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‘Forgotten Island’ Directors Confirm They Have Sequel Plans
Directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado have confirmed they are already planning a sequel to their original animated film Forgotten Island, which follows Filipino teenagers discovering a fabled island. The confirmation represents a significant moment for original storytelling in animation, a space increasingly dominated by established franchises from studios like Pixar and Illumination. The film has been in development for six years, beginning in 2020 after the directors completed work on The Croods: A New Age, before they paused to create Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
The story was inspired by the directors' personal friendship and their cultural connections—Crawford's wife is Filipino and Mercado is Filipino-American. Beyond the narrative, the film is notable for its technical innovations, blending 2D hand-drawn elements with 3D animation, particularly in character expressions influenced by anime aesthetics. Crawford and Mercado emphasised that the film celebrates female friendship during a transitional period in life, centring unsung heroes and cultures that have historically lacked mainstream representation.
In short
- Directors confirm sequel plans for original animated film Forgotten Island
- Six-year development blended personal friendship with Filipino cultural celebration
- Film pushed animation boundaries by merging 2D drawings with 3D models
Explained simply
Forgotten Island is an animated film by directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado about Filipino teenagers who discover a legendary island. The film stands out for being an original story rather than a sequel or remake, which has become increasingly rare in animated films from major studios.
The directors brought personal connections to the project—Crawford's wife is Filipino and Mercado is Filipino-American. The film uses a blend of hand-drawn and digital animation, combining visual styles influenced by anime to tell a story about friendship between young women.
The film marks a significant moment for Filipino stories in mainstream animation, a field where such narratives have traditionally been scarce. The film has spent six years in development, reflecting the careful work needed to bring original, culturally grounded stories to international audiences.