Sit tight or run for the door? What happens after the credits of DreamWorks’ 100%-rated Forgotten Island
DreamWorks' 50th film draws on Philippine folklore and took a five-minute standing ovation at Annecy.
Every so often, DreamWorks throws out a curveball – and Forgotten Island is one of their more attention-grabbing ones. This isn’t the usual talking animal fare Americans might expect; the studio’s latest animated film draws directly from Philippine mythology, and has apparently lit up both critics and audiences – if that 100% Rotten Tomatoes score means anything to you.
Forgotten Island opened in American cinemas on 25 September 2026, debuting with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
So, any post-credits treats?
The big question for anyone prepping for a cinema run or just not keen on bladder strain: is it worth hanging about after the credits? The answer, rather refreshingly, is 'no'. Forgotten Island has no sneaky teaser at the very end, no Marvel-style nod to a sequel – the whole story wraps up discreetly before the credits start rolling. You’re free to file out once the last scene fades.
The story and the creative team
This one centres on two best friends, Jo and Raissa, off on a fantasy adventure in the magical realm of Nakali. Think creatures and landscapes pinched from Filipino folklore: you get manananggals, kapres, duwendes, and all manner of monsters that don’t tend to turn up in Western fairy tales. No supervillain chase at the end – the arc closes with Jo making it as a graphic novelist and stopping by to see Raissa at uni, both of them still clutching magical bracelets that let them pop back to Nakali whenever they fancy. Sweet, a bit corny, but very neat in storytelling terms.
In the director’s chairs: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, both hitting double duty as writers as well. They’ve apparently channelled quite a lot of their own longstanding friendship into the story’s dynamic. Universal officially dropped news of the film early in April 2025, and the casting got a fair amount of buzz when it was revealed, too.
Cast and influences
- H.E.R. leads the voice cast, alongside Liza Soberano
- The rest of the line-up: Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Lea Salonga
- Jo Koy and Ronny Chieng crop up in smaller supporting roles
The visuals are likely to look rather familiar if you saw Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; a major chunk of the same team came back for this one, with that blend of lush CG and stylised 2D moments. Most of the latter were handled by Manila’s own Snipple Animation, which gives the film a genuine local flavour that doesn’t feel like it’s been cranked out in California. The music, too, comes with some pedigree: Nathan Matthew David landed the composing gig after trekking around the Philippines to get a feel for the folk sound, roping in acts like Bini, SB19, and Lea Salonga herself for the soundtrack.
During the promo run, Forgotten Island picked up a five-minute standing ovation at Annecy, and if you’re the kind who watches the trades, it’s currently sitting at that rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after early festival screenings. All told, a solid outing for DreamWorks, especially for anyone who’s tired of quippy rabbits and ogre sequels.
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