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Dreamworks Unveils Its Dreamiest Animated Character Since Shrek
DreamWorks is releasing a new animated film, Forgotten Island, on 25 September, and Polygon has shared an exclusive first image of a scene-stealing new character, Prince Mermahn. The blue, fishnet-clad merman prince is described by co-directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado as a "shallow, self-absorbed" character craving validation, who joins the film's heroes partway through their journey. The film comes from the makers of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and follows DreamWorks' efforts to push its animation style further, drawing on anime influences and 1990s-inspired visuals.
Mermahn, son of King Merdad and heir to the "Pearl Throne", is voiced by Kevin McCann, a member of the film's editorial team whose temporary "scratch" recording impressed the directors enough that he was kept on as the character's official voice. Forgotten Island follows two friends, Jo (voiced by HER) and Raissa (Liza Soberano), who are transported through a portal to the mythical island of Nakali, populated by creatures from Filipino folklore, including the fearsome Manananggal (Lea Salonga) and weredog companion Raww (Dave Franco). To return home, the pair must race against time before losing all memory of their friendship, the price demanded for their journey back.
In short
- DreamWorks' Forgotten Island hits cinemas on 25 September 2026.
- New character Prince Mermahn revealed in exclusive Polygon image.
- Film draws on Filipino folklore, starring Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga and Dave Franco.
Explained simply
Forgotten Island is a new DreamWorks animated film out on 25 September, made by the team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. It centres on two friends, Jo and Raissa, who are pulled through a portal into Nakali, a mythical island inspired by Filipino folklore, and must find their way home before they lose all memory of each other.
The story is getting attention partly because of its visual style, which draws on anime and 1990s-influenced animation rather than DreamWorks' usual look, and partly because of its cast of folklore-inspired characters, including the shapeshifting Manananggal and a weredog companion. The voice cast includes HER, Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga and Dave Franco.
A newly revealed character, Prince Mermahn, a vain merman prince voiced by an editorial-team member whose temporary recording ended up being kept, has become a talking point ahead of the film's release, with comparisons being drawn to breakout DreamWorks characters of the past, such as Shrek.