In the landscape of modern animation, Netflix has carved out a space for itself by taking swings on high-concept, visually distinct features. Their latest offering, In Your Dreams, directed by Alex Woo and co-directed by Erik Benson, is no exception. Produced by Netflix Animation Studios and Kuku Studios, this 2025 animated fantasy seeks to bridge the gap between the zany logic of a child’s imagination and the heavy emotional weight of family realignments. Released on Netflix on November 14, 2025, after a brief limited theatrical run starting November 7, the film attempts to capture the same lightning in a bottle that turned Inside Out into a cultural phenomenon.
The story follows two siblings, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her brother Elliot (Elias Janssen), as they fall into a deep, surreal slumber. Within this dreamscape, they encounter a snarky stuffed giraffe named Baloney Tony (Craig Robinson) and must navigate various hazards—ranging from breakfast food zombies to the menacing Queen of Nightmares—to find the Sandman. Their goal is simple: have their ultimate wish granted for a "perfect" family. Rounding out the cast are Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti as the children's parents, Michael and Joanne Ting, whose real-world struggles provide the emotional backdrop for the siblings' nocturnal odyssey. This film matters because it addresses a fundamental childhood desire for stability through a lens of vibrant, often chaotic escapism.
Story and Screenplay: The Fragile Architecture of Fantasy
The narrative quality of In Your Dreams is a bit of a paradox. On one level, the structure is a classic quest narrative, moving the characters from one eccentric set piece to the next with the kinetic energy required to keep younger viewers engaged. The screenplay, written by Erik Benson and Alex Woo, is at its best when it utilizes "pure silliness and slapstick" to illustrate the nonsensical nature of dreams. However, the script occasionally stumbles over its own rules. There is a sense that the internal logic of the dream world is somewhat flimsy, with some elements feeling "lost in the edit" or glossed over to reach the next emotional beat.
Originality is where the film faces its greatest challenge. The central theme—children learning to accept their flawed reality over an idealized fantasy—is a noble and practical moral, but it is one we have seen handled with more surgical precision in other animated classics. The pacing is brisk, clocking in at under 90 minutes, which prevents the "absurd landscape" from wearing out its welcome, but this speed comes at a cost. The film often feels like it's rushing through its psychological weight, behaving like a "bedtime story told by an overtired parent." While it successfully hits the tear-jerking milestones in the finale, the buildup to those moments relies heavily on established tropes, including an opening "yep, that's me" voiceover that feels a decade out of date.
Acting and Characters: From Stuffed Animals to Sensitive Souls
The voice cast provides much of the film's charm and helps ground the more abstract elements of the story. Jolie Hoang-Rappaport and Elias Janssen carry the emotional burden of the film with a sincerity that makes Stevie and Elliot’s bond feel authentic. They manage to convey the desperation of children who just want their parents to be happy, which is the engine that drives the movie’s most moving scenes. Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti, though primarily seen in the real-world bookends, provide the necessary "anodyne nostalgia" that makes the siblings' dream of a perfect family feel palpable.
However, the breakout star is undoubtedly Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony. Robinson brings his signature dry wit and timing to the role of the "snarky stuffed giraffe," providing a much-needed comedic counterbalance to the film’s more sentimental stretches. His performance keeps the movie from drifting too far into saccharine territory. In contrast, the villains and side characters—like the Queen of Nightmares and the Sandman—feel somewhat under-realized. They serve their purpose as obstacles or catalysts, but they lack the distinct, memorable personalities that would elevate In Your Dreams into the upper echelon of animated character studies.
Direction and Technical Aspects: A Vibrant, Inelegant Spectacle
Alex Woo’s direction is a tale of two styles. Visually, the film is a triumph. The use of color is "vibrant" and "lovely," creating a dreamscape that feels truly separate from the muted tones of the children’s reality. The visual storytelling in the dream sequences captures the "loopy possibilities" of the subconscious, with inventive character designs like the "zombie breakfast foods" providing a fresh aesthetic. From a technical standpoint, the animation quality is top-tier, rivaling major studio theatrical releases in its fluidity and detail.
Yet, there is an "inelegance" to the direction when it comes to the film’s pacing and editing. The transition between the high-concept dream adventures and the grounded emotional lessons can feel jarring. The direction seems to struggle with how much of the "magical rules" to explain versus how much to simply let be. While the finale is undeniably beautiful and designed to trigger "teary-eyed" reactions, the path to get there feels a bit generic. The direction succeeds in creating a "vibrant" atmosphere but falls short of the "adroit" world-building seen in the Pixar films it clearly draws inspiration from.
Trailer In Your Dreams (2025)
Music and Atmosphere: The Alarm Clock of Reality
The atmosphere of In Your Dreams is intentionally inconsistent, fluctuating between the "pure silliness" of the dream world and the sobering "practical moral" of the real world. This contrast is essential to the film’s message, but it can make for a disjointed viewing experience. The film is unafraid to delve into "darkness and confront adult themes," which gives the atmosphere a weight that many children's films lack.
The score and sound design play a significant role in this atmospheric shift. The dream sequences are filled with whimsical, eclectic sounds that mirror the absurdity of the visuals. One notable—and divisive—musical choice involves a peculiar take on the song "Don't Cha" performed within a pizza parlor, a moment that epitomizes the "generic" yet "loopy" nature of the film's humor. While the music effectively swells during the emotional climax to ensure there isn't a dry eye in the house, the overall soundscape occasionally feels like it’s "blaring like an alarm clock," telling the audience exactly how to feel rather than letting the atmosphere build naturally.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What works well:
- Emotional Resonance: The film’s finale is a genuine "tear-jerker" that lands its message about family and acceptance with surprising power.
- Visual Palette: The animation is "vibrant" and "beautiful," offering a colorful and imaginative take on the subconscious mind.
- Voice Performances: Craig Robinson is a comedic highlight, and the child actors provide a grounded emotional center.
- Willingness to Go Dark: The film doesn’t shy away from "nightmares" or "adult themes," giving it more substance than a typical "generic fable."
- Brisk Pacing: At under 80 minutes (excluding credits), the film is an easy watch that doesn't overstay its welcome.
What doesn't work:
- Narrative Shortcuts: The script relies on "hackneyed" tropes like the freeze-frame voiceover and leaves some character motivations "lost in the edit."
- Inconsistent World-Building: The "magical rules" of the dream world are never fully established, making some plot points feel arbitrary.
- Generic Tropes: Despite its vibrant look, the film often feels like it’s following a "Pixar-lite" template without achieving the same level of depth.
- Lack of Originality: The central topic of dreams is handled in a way that feels "generic" compared to more "adroit" animated explorations of the mind.
Final Verdict: A Sweet Bedtime Story with Some Frayed Edges
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
In Your Dreams is a "lovely" and "vibrant" animated feature that will likely be a huge hit with families and younger viewers. It manages to be "similarly unafraid" to confront darkness while maintaining a sense of "pure silliness." While it may not reach the "psychological weight" or narrative perfection of the films it emulates, its heart is undoubtedly in the right place. It’s a film that values the "practical moral" of accepting an imperfect life over the "anodyne nostalgia" of a fantasy, making it a valuable, if slightly "inelegant," addition to the Netflix animation catalog.
Regarding its chances of an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, the field is often crowded with more "adroit" and ambitious projects. While its visual beauty and emotional finale might earn it some consideration, its reliance on "generic" tropes and a "rushed" narrative structure likely put it just outside the top tier of contenders.
Who should watch it? This is an ideal film for parents looking for a "heartfelt" movie night with their children. It’s particularly well-suited for kids who enjoy "vibrant" colors and "silliness" but are old enough to appreciate a story about family dynamics and growing up.
Who might not enjoy it? Hardcore animation enthusiasts or cinephiles looking for a deep, "loopy" exploration of dream psychology may find it "generic" and "surprisingly inelegant." If you are tired of the "Yep, that's me" trope or prefer your tear-jerkers to have more "ambition" in their scriptwriting, this may feel like a "bedtime story rushed through."
Recommendation: In Your Dreams is well worth a stream on a cozy weekend. It’s a "brisk" and "beautiful" experience that, despite its narrative flaws, delivers a finale that is "so beautiful" it might just leave you in tears.
 Movie Review: A Technicolor Journey Through the Subconscious That Values Heart Over Logic){kind=link}
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