Full Breakdown
DreamWorks’ “Forgotten Island” Puts Filipino Music at the Heart of Its Soundtrack
6/20/2026, 10:00:06 PM
Core Event: Filipino-Centric Soundtrack Announced
DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming film *Forgotten Island* will preview at the Annecy Animation Film Festival next week and open in U.S. theaters on September 25. The studio confirmed that the film’s soundtrack is anchored by a roster of Filipino artists, marking a deliberate effort to foreground Filipino musical culture in a major animated release.
Background & Context: Film Premise and Cultural Intent
*Forgotten Island* follows best friends Jo and Raissa—voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano—as they navigate a magical portal to the mythic island of Nakali, confronting shapeshifters, demons and witches. The directors, Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, partnered with Universal Pictures’ senior vice president of film music, Angela Leus, to ensure the score and songs reflect authentic Filipino influences, drawing on 1980s-1990s pop aesthetics and Filipino-American musical traditions.
Key Artists & Contributions
- BINI – P-pop girl group; new track “A Parallel World” (produced by Nathan Matthew David and Shawn Wasabi).
- Lea Salonga – Broadway legend; provides vocalizations for the Dreaded Manananggal and contributes additional vocal performances.
- Sophia Laforteza (Katseye) – Reimagined INXS classic “Never Tear Us Apart.”
- SB19 – Covers Francis M’s “Mga Kababayan.”
- Ruby Ibarra (with Carl Angelo) – Performs “Salbahae Ako.”
- H.E.R. & Liza Soberano – Co-lead title track “BRB.”
- Nathan Matthew David – Composer of the original score, integrating analog synths and traditional Filipino instruments such as the gandingan and Las Piñas bamboo pipe organ.
Data & Statistics: Song List and Artists
| Song | Artist(s) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| “A Parallel World” | BINI | Original soundtrack song |
| “Never Tear Us Apart” (remix) | Sophia Laforteza | Emotional scene |
| “BRB” | H.E.R. & Liza Soberano | Title track |
| “Mga Kababayan” (cover) | SB19 | Tribute to Francis M |
| “Salbahae Ako” | Ruby Ibarra & Carl Angelo | Original track |
| Additional tracks | DMX (“Party Up”), Baha Men (“Who Let the Dogs Out”) | Licensed songs |
Official Statements & Responses
Leus explained that the soundtrack’s authenticity stemmed from a “deep dive” into both established and emerging Filipino creators, aiming to educate herself on the community’s breadth. She noted that the inclusion of Tagalog lyrics was intentional, describing the result as a “perfect representation of Jo and Raissa… and two strong Filipinas.” Directors Crawford and Mercado expressed enthusiasm for “giving a voice to Filipino culture and Filipino stories,” highlighting the collaborative energy among the featured artists. Composer David emphasized the blend of nostalgic analog synths with indigenous instruments to mirror the film’s narrative shift from a modern portal adventure to a folkloric island setting.
Criticism & Opposition
No dissenting viewpoints or criticism were reported in the available sources.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources consistently list the same artists, songs, and release timeline; no discrepancies were identified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “From the very beginning, I said, ‘I need to be aware of every Filipino music creator out there,’ so it was a deep dive and a lot of reaching out to our community in the Philippines and here,” — Angela Leus, Senior Vice President, Film Music, Universal Pictures
- “We’re so lucky to have that as the end result because it’s a perfect representation of Jo and Raissa in the story, but also of two strong Filipinas.” — Angela Leus
- “we wanted to make sure there’s Tagalog in the song. As a Filipina, hearing that song, seeing it on screen, and hearing the Tagalog language on a global stage is incredibly special.” — Angela Leus
- “Joel and Jan had a very creative understanding of what the music was going to be, so it was very easy to come to them and say, ‘There’s this group called Bini — they’re amazing.’ It was a no-brainer and easy to get to that point,” — Angela Leus
- “We leaned heavily on analog synths from that era,” — Nathan Matthew David, Composer
- “Crawford said, “What’s been thrilling for us all along is giving a voice to Filipino culture and Filipino stories, and seeing how that has translated into this freshness in the music.” — Joel Crawford, Director
What’s Next: Festival Preview and Release
*Forgotten Island* will debut at the Annecy Animation Film Festival before its worldwide theatrical rollout on September 25, positioning its Filipino-centric soundtrack as a central promotional element.
