This Friday marks a significant occasion for Filipinos worldwide as DreamWorks' latest animated feature film, “Forgotten Island,” hits theaters.

For Filipino-Canadian Andrea Custodio, this film was more than just another animated movie. After attending a screening at Queensway Cinema in Toronto on Wednesday night, she expressed her appreciation for seeing her culture represented on the big screen, particularly through animated Filipino women as lead characters. “All the representation and symbols like the sun, jeepney, and all that. I think it’s pretty cool that now even non-Filipinos can see that and experience the culture,” she remarked.

“Forgotten Island” is set in the Philippines and follows the adventures of two lifelong best friends, Raissa and Jo, as they embark on a quest to discover the island of ‘Nakali,’ a reference to the Tagalog word ‘nakalimutan’ meaning ‘forgotten’ in English.

DreamWorks, along with Universal Pictures and the Toronto-based film enthusiasts’ group, Sine Institute, organized an advanced screening in Toronto. This event allowed community members not only to enjoy the film but also to acknowledge the journey it took for such a cinematic representation to come to fruition.

Audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with one moviegoer commenting, “I did not expect a movie, an animated movie like that to be that powerful. I cried, I laughed, it was so funny.” Many attendees appreciated the film's vibrant portrayal of Filipino folklore, including the ‘Aswangs,’ a shape-shifting supernatural creature from Philippine mythology.

While being marketed as a mystical adventure for audiences of all ages and backgrounds, Sine Institute's vice president, Rosary Escano, highlights the particular significance of this release for Toronto's Filipino community. “There are many kids from the Filipino community that are interested to learn more about their identity, to really know about mythology, about their history,” he said. He added that the film’s ability to tell these stories in a humorous and emotional manner makes it unique.

Beyond its celebration of Filipino mythology and culture, the film also garners attention for its impressive voice cast. Filipino actor Liza Soberano lends her voice to the character Raissa, while Oscar-winning Filipino-American singer-songwriter H.E.R. voices Jo. The cast also includes renowned talents like Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, and Filipino-Canadian Manny Jacinto.

Michaelangelo Masangkay, president of Sine Institute, believes that “Forgotten Island” will resonate well beyond the Filipino community. “I think this is going to be embraced beyond the community,” he stated confidently. Furthermore, the film is anticipated to have a strong opening weekend, having already received a 100-percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes from professional critics. However, according to Escano, the most valuable reviews have already been expressed by the film's audience: “We felt seen.”