Movie preview: Forgotten Island
Have you ever wondered how Hollywood translates rich Filipino folklore into an animated spectacle? Could a mainstream animated film truly honor the terrifying and majestic monsters of Philippine mythology without losing their traditional roots?
The animated feature Forgotten Island brings the magical realm of Nakali to life through the journey of best friends Jo, voiced by Grammy-winning artist H.E.R., and Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano, alongside Hollywood star Dave Franco as the well-meaning weredog Raww and Manny Jacinto as the baby demon Bungi.
The movie fills its world with classic creatures from local legends, including the Sarimanok, Kataw, Manananggal, Kapre, Duwende, Tiyanak, Asong Gubat, and Batibat. While the movie gives a fun Hollywood twist to many of these monsters, a few of them stay super close to the original tales passed down through generations.
Here are five of the movie's coolest creatures, stacked up from the ones that stay truest to real Philippine folklore to the ones with a bit more creative spin.
1. Sarimanok - Majestic bird
Originating from the Maranao people of Mindanao, the Sarimanok is a legendary bird depicted with vibrant, multi-colored plumage, often holding a fish in its beak or talons to symbolize good fortune, wealth, and nobility. The film keeps the Sarimanok virtually intact as a regal, brilliantly feathered creature that serves as a revered guardian bird in Nakali. Though scaled up to massive proportions for cinematic flair, its iconography, colorful palette, and cultural symbolism remain the most authentic to original Philippine lore.
2. Kataw - The sea ruler
In Visayan mythology, the Kataw are higher-ranking merfolk who hold sway over the oceans, possessing distinct aquatic manipulation powers and guarding marine life. Featured through the character Mermahn, Prince of the Kataw, the creature preserves its traditional identity as a dominant ruler of the seas. Although given an animated superhero twist with a magic trident, its core traits of water manipulation, amphibious biology, and oceanic sovereignty mirror classical Visayan myth closely.
3. Manananggal - Forgotten Island main villain
Perhaps the most famous monster in Philippine folklore, the Manananggal is a vampire-like creature capable of severing its upper torso from its lower body, growing bat-like wings to fly in search of prey. Voiced by Lea Salonga as Manang, the character keeps her iconic anatomical defining trait: the ability to detach her upper torso and take flight. The film softens her terrifying predatory nature to fit a family-friendly narrative, but her core visual and physical mechanics are straight out of traditional horror tales.
4. Kapre - Gentle tree giant
Traditional lore describes the Kapre as a tall, dark, hairy giant that inhabits massive trees, such as acacia or mango trees, and spends its time smoking large cigars, playing tricks on lost travelers, or protecting the forest. Represented by Datu, voiced by Jo Koy, the film maintains the creature's giant size and deep connection as a tree-dwelling forest guardian. While the movie removes the iconic cigar-smoking habit and gives him a gentler, more musical personality, the basic visual concept of a giant tree-spirit chief remains recognizably Filipino.
5. Duwende - Fierce but still cute warriors
Small earth or house spirits, Duwende in local folklore can be either benevolent or mischievous, living in anthills, trees, or house corners. Led by King Truffle Wuffle, voiced by Ronny Chieng, the movie portrays the Duwende as a tiny, highly organized community of earth dwellers. Though adapted into a trope similar to Western fantasy gnomes or warriors for animated comedy, their small size, earthbound homes, and collective nature retain the spirit of the original folk belief.
The dwende are proud warriors. Whatever you do, do not call them cute. -- Bungi (Tiyanak)
Comments