Flaring Felicity

I watched Forgotten Island during its first weekend in Philippine cinemas. I had seen the trailers months earlier and already knew it belonged on my calendar.

Seeing Filipino culture and mythology brought to life on the big screen felt special; watching it with my high school buddies made it even more memorable.

The film did not disappoint. Here are the four things that stayed with me.

1. Forgotten Island Animation: A Treat for This Artist and ’90s Kid

As someone who makes art and enjoys manga and comics, I loved how Forgotten Island moves between different drawing and animation styles. Its colors and imagery feel playful and inventive. The shifts in style also give different memories their own personality.

They brought out my anime-loving, batang ’90s heart. Raww’s memory sequences were among the parts inspired by Dragon Ball Z. I enjoyed seeing that kind of energy alongside the film’s other visual styles; it made the adventure feel even more fun to watch.

2. Forgotten Island Filipino Culture: Familiar Details in a Fantastical World

The mythical characters, the food, the karaoke—there was so much that felt familiar.

The film has an upbeat rhythm, too. Just when I thought an action scene might be winding down, something else would happen and pull me back to the edge of my seat.

I also appreciated knowing that Filipino artists helped shape what we see. Character designer Genevieve Tsai, who has Filipino heritage, worked on the film, while artists at Quezon City’s Snipple Animation Studios contributed hand-drawn 2D animation. After visiting the studio, co-director Januel Mercado said he had “never seen an animation studio of all Filipino artists.” That’s a lovely piece of trivia to carry into a film that celebrates Filipino stories. vogue.ph

3. Forgotten Island Friendship Story: The Memories We Carry Through Change

Beneath the color and adventure is a story about friendship, separation, and holding on to memories while life changes around you. Those themes can speak to teens, but I think adults will find plenty to sit with as well.

The film gives space to loneliness, loss, and the fear of drifting apart. It also reminds us of the goodness on the other side: companionship, community, excitement, and the memories we make together.

Watching it beside friends I’ve known since high school made that part of the story feel especially close.

I felt a personal connection to that story. I spent my first two years of high school at San Sebastian, then transferred to Manila High School in my third year. As a teen, changing schools was a transition I had to face. Yet there I was, years later, watching this movie with my Baste barkada. The separation had been geographic; we had stayed in touch.

The film also met me in a more recent season of moving on from a breakup. Some places still bring old memories to mind, and they can stay with me for a while. I’m learning to walk into new places and make room for new memories, even while the old ones remain part of my story. That’s one of the thoughts I carried out of the cinema.

4. Forgotten Island Soundtrack: Francis M, SB19, and BINI

I was already listening to Francis Magalona’s original “Mga Kababayan” when I was a kid. Hearing SB19’s rendition in Forgotten Island made my heart want to leap and clap. It connected a song from my childhood to a new movie experience.

Here’s another detail I loved learning: Filipino artist Anthony Francisco, who helped develop the film’s world, pushed for a Francis M song because he felt it belonged in a story set in the Philippines of the ’90s.

BINI’s “A Parallel World” is beautiful, too. Its friendship theme feels like the right note on which to leave this review.

Watch BINI’s “A Parallel World” from the Forgotten Island soundtrack:

Forgotten Island Movie Review: I’d love the next generation to watch

The Greatest Showman has long been one of my favorite movie experiences. After seeing Forgotten Island, I think I have a new number one.

I’d love for future generations—our kids and grandkids—to experience its imagination, its music, and its story of friendship. If it’s still showing when you read this, catch it in the cinema. I’m grateful I did, and even more grateful that I got to share it with old friends.

Thanks for reading this Forgotten Island Movie Review!