By Kayla DeKraker
A new animated film by DreamWorks from a Teddy Bear Award®-winning director will release fall 2026.
Titled FORGOTTEN ISLAND, the film is described as a “broad party comedy adventure that transports the film’s protagonists to a long forgotten, magical island rooted in Philippine mythology.”
Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado will write and direct. Crawford’s previous credits include Teddy Bear® nominee THE CROODS: NEW AGE and Teddy Bear Award® winner PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH. This will be Mercado’s first full directing credit. The two filmmakers received an Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe for their work on PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH, per Deadline.
Crawford shared his excitement for the film on Instagram.
“It’s happening!” he wrote. “This has been a passion project of ours for the past four years and now, we’re official! FORGOTTEN ISLAND promises to be a wild adventure, but it is also a very personal story for the both of us…can’t wait to see you in theaters, September 25, 2026- Joel and Januel.”
Fans commented with excitement over the project. “Can’t wait to watch it, you a great director,” one user said. “This looks awesome- so excited to hear more soon!” another person added.
Related: Behind the Scenes of WILD ROBOT from DreamWorks
Crawford previously told Movieguide® that he wants to create films that impact children in a positive way. Specifically referring to THE CROODS: NEW AGE, he said, “In making this, I take into account, not just my kids but kids all over the world who are experiencing the characters.”
He continued, “One of the big choices we made in this was that we didn’t want the two female characters — the teenagers when they first meet — we didn’t want that to be the classic trope of jealousy, of cattiness, of negativity.”
Movieguide® praised the film in a review: “A NEW AGE has many moral, redemptive lessons. It promotes commitment, marriage, love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and sacrifice. It also has a beautiful message about fatherhood.”
DreamWorks studio has been doing well lately, with their latest release THE WILD ROBOT, which also celebrated uplifting themes, finding major success. The film received 108 nominations and 86 wins, including its place as the 2025 Critics Choice Award for Best Animated Feature. It also earned a whopping $333 million at the worldwide box office.
More info is still to come on what exactly FORGOTTEN ISLAND will entail, but with a studio behind it that supports wholesome stories like THE WILD ROBOT and a director who cares about what children watch, we are hoping for another positive and family-friendly story.
Read Next: Salma Hayek and Director Joel Crawford Talk PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH
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