03 APRIL 2026
Welcome to this week’s edition of Culture Wire, a newsletter brought to you by Singapore-based pop culture and lifestyle marketing agency Culture Group.
In this week’s edition:
- Headline of the Week: Brands are finally figuring out how to leverage nostalgia
- Fax, No Printer: Which SEA country inspired DreamWorks’ latest feature-length animation?
- Before You Leave: How tech, AI, and social media are shaping culture exports, news, TV, travel, and luxury
Headline of the Week
🇺🇸 PARTY IN THE U.S.A
The recent release of Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special on Disney+ has sparked much fanfare, from watch parties in bars to fervent introspection from Gen Z and Millenial fans of the Disney Channel tween sitcom (2006-2011). The series follows a classic double-life: regular kid Miley Stewart is actually pop sensation Hannah Montana but still deals with school-time shenanigans. Child actress Miley Cyrus eventually became a bona fide pop star, and the anniversary special is part concert, part reminiscence of the series’ impact on pop culture and fandom.
OUR TAKE
Brands have tried to harness nostalgia in many ways. Past products are re-released constantly, with messaging invoking the good ol’ days. When done haphazardly, brands run the risk of being seen as only capable of rehashing previous greats, with no capacity for creativity and innovation. Every brand has some level of heritage and history, but how might one utilize the past without being burdened by it?
We believe the key is deep understanding of what makes the brand tick and smart story-telling. The Barbie movie surprised audiences with its combination of tongue-in-cheek humor and the modernisation of Barbie’s image to authentically reflect the multifaceted nature of womanhood. Easter egg moments were also fun nods to old fandoms, as viewers could point out their favorite discontinued toy character depicted on screen. We’ll be watching to see how the Masters of the Universe film and the hotly awaited Harry Potter HBO Max series will fair.
It’s important to use these throwback moments with thought to feel fresh. The CHANEL 25 Handbag Campaign is a short film-esque commercial directed by French filmmaker Michel Gondry, featuring actress Margot Robbie (again!) set to Kylie Minogue’s beloved track “Come Into My World” (also in time for the 25th anniversary of the song). The film follows Robbie’s character going through a day in her life, and doesn’t beat audiences over the head with the fact that it actually recreates the old music video – a true IYKYK moment.
The way your brand uses nostalgia is about how you speak to consumers. It’s a question of brand longevity and whether your story can be seen as evergreen — can you resonate with both existing and new fans?
Fax, No Printer*
For those of you born before 1997, ‘fax, no printer‘ is Gen Z speak for ‘undeniable facts I agree with’
What’s the latest watch party that everyone’s talking about?
Scroll to the end of the newsletter for the correct answer!
Before You Leave
(12 mins)
This Week's Trivia Answer
C. The Philippines
Forgotten Island from DreamWorks Animation is the first feature-length film in the studio’s three-decade history to be rooted in Filipino culture and mythology. Set in the 90s (what were we saying about nostalgia?), it follows two best friends (voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano) who fall through a portal into a magical island where memories fade the longer you stay. Writer and co-director Januel Mercado, who is Filipino-American, took his crew to the Philippines to capture details firsthand, and the trailer suggests that the film abounds with cultural motifs: think jeepneys and anik-anik charm culture. For fans in the YouTube comments, it’s already a cultural event, with some unpacking the Filipino context for global viewers.
Of course, parallels are being drawn with K-Pop Demon Hunters, which last year brought Korean culture to the global stage. We know how that worked out! People want different stories, and there’s a huge reward for studios that take a risk and put in the background work. But Forgotten Island isn’t just riding on K-Pop Demon Hunters’ success. DreamWorks chose it as their milestone 50th feature, casting a lineup that includes Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon and Manny Jacinto. With over 10.8 million Filipinos living overseas (one of the largest diasporas globally), the built-in audience is enormous.
The default Hollywood approach to ‘diverse’ stories has typically been to make it universal first and cultural second. That’s changing. As Soberano said at the trailer unveiling, Forgotten Island accurately represents the Philippines while still being relatable. Brands still debating how ‘local’ to go should note that an animation studio just answered the question…
🚀 Over and Out!
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Your Culture Mavens,
Angela, Twila, Crystal, Helena Teri, & Vicki
