The team behind the upcoming feature The forgotten island He had an unforgettable experience while creating a DreamWorks Animation project.
Universal Pictures released the trailer on Wednesday ahead of the film’s release in theaters on September 25. Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado wrote and directed the film. The forgotten islandwhich features a voice cast including HER, Lisa Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, and Lea Salonga.
Focusing on an island rooted in Filipino mythology, The forgotten island Centered around lifelong best friends Joe (Herr) and Raisa (Soberano). After finding themselves stranded on the magical and forgotten island of Nacali, the only way to return home may require losing their cherished memories together.
During an event this week to celebrate the trailer’s release, HER explained that voicing a lead character for a project that evokes the folkloric creatures the music star would hear about from her Filipino mother means a lot.
“I was excited,” the Grammy and Oscar winner said of the work. The forgotten island. “I will be able to share a part of my childhood in this work and with the world. This is very rewarding for me.”
The trailer reveals that the magic portal includes the sun, an important symbol for the people of the Philippines.
“The first time I saw it, I cried,” Soberano said of the photo. “I literally cried because I was imagining all the kids in the Philippines and how they will feel when they see that and how proud they will feel when they see something beautiful that represents our culture and our country on the big screen. It felt like a big moment.”
She agreed that the use of the sun was a strong aspect of the film. “The sun is a big symbol for us,” she said. “Watching it on film – for kids, it’s different. It’s definitely very emotional, and it’s very special.”
Co-directors Crawford and Mercado, who have been close since working together at the studio Kung Fu Panda 2They used their real-life friendship as inspiration for the story of their new film. “I quickly found a kindred spirit in my stupid humor, in my movie references — and, more than anything else, a great friend who made me feel like I could be myself around him,” Crawford said of Mercado. “When I had the opportunity to tell an original story, I said to myself: ‘Friendship – it has to be about that.’”
Mercado noted that setting the film in the 1990s was important as a way to tap into a formative time in the directors’ lives. They hoped that the theme of nostalgia would be universal, regardless of whether that particular decade held special meaning for fans. “If you feel what we feel, you’ll relate to it and remember what makes you nostalgic, whether it’s the ’90s or not,” Mercado said.
