‘In Your Dreams’ Review: A Whimsical Journey with a Heartfelt Core
Netflix Animation Delivers a Visually Stunning and Emotionally Nuanced Family Adventure
Netflix’s latest animated feature, In Your Dreams, transports audiences into a kaleidoscopic world of the subconscious, crafting a quest that is as bizarrely imaginative as it is deeply emotional. Directed by Alex Woo, a veteran story artist from Pixar, the film successfully navigates the complex emotional landscape of a family facing potential separation, rooting its fantastical adventure in relatable childhood anxiety. Released on Netflix on November 14, 2025, the movie is a testament to Kuku Studios’ ability to blend stunning visual execution with a sincere, mature narrative.
The Core Conflict: A Wish for the ‘Perfect Family’
The story centers on 12-year-old Stevie (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport), a high-strung perfectionist who is acutely aware of the growing tension between her parents (Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti). When her mother contemplates taking an out-of-town job, Stevie’s fear of her “perfect family” unit fracturing becomes the driving force of the narrative.
She and her younger, perpetually messy brother, Elliot (Elias Janssen), discover a mysterious book detailing the legend of the Sandman (Omid Djalili), a mythical figure said to grant a dreamer’s greatest wish. Convinced the Sandman is the only way to save her parents’ marriage, the siblings deliberately enter their shared dream world—a chaotic, unpredictable landscape born from their combined fears and desires.
H3: An Absurd and Imaginative Dreamscape
The visual creativity of In Your Dreams is a major highlight. Stevie and Elliot’s journey to find the Sandman is a nonstop visual feast, from the medieval Breakfast Town populated by sentient cereals and talking toast, to surreal nightmare sequences where their fears materialize as terrifying, decay-ridden landscapes.
Guiding them through this chaos is Elliot’s beloved, wisecracking stuffed giraffe, Baloney Tony (Craig Robinson). Tony, a creature of pure id and comedic relief, provides the perfect counterpoint to Stevie’s serious, goal-oriented nature. Robinson’s performance is a clear standout, injecting hilarious, subversive humour—including the now-famous “laser-fart” gag—that ensures the film remains lighthearted even when tackling heavy emotional themes.
Visuals and Direction: Echoes of Animation’s Best
The film’s animation style is highly detailed, featuring a semi-realistic look for the human characters that contrasts beautifully with the stylized, often abstract nature of the dream environments. Woo’s long experience in crafting powerful animated sequences shines, delivering set pieces that are both grand and intimately tied to the characters’ emotional states.
The visual metaphors are sharp, such as the initial, idyllic opening sequence that is quickly corrupted by the siblings’ anxieties. Critics have noted the film’s tonal and conceptual similarities to animated classics that explore the inner world, particularly in its clever use of emotional states to dictate the dream world’s physics.
H3: Handling Mature Themes with Sincerity
Crucially, the film treats the parental conflict with refreshing maturity. There are no villainized characters or histrionic arguments; instead, the strain is portrayed through quiet, often uncomfortable conversations and subtle emotional distance. This realistic depiction grounds the entire fantasy, emphasizing Stevie’s desperation to fix a problem that is truly beyond her control.
Thematic Heart: Letting Go of the ‘Dream’
While the quest to find the Sandman is entertaining, the true strength of In Your Dreams lies in its emotional sincerity. The film’s ultimate message is a powerful one for its young audience: the magic they seek is not in an external wish, but in accepting life’s imperfections. Stevie’s journey forces her to confront her own need for a storybook ending and, more importantly, to appreciate the imperfect, yet unbreakable, bond she shares with her brother.
The evolving relationship between the bickering but deeply caring siblings is the emotional core that lands with the greatest resonance. By the end, the film artfully suggests that sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is let go of the “dream” of perfection and embrace the beautiful, messy reality of their family, whatever its structure may be. In Your Dreams is a well-crafted, visually adventurous, and deeply empathetic entry into the animated canon.
Keywords: In Your Dreams movie review, Netflix animated film, Alex Woo, Craig Robinson Baloney Tony, Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti, family film, animation review, Sandman movie.