Voice actors Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, and Jenny Slate have opened up about the creative challenges behind the fantasy adventure film Forgotten Island, discussing the scenes they worked hardest on and the surprise of hearing their performances come to life on screen. The trio, who lend their voices to a cast of creatures drawn from Filipino folklore, recently spoke about the lengthy production process that shaped the movie, which is now playing in theaters worldwide.
The actors play three members of the film’s ensemble of aswang, supernatural beings rooted in Philippine mythology. Franco voices Raww, a jaunty were-dog who befriends protagonists Raissa and Jo upon their arrival at the magical island of Nakali. Slate plays Batiba, a catlike batibat demon covered in glowing runes, while Jacinto voices Bungi, a large blue baby-like tiyanak demon with three eyes. Together, the three reflected on how the extended animation timeline allowed them to experience the finished film much like everyday audiences.
Watching the Magic Unfold
For voice performers, the recording process typically occurs years before a film is complete, leaving actors disconnected from the final product. Franco, however, said the sheer length of the production meant he and his co-stars got to watch the finished film with genuine anticipation. He noted that the directors had been attached to the project for more than five years, while the actors recorded their lines in just a handful of sessions.
“What’s so amazing about animation is that it’s such a long process, putting these films together. I think our directors have been on this movie for over five years. And then we come in, and we’re in the recording booth for — I maybe went in eight to 10 times. Which is a very small part of the whole scheme of things. So when we see the final movie, we really get to watch it objectively. There’s so much they’ve done over the last five years. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is what you guys have put together? And we get to be a part of it?'”
Dave Franco
Both Slate and Jacinto said the final rendered versions of their characters surprised them once they saw the completed film. Slate said she was especially delighted by the visual effect tied to her character’s magic, while Jacinto praised the animators for breathing emotion into performances recorded in isolation.
“I just really, really, really love when Batiba lights up. Even though I knew she did that, I really enjoyed it.”
Jenny Slate
“When Dave and I watched it the first time, it wasn’t complete yet. So when you watch the finished product, you just really notice how talented the animators are. You do this voice in a booth, and you don’t know how it’s gonna look. But they bring it to life, and give it so much emotion and character. My character specifically, I love that the whole time, he’s thought of as a big demon baby, but at the end, he kinda gets to save the day a little bit with his massive pinkeye blast. That was very satisfying to see.”
Manny Jacinto
The Scenes That Demanded the Most Effort
When asked which moment required the most work, Franco pointed to a deliberately goofy sequence in which his character Raww recounts adventures with Jo and Raissa, complete with heavy animation nods to ’90s anime. Franco said the scene pushed him to explore a range of voices, including a deliberately over-the-top macho tone and two female characters, all within a single take.
“There’s a scene where my character goes full Dragon Ball Z. I’m recounting this memory, and I’m talking about myself like I’m way more macho than I really am. So I got to do a deeper, stereotypical masculine voice for that. And then I’m voicing the two girls in the scene as well. I was like, ‘OK, there’s a lot of different ways to do this. Let’s just throw everything against the wall, have fun, and be as silly as possible.'”
Dave Franco
Slate and Jacinto, by contrast, described the subtler balancing acts their characters demanded. Batiba is a morally complicated figure who trades magic for memories, and Slate said conveying that duality required restraint. Jacinto, meanwhile, discussed the delicate tone required when his character recounts the terror of another folklore creature, the Manananggal.
“Batiba has a couple things going on at once. When a character is presenting themself one way, but maybe they have something else that’s actually the real objective, you don’t want to give it away. So it’s about having a light touch while still being entertaining. I enjoyed finding that balance.”
Jenny Slate
“With Bungi, there’s a couple of times where he recounts Manananggal’s terror around the city. And it’s a fine line between horror and comedy. Focusing on those particular scenes was a bit of a challenge, because how far do you take it each way? Those sequences were particularly interesting.”
Manny Jacinto
Looking Ahead
The rich folklore that informs Forgotten Island’s world has drawn attention from audiences eager to see Philippine mythology brought to the big screen, and the actors’ candid reflections on their craft have added to the anticipation surrounding the film’s theatrical run. As the movie continues to play, fans can expect the performances of Franco, Slate, and Jacinto to resonate with viewers discovering the island of Nakali for the first time.
Forgotten Island is in theaters now.
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