Disney’s ‘Hexed’ under scrutiny as fans compare it to DreamWorks’ Filipino-led ‘Forgotten Island’

No explicit references to Filipino culture are seen in Disney’s “Hexed.”

Disney’s upcoming animated film “Hexed” is drawing scrutiny online after its teaser trailer prompted comparisons to DreamWorks’ “Forgotten Island,” another project rooted in Filipino culture and folklore.

When Disney first unveiled “Hexed” in 2025, it was positioned as the studio’s first animated feature directed by a Filipino filmmaker, with Josie Trinidad working alongside Jason Hand. Early reports described a story centered on a Filipino boy and his mother discovering his hidden abilities and stumbling into a magical world.

However, the project has since undergone major changes. Trinidad is now credited as co-director, while Hand and Thai animator Fawn Veerasunthorn have taken on lead directing roles.

And with the new lineup came a new trailer. It introduces Billie, a teenage girl transported to the witching world Hexe. There are no explicit references to Filipino culture.

This shift made some viewers question whether the project has moved away from the Filipino identity that initially drew attention.

Many of them turned to DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island,” a fantasy adventure deeply rooted in Philippine mythology. It features a star-studded Filipino and Filipino-American voice cast, including Dolly de Leon, Lea Salonga, Liza Soberano, Manny Jacinto, H.E.R., and Jo Koy.

Beyond Filipino identity, other viewers criticized the new trailer’s visual style, as it’s engineered for vertical video platforms such as TikTok. Others also speculated about AI-generated imagery.

Still, some users have high hopes for the project.

“Hopefully Disney has maintained Filipino representation in #Hexed, keeping the protagonist’s ethnicity,” an X user wrote. “Hexed has everything to be the first Disney animated film with a Filipino protagonist in theaters.”

Ultimately, these reactions to “Hexed” show that Filipino viewers do not simply celebrate being represented overseas. They are now more critical of the stories being told, the people who get to tell them, and whether any representation follows through from announcement to release.

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