Liza Soberano and H.E.R. on Why Dreamworks Animation’s ‘Forgotten Island’ Story of Friendship Resonated With Them

Dreamworks Animation knows how to tell stories about friendships, whether it’s between a boy and a dragon in “How to Train Your Dragon” or Donkey and Ogre in “Shrek” or a robot and bird in “The Wild Robot.” Its latest feature, “Forgotten Island,” anchors its story in two best friends who face being separated when one has to go abroad to college. One final night together puts their friendship to the test.

Liza Soberano and H.E.R. lead the voice cast as Raissa and Jo, who find themselves stranded in the mystical world of the forgotten island of Nakali. They come to find that their only way home might come at the expense of a lifetime of memories and emotions. Written and directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the film is produced by Mark Swift.

“Forgotten Island,” out now in theaters, centers around Filipino folklore, but its beating heart is the universal story of two teenage best friends who share memories and experiences.

Speaking with Variety, Soberano says the story was one that hit home. Growing up in the Philippines, she understood the theme of “losing” a family member or a friend who needed to go overseas for a better quality of life and to make a better living for themselves. Soberano explains, “I’ve seen all the different permutations of how that could affect family and loved ones that you’re leaving behind.”

The story struck a deeper chord when she left a successful career in the Philippines to make it in America. “I also went through that journey and that experience three years ago,” she says. She was particularly torn about leaving behind her little sister. “It was really heartbreaking because I was afraid of, I was afraid of us not being close anymore — not just in proximity, but in the relationship itself. I was afraid that we would grow apart. But through this, I actually discovered that there are so many reasons to not grow apart. You have to really fight for the relationship and fight for the closeness, no matter how far you physically are from one another. I find a lot of comfort in that, and this movie has taught me so much about it.”

Similarly, H.E.R., who grew up near Vallejo, California, also found the story relatable. “I left when I was 17 to move to New York and it wasn’t as far away — just across the country. But it felt super far. My sister was eight at the time, and I was 17 and she wanted her big sister around.”

While friendship is the beating heart of the film, “Forgotten Island” also captures the Filipino experience through cultural details that resonated deeply with its cast.

H.E.R. recalls seeing the Filipino elements in the film for the first time. “Seeing the Filipino sun for the first time — even before seeing the full film — made us so emotional. I remember that day very well. I remember seeing ‘pasalubong’ written on the screen, and I thought, oh my gosh, this is as Filipino as it gets. The petroleum jelly, all those little details, just really made me feel like, wow, I’m so proud to be Filipino. This is reminding me of home right now.”

Soberano agrees, saying, “It was the despedida — the farewell party. That was such an accurate depiction of what it’s like to be at a Filipino house party. There’s so much chaos going on. You have the lolas and the lolos being grumpy at everyone, telling them to either eat, sit down or go sing — and not to be ‘magulo.’ Then you have the little kids doing their own thing, hiding under the tables and creating chaos everywhere. And, of course, you have the titos and titas either playing mahjong on the side or singing karaoke. I thought that was such a beautiful depiction of Filipino energy, but you also feel the love coming from everyone at the party.”

Aside from starring in the film, the pair also lend their voices to the film’s soundtrack. Their voices capture the nostalgia, warmth and joy that radiate from their characters and the movie as a whole.

Angela Leus, senior vice president of Film Music at Universal Pictures, previously told Variety that neither she nor the filmmakers wanted to assume that H.E.R. would create an original song. “Everything needed to come from an organic place,” Leus says. “But when H.E.R. saw the film, she was so inspired that she decided to write something — and she was even more inspired to bring in Liza.”

Speaking about the song, Soberano admits she felt “major impostor syndrome being there.” She asked herself, “What did I do in my life to deserve this?” She adds, “I just felt so honored and blessed to be part of it.”

H.E.R. echoes the sentiment, saying, “She killed it. There was no need to be nervous because it was just fun. The fact that we were singing as Jo and Raissa just wraps it all up. Then we shot the video in Manila and made it kind of like a travel vlog, continuing that love letter to the Philippines. I’m just grateful to be in this process, especially with Liza. I love these characters. I love this film. I’m forever grateful for it.”