In Your Dreams (2025)
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| Theatrical Release Poster |
Quick Information
- Title: In Your Dreams
- Genre: Animated Musical Adventure / Fantasy Comedy (PG)
- Directors/Writers: Alex Woo (co-director/co-writer), Erik Benson (co-director/co-writer), with story by Stanley Moore
- Producers: Tim Hahn, Gregg Taylor
- Animation Studios: Netflix Animation & Kuku Studios, animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks
- Voice Cast:
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Stevie (12)
- Elias Janssen as Elliot (8)
- Simu Liu as Dad
- Cristin Milioti as Mom
- Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony (the sardonic stuffed giraffe)
- Omid Djalili as Sandman
- Gia Carides as Nightmara (Queen of Nightmares)
- SungWon Cho as Chad, Zachary Noah Piser as Joon Bae / Polly, and more
- Composer: John Debney (known for Hocus Pocus and Princess Diaries)
- Runtime: Approximately 91 minutes
- Release: Limited theatrical release from November 7, 2025, with worldwide Netflix streaming from November 14, 2025
Welcome to the Dreamscape
In Your Dreams takes you on a spectacular journey through the vivid, unpredictable domain of dreams, blending musical adventure with emotional storytelling. Centered on 12-year-old Stevie and her 8-year-old brother Elliot, the film dives into the heart of sibling dynamics, placing them in a dream world where imagination and reality blur.
The kids stumble upon a mystical picture book that claims the Sandman can grant missed chances and deep wishes. When their home situation—strained by parental tension—gets heavy, Stevie and Elliot invoke the book’s powers and find themselves whisked into surreal dreams full of bizarre characters: talking pancakes, dancing trees, psychedelic landscapes.
Their quest is simple yet profound: locate the Sandman and wish their family back together. But what begins as a whimsical magic show soon reveals emotional layers. Dream environments are symbolic: one moment a joyful candy kingdom, the next a flickering memory of a lonely childhood bedtime. The siblings must confront tangled relationships and unspoken longings to reach their goal.
Plot Summary
Stevie is a perfectionist, putting pressure on herself to hold everything together. Elliot is imaginative and sensitive, his stuffed giraffe Baloney Tony his best friend and sounding board. Their parents drift into silence. Late-night arguments fill the house, and the siblings retreat to their routines—Stevie immersing in school and chores, Elliot hiding behind Tony’s comfort.
One night, a glowing picture book appears on their pillow. Intrigued, they read aloud, activating the book’s magic. Suddenly, they’re swept into a fantastical realm—colorful skies, floating islands, and musical wind-up toys all around. It’s paradise until it isn't.
They encounter Baloney Tony, animated and full of sass, who becomes their trusty guide. Tony pushes them forward, teasing but protective. Their path leads them to Nightmara, a theatrical villain who tests the siblings with riddles and fears. She grafts onto their shadows and silences until they learn hard truths about their parents’ divorce prognosis.
Every step forward triggers emotional revelations—Stevie realizes her harshness hurts Elliot. Elliot confesses he feels unwanted. A memory labyrinth shows them past moments of joy and fracture, revealing that their parents once loved deeply.
Finally, they reach the Sandman on a swirling dream bridge. They expect a simple wish, but instead they’re given one profound thought: “Do you wish to fix what’s broken, or learn to speak the truth?” The answer changes them.
They wake up at home. The parents are there, looking for them. There’s pain in the air, but also apology. The siblings share what they learned, holding hands. The film ends with the family in the living room together, sharing once-silent words. It’s not perfect—but hopeful.
Characters & Voice Performances
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Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport): Clever, driven, young yet overwhelmed. Her voice is crisp and emotional, capturing both resolve and remorse.
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Elliot (Elias Janssen): Innocent, playful, with moments of deep vulnerability. His voice reveals the softness of a younger child suddenly needing to be brave.
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Baloney Tony (Craig Robinson): A stuffed giraffe with attitude. Robinson’s comedic timing and warmth bring Tony to life, creating a mentor figure with both humor and heart.
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Dad (Simu Liu): Strong but distant, struggling between work and family. Liu’s voice carries a feeling of regret and quiet love.
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Mom (Cristin Milioti): Caring but hurt. Her performance treads the line perfectly between resilience and exhaustion.
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Nightmara (Gia Carides): A theatrical, commanding presence. She terrifies with flair, delivering sharp emotional tests to the siblings.
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Sandman (Omid Djalili): Soft-spoken, grounded in ancient power yet gentle. His voice lends gravitas without intimidation.
Each actor gives nuance to their role, grounding the fantasy in real emotions. The sibling trio—Stevie, Elliot, and Tony—is at the film’s emotional center, delivering both laughs and tears.
7 Fascinating Facts About In Your Dreams
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Dream Movies Are Rare
Until now, polished, emotionally impactful dreamscapes in mainstream animation have been rare—studios worry about stakes and clarity. This film breaks that mold. -
Sibling Duo Based on Real Life
Director Alex Woo used his relationship with his younger brother for inspiration. Designers added small traits—bursts of laughter, brushed tears—based on real familial interaction. -
Baloney Tony as a Star Alter Ego
Craig Robinson was offered the character after he joked about voicing a stuffed animal in interviews. Production wanted that exact warmth and wit. -
Nordic Folklore in a Sandman
The Sandman here gets a new twist—an emotional guide rather than a creepy figure. His role provides narrative stakes, anchoring dreams in reality. -
Innovative Animation Mix
The film uses modular animation—rendered parts stack into big dreamscapes in real time. It allowed animators to make environments shift organically, layering color and texture. -
John Debney’s Musical Journey
Debney composed two songs for the siblings—a playful number in the candy world and a tender ballad for their memory bridge—both recorded live with orchestra. -
Nightmara’s Visual Reference
Movie designers referenced classic stage musicals when designing Nightmara. Her wardrobe riffs on Broadway glamor with nightmare motifs—blended carefully to keep her a compelling, not comical, villain.
Deleted Scenes That Haunt Us
Though never released publicly, multiple deleted scenes underscored the film’s emotional depth:
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Giant Door Lock Scene: The siblings open a towering lock in the nightmare realm, only to find old family photos inside. They sift through them silent, and Elliot asks: “Were we happier then?” It was replaced by memory sequences but sliced for time.
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Tony’s Confession: A touching scene saw Tony confessing he was a child’s toy abandoned before Elliot found him. This gave depth to his bond with Elliot but ultimately didn’t fit the central emotional push.
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Sandbox Showdown: A comedic clockwork boss fight included a playful “sandbox showdown” where the siblings manipulated a giant hourglass to trick a shadow monster. The visual comedy was lost in pacing.
These were cut to maintain the tight 91-minute run, but emotionally rich footage fans still hope to see one day.
Behind the Scenes Magic
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Dream Construction:
Production designers built miniature sets—like a toy Greek temple that animators later expanded digitally. They recorded children’s reactions to surreal toys to seed animation gestures. -
Recording Sessions:
The cast recorded together—an unusual practice in animation. Robinson's banter with the siblings was captured live, allowing emotional interplay and spontaneous laughter. -
Music & Emotion:
Debney worked with a small piano ensemble early to sketch the emotional core of scenes before the orchestra layered in. -
Color as Mood:
Animators used palettes as emotional signposts—pinks for innocence, teal for melancholy, deep crimson for nightmare tension. The palette structured animation philosophy. -
Stunts and VFX:
One standout sequence sees dream pancakes hurling themselves across a dinner scene. The animators built pancake props to “act” the scene in studio before animation. -
Consulting Sibling Psychologists:
The filmmakers brought in family therapists and psychologists during scripting to ensure the emotional arcs fit real family experience. Their input shaped dialogue and pacing, especially in parent-child arguments.
Release & Industry Buzz
The film had a soft premiere at a studio event in New York on November 3, 2025. Critics praised it as innovative, empathetic, and daring.
By its public limited release on November 7, social media buzz centered on the kids and giraffe performance. Netflix trended #InYourDreamsFilm with families asking therapists if they should watch with their kids.
Streaming debut on November 14 saw viewership outpacing multiple Netflix animated features, triggering articles about Netflix’s new hit.
Early Oscar buzz emerged. Animation experts listed it as “next in line” for Best Animated Feature due to heartfelt story and technical innovation.
Emotional Themes & Impact
In Your Dreams resonates because of its universal themes:
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Sibling Bonds: It shows how rivalry and love coexist. Stevie and Elliot argue, get frustrated, and still rely on each other.
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Family Communication: The film is a case study in how silence widens cracks—but truthful dialogue builds connection.
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Dream vs Reality: By giving dreams weight, the film asks: when is a dream more real than life? The Sandman’s single wish reinforces that truth carries impact.
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Fear as Character: Nightmara personifies fear. She forces the siblings to speak truths they’d rather bury—a brilliant metaphor.
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Letting Go Unexpectedly: The wish they make isn’t “fix everything.” They wish for courage, a powerful twist that respects complexity.
All of this elevates the film above fluff—it treats children as full emotions, not just caricatures.
Why Families Will Rewatch It
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Emotional Learning: Parents and kids can talk about guilt, hope, and how to say “I love you” when words are hard.
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Visual Discovery: Colors and background magic reveal new details with each viewing.
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Comedy Beat: Tony's wisecracks and the surreal visual gags are fun on repeat.
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Music & Songs: The sibling ballad alone is worth replaying.
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Animated Style: Every time you notice a texture or musical flourish, the world feels new again.
Final Thoughts
In Your Dreams is a rare animated film that balances whimsy and emotional gravity, rich visuals and psychological depth. It treats childhood with respect, intelligence, and heart.
Its characters are real, its world wild—and most of all, it dares to ask tough questions through a magical narrative. Perfect for family viewing, discussion, and long-term appreciation.
This is a film to dream on long after the credits roll.
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