Prince Mermahn: Sea creatures were also traditionally viewed as ocean healers through pre-colonial aquatic lore such as the Kataw (Visayas) and Suiki (Pampanga). Prince Mermahn reminds us of a blend between pre-colonial merfolk characters and the European mermaid (sirena) influences.
Bungi the Tiyanak: A large baby demon brought to life with an adorable and hilarious vocal performance by Filipino-American Hollywood star Manny Jacinto.
Overseas Collaboration & Authentic Scoring
The production brought together global animation talent at Dreamworks, partnering directly with local animators at Snipple Animation in Quezon City to ensure the film's chaotic, vibrant, and fast-paced energy mirrored actual life on the streets of the Philippines.
On the musical front, composer Nathan Matthew David worked directly with indigenous culture bearers and master musicians, flying traditional artists from the Philippines to the U.S. to record authentic indigenous instruments and utilizing historic instruments like the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ to shape the soundtrack.
A Historic Opening
With critical acclaim reaching near-perfect ratings on review platforms and one of the highest Rotten Tomatoes ratings this year, Forgotten Island stands as a monumental step forward for Filipino and Southeast Asian representation in Hollywood and on the global stage.
Watch our full interview (parts 1 and 2) with Kirby Araullo on our channel now, and catch DreamWorks' Forgotten Island in theaters!
Catch up on all 7 seasons (80 episodes) of our TV show Home Away From Home on ABS-CBN's iWant and TFC (international cable). Home Away From Home is a lifestyle show that celebrates Global Citizens as it chronicles international communities and explores cultural exchanges between Filipinos, fellow immigrants, locals and travelers in different parts of the world - produced by Nomads Media.
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