Yes Kpop Demon Hunters has ruled Netflix’s 2025 Animation. However, they might be prouder of In Your Dreams. This film is from their OWN animation studio (starting with the banger, Klaus), cementing they aren’t just an animated distributor anymore. And, that even though this story is built on a house of sand, their studio isn’t.
12 year old Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) is in a mini panic. Every night upstairs, she can hear the loud talking between her mom (Cristin Milioti) and dad (Simu Liu) getting worse and worse. And despite her best efforts to maintain the peace, she’s undercut constantly by her little brother Elliot (Elias Janssen), in his devious magician phase. Lil bro’s latest stunt ended up with an old magic book at home, telling stories of the Sandman, and his ability to make dreams come true. Hmm, I wonder what wish our anxious 12 year old is going to will into existence?
In Your Dreams follows the tried and true classic Disney formula to a T. Take a folklore tale you’d tell children about growing up (the Sandman). Star in the movie kids in the middle of some troubling issues in their lives. Combine the kids’ world and the folk tale world together in fun, imagination filled ways. Then go on a big mythical journey, which will end up being more important than the destination, meeting all sorts of strange, funny, or ominous characters along the way. Director Alex Woo does a great job maintaining that formula for success by diving into the character specific details that make the movie hum. Who’s a better sidekick for Stevie and Elliot than Baloney Toney (Craig Robinson), filled with wisecracks for days and infinite baloney in his pockets to throw if the jokes ain’t workin? Each new dream/nightmare rings true to the siblings, capturing the gamut of experiences in a montage that build character while looking really fun and exciting. And the journey? Filled with flying, bright colors, weirdo creatures galore. In short, Alex Woo finds a perfect harmony in the tales of old with her personal story, making it all the more enjoyable for what I hope to be a large chunk of hyped up families ready to have a great movie night!
Oh, and one more thing: Alex Woo nailed the universal emotion or experience needed to land In Your Dreams in everyone’s hearts. Well actually, she found two. Most Disney characters we meet post tragedy, so they’re picking up the pieces. Powerful, but harder to relate to possibly for some kids. Stevie though, will be instantly recognizable to everyone. What kid hasn’t been silently listening while their parents had one of those conversations they “weren’t supposed to hear”? It pushes the 12 year old further and further into those dreams, trying to will her perfect family into reality again. That anxiety permeates Stevie, and explains all her motivations, showing how all those seemingly good things she’s doing (making breakfast, cleaning up all the time, getting straight A’s) actually come from a place of deep fear of the end of her family that she knows and loves, even Elliot. And that’s truth #2: the bond between siblings. Since her parents are the source of her problems, Stevie can’t really rely on them for support. So who does a 12 year old turn to? That devious magician living next to her. Along the journey Stevie and Elliot learn to have faith in each other, using their connection to push forward even when the nightmare reaches peak scare. Of course there’s the requisite third act fight between them, but refreshingly in this case, the brother and sister have such love for one another it’s more of a blip that leads to a great heroic rescue attempt.
Cinderella put it best. A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep. But Stevie and Elliot would maybe amend the ending, to say if WE keep on believing, the dreams that we wish will come true. Oh and by the way, in the fight, I’m on mom’s side; sorry dad, but I don’t have a lot of hope that the music scene in Minnesota is really hoppin to sustain a family. Grow up and give up that dream. Oh no, what have I become?