Manny Jacinto Discusses the Pride of Bringing Filipino Culture to ‘Forgotten Island’

voice film logo squareArthur S. Poe
Manny Jacinto Forgotten Island
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DreamWorks Animation has spent decades creating beloved worlds, but few of its releases carry the cultural significance that ‘Forgotten Island’ now embodies. This animated fantasy adventure, directed by the talented duo Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, marks a groundbreaking moment as the first major Hollywood feature-length animated film centered on Filipino culture and mythology.

This distinction is more than just a marketing note. A USC Annenberg study revealed that Filipino actors represented only 6.1 percent of AAPI actors in the top 200 grossing films from 2018 and 2019. This statistic highlights the importance of a studio feature focused on Philippine folklore and led by a predominantly Filipino and Filipino American voice cast, making it a significant milestone.

Universal Pictures hosted the film’s world premiere this week, where star Manny Jacinto took the opportunity to reflect on the film’s importance beyond the screen. In an interview with DiscussingFilm on the red carpet, Jacinto expressed his gratitude for the support from the Filipino community, emphasizing that many Filipinos are coming out to support the film, which is a huge deal.

Jacinto went beyond expressing gratitude, explaining that opportunities like this are rare for the Filipino community in Hollywood, which adds real pressure to the film’s success. This tension between pride and pressure has been a recurring theme in the cast’s discussions about the project during its rollout.

Born in Manila and of Filipino-Chinese descent, Jacinto voices Bungi, a 200-year-old demon baby inspired by the Tiyanak from Philippine folklore. He has previously described the casting process as something he had been “waiting for his whole life,” humorously reflecting on the surreal experience of being cast as a giant three-eyed baby demon for a major studio film.

Set in the 1990s in the Philippines, ‘Forgotten Island’ follows childhood best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, who accidentally enter a mystical realm called Nakali on their last night together before Raissa departs for college abroad. The name Nakali is derived from the Tagalog word “nakalimutan,” meaning forgotten, and the land itself gradually consumes the memories of anyone trapped within it, compelling Jo and Raissa to race against time to remember each other.

The voice cast also features Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga, who voices the feared Manananggal pursuing the girls across the island. The film draws directly from the stories that both directors grew up with, with Crawford’s wife being Filipina and Mercado himself being Filipino American, giving the project a deeply personal foundation that goes beyond mere research.

Screenshot 2026 09 24 at 21 10 55 Forgotten Island Rotten Tomatoes

The response to the film has matched the emotional stakes Jacinto described. ‘Forgotten Island’ premiered with a remarkable 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from nearly two dozen reviews, making it the highest-rated DreamWorks animated film in the studio’s history. Critics have lauded the film as dazzling, praising its storytelling and its rich depiction of Filipino culture.

Despite the positive critical reception, ‘Forgotten Island’ is not anticipated to dominate the box office immediately, with tracking estimates suggesting an opening weekend in the $15 million to $17 million range domestically as it faces competition from larger releases like ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore.’ However, given the word-of-mouth success of ‘The Wild Robot,’ there is genuine hope within the community that ‘Forgotten Island’ could follow a similar path toward lasting cultural impact.

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