BIC® Announces Partnership with DreamWorks Animation and We Are Teachers to Celebrate the Release of Forgotten Island and the Power of the Pen

BIC® 4-Color™ Pen Pals program brings the film's themes of friendship and connection, and its celebration of Filipino culture and mythology, to U.S. and Filipino students 

SHELTON, Conn., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BIC® is proud to announce its official partnership with DreamWorks Animation for the upcoming animated film Forgotten Island, which features BIC's iconic 4-Color™ Pen. To celebrate the partnership, BIC® is launching the BIC® 4-Color™ Pen Pals program, an international exchange designed to foster global connections and cultural appreciation between Filipino and U.S. students. By pairing the vibrant storytelling of Forgotten Island with the physical act of writing, BIC® is leading the charge in making handwriting the ultimate tool for authentic global expression.

As younger generations lead a resurgence in snail mail, BIC® is tapping into this cultural trend to help students get offline and make meaningful connections. Studies show that handwriting serves as a powerful "brain workout" that enhances cognitive functions like memory, critical thinking, and fine motor skills. Additionally, it offers a deeply personal and intentional form of expression that fosters authentic global connections in an increasingly digital world.

The BIC® 4-Color™ Pen Pal program focuses on U.S. students in grades 3 through 5, facilitating connections with peers in the Philippines while introducing students to Philippine culture, geography, mythology and folklore. The program draws inspiration from DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, which follows two lifelong best friends who are transported to a fantastical island filled with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families.

BIC® partnered with We Are Teachers for this initiative, tapping into its engaged online community of educators. This isn't just a classroom project; it's a celebration of the unique, personal connection that only ink on paper can provide, launching ahead of the film's September 25, 2026 release.

Limited-Edition Pen Pal Kits for Classrooms

To fuel this analog revival, BIC® and We Are Teachers have created exclusive Pen Pal Kits designed to turn classrooms into hubs of creativity. At the center of each kit is the iconic BIC® 4-Color™ Pen, the ultimate instrument for students to craft letters that are as unique as they are. These sought-after kits will be available to 250 U.S. classrooms on a first-come, first-served basis via https://www.weareteachers.com/free-pen-pal-kit-from-bic.

Each custom kit includes: 

• Custom stationery and envelopes inspired by Forgotten Island artwork and themes.
• BIC® 4-Color™ Pen for students to write, illustrate, and personalize their letters using four ink colors in one pen.
• Curriculum-aligned educational resources developed by We Are Teachers featuring lesson plans and classroom activities that introduce students to Philippine geography, culture, and folklore while supporting core learning standards.
• A map of the Philippines and cultural one-sheets designed to enhance the international exchange experience.

The limited-edition BIC® 4-Color™ Pen Pal Kits will be available for teachers to request starting September 9, 2026. Once the physical kits have been claimed, educators can download a digital version at https://www.weareteachers.com/free-pen-pal-kit-from-bic. To learn more about BIC's educational initiatives, visit corporate.bic.com.

"There is something special about the weight of a pen in your hand and the texture of paper," said Brian Manotok, Stationery Brand Manager for North America at BIC. "With the BIC® 4-Color™ Pen, we're not just providing a tool; we're providing a passport to a more personal and intentional way of communicating. This partnership with Forgotten Island and DreamWorks Animation allows us to bring the joy of offline connection to life for students, making the art of handwriting more relevant and exciting than ever."

About BIC 

A global leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday life. For 80 years, BIC's commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable, and trusted products has established BIC as a symbol of reliability and innovation. With a presence in over 160 countries, and over 14,000 team members worldwide, BIC's portfolio includes iconic brands and products such as BIC® 4-Color™, Cristal®, Wite-Out® Brand, EZ Load™, EZ Reach®, BIC® Flex™, Soleil®, Tangle Teezer® and more. Listed on Euronext Paris and included in the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes, BIC® is also recognized for its steadfast commitments to sustainability and education. For more, visit https://corporate.bic.com/en-us and to see BIC's full range of products visit www.bic.com. Follow BIC® on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

About DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island

Your best friendship is worth fighting for.

DreamWorks Animation, the studio that brought you unforgettable bonds between a boy and a dragon in How to Train Your Dragon, an ogre and a donkey in Shrek, and a robot and a gosling in The Wild Robot, now welcomes a dazzling and emotional story about two lifelong best friends who must come together before they drift apart in Forgotten Island.

The new original film is written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and is produced by Academy Award® nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Grammy and Academy Award® winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to embark on separate life paths.

While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. 

Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.

The film's all-star voice cast also includes Emmy nominee Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Dying for Sex), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Top Gun: Maverick), BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness, Ghostlight), global comedy superstar Jo Koy (Haunted Mansion, Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn) and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, M3GAN). 

DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island is distributed by Universal Pictures.

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