Metro Manila, Philippines – Grammy and Oscar-winning artist H.E.R. described “Forgotten Island” as a homecoming, saying the Filipino-inspired animated film allowed her to connect more deeply with her heritage.
“It finally feels like home,” H.E.R. said as she reflected on her participation in the DreamWorks Animation project.
The Filipino-American artist was born in California to a Filipino mother and an African-American father. The artist said the film is personal in ways that extend beyond playing its lead character.
The Grammy and Oscar winner, whose real name is Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, said the Filipino-inspired DreamWorks Animation film reminded her of her family and the culture she grew up with.
“Everything about this movie feels like a very personal, at-home experience,” H.E.R. said during a media event in Taguig City on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
H.E.R., who voices Jo in the film, said even the smallest details brought back memories of home.
“There’s so many scenes in the movie that, actually, literally feel like my home, my mom’s home,” she said.
The film follows childhood best friends Jo and Raissa as they journey to the mysterious island of Nakali.
The story draws heavily from Filipino culture, including its food, family traditions and mythological creatures.
H.E.R. said those details made the project feel familiar from the beginning.
“From the scenes with Lola to, you know, the pointing of the lips, to the food, to the way that Raissa and Jo are connected, like everything about this movie feels like a very personal, at-home experience,” she said.
One detail particularly stood out.
“Mostly looking at Jesus on the wall and being like, ‘Hey, Jesus!’” H.E.R. said, drawing laughter during the event.
“We all come home to Jesus,” she added.
Discovering more of Filipino folklore
“Forgotten Island” also introduced H.E.R. to parts of Philippine folklore that she did not encounter growing up.
She recalled hearing stories about the “manananggal,” a mythical creature whose upper body separates from its lower half.
But the film exposed her to other creatures she had not known before.
“There were new ‘aswang’ that I had never heard of because I grew up hearing stories about the ‘manananggal,’” H.E.R. said.
“I was very surprised that, like, more of the creatures I had never heard of.,” she added.
The experience gave H.E.R. another way to explore her Filipino heritage while also finding similarities between herself and Jo.
“I feel like I relate to Jo so much,” she said. “I think she just brought out my inner child and my inner playfulness and chaos, and it was so much fun.”
H.E.R. said playing Jo also reminded her to embrace that side of herself.
“I think I just learned more so to have fun and, like, be exactly who I am, you know, at all times and be unapologetic about it,” she said.
Finding another side of Jo
H.E.R. said she initially encountered Jo as an energetic and chaotic character.
She said she later discovered the emotional weight underneath the character’s humor.
“I think it was how passionate she was behind all of the, you know, joy and all of the chaos,” H.E.R. said.
The recording process began with some of the film’s lighter scenes before moving into its more emotional moments.
“When we got to the more emotional ones, I was like, ‘Oh, wait a second, like there’s a lot under, you know, the humor and the laughing it off,’” she said.
H.E.R. said Jo often hides what she is feeling despite her deep attachment to the people closest to her.
‘Felt at home from the beginning’
H.E.R. said her sense of home was not limited to what eventually appeared on screen.
She also found it in working with the filmmakers and the team at DreamWorks Animation.
“I felt right at home with you guys,” she said. “You guys made it so fun, and they welcomed me, and it was so collaborative.”
“Every day working with them felt like home,” she added.
