Forgotten Island

Forgotten Island is a wonderful new animated feature from the team that brought you Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. We’re introduced to childhood friends Jo (H. E. R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano). One is a free spirit, the other an aspiring scientist, and they’re both getting ready to go their separate ways. But during their last night together, they’re transported to a magical island. The film is full of mythological creatures and fantastical settings, but it’s also rooted in friendship and memory. If you’re looking for more animated epics, check out these episodes: Nature needs a little help in the inventive Pixar movie ‘Hoppers’ https://www.npr.org/2026/03/09/nx-s1-5737566/nature-needs-a-little-help-in-the-inventive-pixar-movie-hoppers'The Wild Robot' is grand and gorgeous, with big feelings https://www.npr.org/2024/10/02/1202966840/the-wild-robot-is-grand-and-gorgeous-with-big-feelings'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' remembers every Nintendo moment ever https://www.npr.org/2026/04/02/nx-s1-5770126/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-remembers-every-nintendo-moment-ever Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/nprpopculture/ / Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pchh Our weekly newsletter https://www.npr.org/newsletter/pop-culture Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org http://plus.npr.org/. See pcm.adswizz.com https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy

• 0:00Speaker 00

  This message comes from Capella University. That spark you feel, that's your drive for more. Capella University's FlexPath learning format lets you earn your degree at your pace without putting life on pause. Learn more at capella.edu.

• 0:15Speaker 01

  You're listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour, the podcast that keeps you plugged into the latest, greatest, and sometimes not so greatest in pop culture. Now, if you love pop culture and you're not following the show yet, we are recommending you fix that posthaste by following Pop Culture Happy Hour on your favorite podcast app.

• 0:33Speaker 02

  I laughed. I cried within three minutes.

• 0:36Speaker 03

  I bet we all did.

• 0:37Speaker 02

  That's right. And sometimes I come to this place for magic, and that magic is The Forgotten Island.

• 0:46Speaker 01

  Forgotten Island may be full of mythological creatures and fantastical settings, but it's rooted in friendship and memory. It's a busy and colorful animated feature from a team that helped bring you Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Kung Fu Panda 2. I'm Stephen Thompson. Joining me today on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour is former host of Slate's internet culture podcast, Icy YMI, and former Pop Culture Happy Hour producer, Candace Lim. Hey, Candace.

• 1:12Speaker 02

  Hello.

• 1:13Speaker 01

  Always great to have you back. Also joining us is one of our producers here on Pop Culture Happy Hour, Liz Metzger. Hey, Liz. Hi. A pleasure to see you both. So at the beginning of Forgotten Island, we meet childhood friends Joe and Risa. They're played by her and Liza Soberano, respectively. One is a free spirit, the other, an aspiring scientist, and they're about to head off in drastically different directions. But during their last night together, they're sent through a portal to the island of Nakali, a place they'd heard about in legend.

• 1:44Speaker 04

  Where are we? Nakali. Nakali! We did it! We made it, Lola! Yeah!

• 1:54Speaker 01

  There, they meet a wide variety of tricksters, threats, friends, and foes, all based on Filipino folklore. And along the way, they face a serious dilemma. Getting off of Nakali and back to their lives may mean surrendering memories of their friendship. The voice cast of Forgotten Island includes Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Joe Coy, and others, and it was written and directed by Joel Crawford and Genwell P. Mercado, who last brought us Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. It's in theaters now. Candace Lim, I'm going to start with you. What did you think of Forgotten Island?

• 2:26Speaker 02

  Oh, Forgotten Island, I love. I think, to me, it is a mix of The Hangover. I see a little bit of Turning Red. You know, I've had a friend tell me it's a little bit of Moana to her. But I think it kind of makes sense where this film is coming from. Like you said, the co-directors, they are my dogs, okay? They worked on Kung Fu Panda, okay? These are my people. And I've also been seeing some reviews about how this movie is very chaotic or hectic, but I actually think it works for a few reasons and layers. First, like, from a very visual standpoint, yes, it is chaotic. It's a lot of colors. It's a lot of blue and purple hues. And there are a lot of characters. It's a lot of voices. It's a lot of music, a lot of great music as well.

• 3:11Speaker 02

  But I think, considering who this movie is for, considering who is at my screening, which is a lot of under 14 kids, I think that it kind of sparked that same joy within me, as in, I laughed. I cried within three minutes.

• 3:25Speaker 03

  I bet we all did.

• 3:27Speaker 02

  That's right. And sometimes I come to this place for magic, and that magic is The Forgotten Island.

• 3:31Speaker 01

  Okay, how about you, Liz?

• 3:32Speaker 03

  I found this film very, very, very charming. Candace is giving it like two big thumbs up, and I'm giving like one really big thumbs up because I think it is so frenetic. There is a lot of things that I felt, I was like, oop, that's for me, or oop, that's for me, a tita of three tiny, very wacky little nieces. So there was a lot that really was getting me. But I think the thing that I was really impressed with is just how gorgeous this film is. I think it is, I think the style for DreamWorks Animation has really come such a long way. Not that they haven't always been beautiful, but I think this feels so different from even the last film that I saw from them, which was The Wild Robot, which is absolutely

• 4:15Speaker 03

  gorgeous, but this feels still so different. And I think I just thought that this had such style from the character designs, and I thought so much of this world is just, again, I'm going to use the word frenetic like 10 times, mostly to its help, but a little bit to its detriment because we are just off to the races all the time. We are in set pieces. We are in emotions. We are in memories. We are meeting side character after side character. I think it's a really, really fun, fast-paced film. Is it a little overstuffed? I mean, I'm not going to fault it for it because I think it has enough heart and style that I was very forgiving for when I was like, oh, boy.

• 4:59Speaker 03

  So thumbs up, big thumbs up.

• 5:02Speaker 01

  Okay. I think I came down around the place that Liz came down, which is, I did enjoy it. I found it moving. I thought it was beautiful to look at. We're going to talk about kind of the look of this film in just a second. But, I mean, you've already used the word frenetic multiple times. I've heard the word chaotic multiple times. The one that I kind of kept underlining 15 times is cluttered. This is a very, very cluttered movie. It is cluttered with characters. It is cluttered with dialogue. Visually, it is throwing a ton at the screen. Most of it is gorgeous. Cluttered visuals are not a knock on this film, but this is overstimulation station.

• 5:42Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 5:42Speaker 01

  And if that is not your bag, you may find it a little headache-inducing and definitely a little hard to follow. I didn't always have the easiest time following this movie, particularly during kind of the action set pieces where it's really throwing a ton at you. But I did, at the same time, find it moving. I found the, you know, ultimately, this is, you know, for all of the references to The Hangover and to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

• 6:11Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 6:11Speaker 01

  And The Odyssey. The Odyssey. Yes. All the various references that you might be able to throw up. This is fundamentally, at its core, a movie about childhood friendship and the power of childhood friendship and kind of the nature of memory. This is a movie that I think cares really deeply about these characters and about the culture that they represent and about putting, you know, Filipino folklore on screen. This movie feels very heartfelt in its intent. And also, you know, we've alluded several times to how gorgeous it is. I appreciated the way that it didn't just have these like rich, deep colors, but also this kind of something that a lot of DreamWorks movies have gotten really good at, which

• 6:54Speaker 01

  is throwing up images that look like paintings, but then kind of slapping anime and graphic novel and 2D kind of over the top of that.

• 7:06Speaker 03

  I love seeing the mixing of media and style. I think because this, in a lot of ways, it makes you think about when you're reading a graphic novel where you're playing a lot with like, there's a little pop-up you're having, seeing inside someone's head or like, and manga. And I think that style really leans really well, also to the idea of this like very strong nostalgia that is like steep in this film. That is not personally my nostalgia, but I am happy, like, for those who it does serve. But, you know, it helps give the specificity to the film. But I think seeing when we were playing with a lot of mixed media in terms of like the imagery, I think it, it helps the frenetic energy of this.

• 7:49Speaker 03

  There are sometimes so many things to look at, and there's so many things to hear and to pay attention to, and you're like, I gotta, I gotta just have a good time. I just gotta laugh. I gotta just kind of sit back because it is a lot to take in.

• 8:00Speaker 01

  Yeah. We will have much more about Forgotten Island after the break.

• 8:05Speaker 00

  Stay tuned for the following announcements and messages from our sponsors. This message comes from AT&T. Right now at AT&T, you can get the new iPhone 18 Pro for $0.00 with eligible trade-in. It has the ultimate pro camera system and a big leap in battery life, so you can turn this deal into a long-lasting connection. Connecting changes everything. Requires trade-in of $230 or more and eligible plan. Terms and restrictions apply. Subject to change. Visit an AT&T store for details.

• 8:34Speaker 05

  This message comes from Google Workspace with Gemini. One subscription that does it all. Personalized AI and premium business versions of Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, and more. Try it free for 14 days at g o o dot g l e slash Workspace with Gemini.

• 8:53Speaker 06

  I'm Rich Mar, host of a new podcast called RVA's Got Issues. Because we've all got issues, right?

• 9:00Speaker 07

  For sure. Oh, definitely. Everybody has issues. What are you talking about?

• 9:04Speaker 06

  And do you think Richmond's got issues?

• 9:05Speaker 07

  I think every city, every county, every town has issues.

• 9:08Speaker 06

  Listen to RVA's Got Issues from VPM, part of the NPR network.

• 9:16Speaker 01

  Welcome back. If you're not following Pop Culture Happy Hour yet, hit that follow button on your podcast app and stay plugged into everything PCHH has to offer. Candace, let's pick up with you.

• 9:27Speaker 02

  So I want to push it on the freneticism because I think I know why they did it. I think the first thing is that I do unfortunately think this film has a lot going up against it. The first one just being that even me, who's watched the trailer multiple times before so many movies, I did not fully understand what this movie was about. I didn't realize it was about Filipino lore. I just knew it kind of had this look like Ruby Gilman teenage kraken, but I also knew that it was not IP. This was something very original. And I think knowing all of those barriers it was up against and what it's going to take to get kids and their parents and people like us into those seats is the fact that once you get into that theater, I think there was a bit of a pressure to put as

• 10:08Speaker 02

  much as possible on the screen because like attention spans are difficult. But I do think that when we talk about the freneticism, sometimes it comes out as energy. You know, I think there's two ways that like kids' films kind of bring up the tempo. One is by music, but specifically like needle drops that their parents would care about and go, ah, I love that song, which happened to me so many times in this film. But the second one is a abrupt change in genre or style. And that's where the anime comes in. And it was something I really loved because it wasn't just like one bout of anime. It was different versions of it and different like versions of animation to kind of like put things together. I think the third thing that I would say that kind of captivated my attention too

• 10:53Speaker 02

  is, you know, there's a lot of side characters. I'm not going to say if they're evil or neutral. I don't know. But the one that I actually am a little bit obsessed with is there is an evil mushroom that sits atop a chicken. And that's my new minion. I want that so bad on my pajamas. I want that on my car steering wheel. I want that for Christmas and, and a stuffed animal now, now.

• 11:21Speaker 01

  Wow. I don't even remember this character.

• 11:25Speaker 03

  It's the troll looking character that Ronnie Chang is voicing.

• 11:29Speaker 02

  Yes, yes.

• 11:30Speaker 08

  How dare you show your disgusting sweaty meat faces here after the utter disrespect you have displayed towards me, King Truffle Waffle.

• 11:39Speaker 01

  Keeping all these characters straight for people who have not seen this movie, keeping all these characters straight is a job of work. We've mentioned several times kind of the needle drops and some of the cultural references that are clearly for parents more than kids. I mean, it's worth noting, this film is set in the 90s. It's a period piece. There are no cell phones. They clearly are kind of trying to root it, I think in part so they don't feel compelled to throw in a whole bunch of contemporary cultural references that are going to feel dated. So you have needle drops for In Excess. You have them singing "Don't Stop Believing."

• 12:15Speaker 03

  Who let the dogs out, you know?

• 12:16Speaker 01

  Who let the dogs out, which is like, it's a dated cultural reference, but now it's, but now it's canon. I think that quality, kind of taking it out of the present day, ultimately works in this film's favor. But I do want to touch on something that Candace said, which is really wondering about how much cultural reach this film is going to be able to have while it's in theaters. Because I can't help but think about potentially how much better it could do on streaming when people are able to kind of, if they're into it, kind of watch it and re-watch it, absorb it, share it with, you know, the kids love to watch things over and over and over again. And I just think about the way like

• 12:59Speaker 01

  Encanto really captivated a lot of audiences, I think because they were sort of able to watch it multiple times. This film, like Candace said, it's a little bit harder to grasp going in what you're going to get. And I do wonder if that limits this film's reach.

• 13:16Speaker 03

  I want to believe in original stories. Like, I want to believe in a story that it's also about female friendship, that like, yes, going to the movie theaters is more expensive than streaming a movie when you've already paid for a subscription or, you know, being able to watch it over and over again. But, you know, I want to believe in the movies. But like, I really do think that like, when kids get to watch something once, they'll want to go again and again. And I do think like, it may not have like, the biggest reach immediately, but I think honestly, it's pretty silly and wacky. And it's got a lot of really fun voices that, you know, sometimes I'm like, box office, you know, that's only just part of the life of a movie. It has a long, big life of just being clipped over

• 14:01Speaker 03

  and over again and showing up on my timeline again and again and again. I'm curious to see how it does, obviously, but I do think I can see it having again a life once it gets released on streaming, absolutely. And I think one of the things that I wanted to pick up on is that I think there's just some really great voice actors that are present in this film that I am really, really happy to see Manny Hacinto being this like demon baby. I don't see enough of him. I don't see enough of him being silly since The Good Place. So there's a lot of stuff there that I'm like, this is really fun and I'm hoping maybe meme-able, maybe that will help, you know, those sorts of little clips. But I

• 14:43Speaker 03

  think that was something that I was really appreciative of, like a really strong voice cast because, you know, we live in a world where celebrities do many a voices. And many of those celebrities are charming on screen and maybe less charming as just a voice.

• 14:57Speaker 02

  Just say Chris Evans. Just say Chris Evans.

• 14:59Speaker 03

  I won't, I won't, Candace. I won't. That's for you. You're braver than I.

• 15:06Speaker 01

  Oh, it's so true. All right. Well, that brings us to the end of our show. Candace Lim, Liz Metzger, thanks so much for being here.

• 15:13Speaker 02

  Thank you.

• 15:14Speaker 03

  Thank you.

• 15:15Speaker 01

  This episode was produced by Hufse Fathama, Lennon Sherburne, and Mike Katzif, and edited by our showrunner, Jessica Reedy. Hello, Come In provides our theme music. Thank you for listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR. And if you like what you're hearing, please make sure to follow the show on your favorite podcast app. I'm Stephen Thompson, and we will see you all next time.

• 15:41Speaker 00

  Stay tuned for the following announcements and messages from our sponsors.

• 15:45Speaker 05

  This message comes from Google Workspace with Gemini. Ever notice how every new AI tool asks you to explain your business to it all over again? Google Workspace with Gemini skips that. You get Google's AI built right into the premium versions of Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, and more. No new tools, no extra logins, just one subscription that gives you personalized AI right inside your actual workflow. Try Google Workspace with Gemini at g o o dot G L E slash Workspace with Gemini.

• 16:18Speaker 06

  I'm Rich Mar, host of a new podcast called RVA's Got Issues, because we've all got issues, right?

• 16:25Speaker 07

  For sure. Oh, definitely. Everybody has issues. What are you talking about?

• 16:28Speaker 06

  And do you think Richmond's got issues?

• 16:30Speaker 07

  I think every city, every county, every town has issues.

• 16:33Speaker 06

  Listen to RVA's Got Issues from VPM, part of the NPR Network.