Forgotten Island h.e.r.: Jo Yuson Character Guide

For fans searching for Forgotten Island h.e.r., the key connection is H.E.R.’s role as Josephine “Jo” Yuson, one of the film’s two central characters. Forgotten Island is a 2026 American animated fantasy comedy from DreamWorks Animation. Set between the Philippines of the 1990s and the mystical realm of Nakali, it follows Jo and Raissa Molina after their friendship leads them into a dangerous world shaped by memory.

Jo is introduced as a spirited child who tells stories about Nakali and the dreaded Manananggal. When another student mocks her, she reacts impulsively, but the incident also brings her closer to Raissa, who defends her. Their friendship becomes the emotional foundation of the film. Matching charm bracelets, family stories, and a shared fascination with the forgotten island all connect the two girls across several years.

The film was directed and written by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. It runs for 108 minutes and features a voice cast that includes H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Manny Jacinto, Jenny Slate, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, Kevin McCann, and Lea Salonga.

The film’s central threat is not simply a monster or a difficult journey. Nakali gradually feeds on the memories of those who enter it. That idea makes Jo and Raissa’s relationship essential to the plot: remembering one another becomes a form of survival.

Jo is described as Raissa’s rowdy best friend, but that label only captures part of her personality. She is imaginative, quick to defend her beliefs, and deeply attached to the people she loves. Her confidence can become impulsiveness, especially when she feels that someone is dismissing her stories or threatening her relationships.

H.E.R.’s Jo begins the story with a strong connection to folklore. Her story about Nakali introduces the film’s mythology before Jo ever visits the realm herself. This framing gives her a distinctive role: she is both a participant in the adventure and someone who has already been shaped by stories about the island.

Jo’s relationship with her grandmother, Lola Fatima, also defines her early life. Lola tells Jo and Raissa about her travels to Nakali, creating a family link to the mystical world. After Lola dies of old age, Jo becomes orphaned, which intensifies her fear of being left behind. This fear later affects the way she handles Raissa’s future and the secrets surrounding the Jewel of the Sea.

The story also shows Jo as an adult comic book writer. Her later career suggests that the Nakali adventure does not disappear from her identity. Instead, she transforms those memories into creative work and shares the story through a graphic novel. Her return to Raissa at college reinforces the idea that their friendship continues to evolve rather than ending with the main adventure.

Jo and Raissa’s journey begins when they search for the Jewel of the Sea. Their path brings them into contact with several beings from Philippine mythology, including Bungi, a Tiyanak; Mermahn, a Kataw; Raww, a were-aspin; and Batiba, a powerful figure connected to the loss of memory.

The adventure becomes more complicated when the group encounters Manang, a Manananggal whose wings have been stolen. Jo and Raissa learn that their earlier actions in Nakali have consequences they no longer remember. The missing memories are connected to a Polaroid camera, the sand dollar, and the disagreement that drives the friends apart.

The recovered memories reveal that Jo hid the sand dollar after Raissa stole Manang’s wings. Because the friends had forgotten the previous night, neither could fully understand what had happened. This discovery changes the conflict from a simple disagreement into a shared failure shaped by fear, secrecy, and memory loss.

Raissa eventually abandons Jo to retrieve the sand dollar, ending their friendship for a time. However, Jo still saves Raissa when Manang attacks. Jo then stays behind and offers her memories to Batiba so Raissa can return home. The decision reflects Jo’s central weakness and strength: she fears abandonment, yet she is willing to sacrifice herself for the person she loves.

Back in the Philippines, Raissa uses a leftover firecracker to create a new bracelet charm. With Raww’s help, she returns to Nakali and enters Jo’s fading memories. Raissa admits how much Jo shaped who she became, allowing the two friends to reconcile.

Nakali is built from Philippine mythology rather than functioning as a generic fantasy setting. The film includes figures such as the Manananggal, Tiyanak, Duwende, Kataw, Kapre, and Sarimanok-inspired imagery. Each encounter gives the world a different tone, from playful and comic to threatening and tragic.

The production’s visual style combines contemporary computer-generated animation with anime-influenced 2D sequences. The 2D flashbacks vary according to the character remembering them and reference styles associated with Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter, and Sailor Moon. This approach allows memory to look subjective rather than identical for every character.

The filmmakers described Filipino art and 1990s graphic design as influences on the visual identity. The animation also reflects the history of Filipino studios working on outsourced anime productions. Manila-based Snipple Animation handled the stylized 2D sequences, while Sony Pictures Imageworks assisted with some shots.

This mixture of cultural references and changing animation techniques supports the film’s central theme. Memories are not shown as neutral recordings. They are shaped by emotion, personality, and the person doing the remembering.

H.E.R. leads the voice cast as Jo, while Liza Soberano voices Raissa. Their characters carry the film’s emotional arc, moving from childhood friendship to conflict, sacrifice, and renewed connection. Dave Franco voices Raww, a well-meaning but hapless were-aspin, and Manny Jacinto voices Bungi, a large Tiyanak baby demon.

Lea Salonga voices the Manananggal and contributes vocals to the score. The broader cast includes performers from film, comedy, theater, and music, giving the fantasy adventure an ensemble style that matches its range of creatures and communities.

Nathan Matthew David composed the score after researching indigenous music in the Philippines. His work included time in Cordillera and Kalinga and with the T’boli people in Lake Sebu. Recordings featured instruments such as gong and kulintang, along with the Bamboo Organ in Las Piñas, Metro Manila. The score was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

The soundtrack was released digitally on September 18, 2026, ahead of the film’s theatrical release. It combines film score material with pop and hip-hop performances in English and Filipino. H.E.R. and Liza Soberano perform “B.R.B.,” while other featured artists include Bini, SB19, Francis Magalona, Ruby Ibarra, Carl Angelo, and Sophia of Katseye.

Several soundtrack titles reinforce the film’s themes. “Forgotten Friendship,” “If We Remember,” “Memories Are Magic,” and “Jo and Raissa Suite” all connect the music to the relationship at the story’s center.

The Forgotten Island reference page provides additional production, cast, animation, soundtrack, and release information.