The Alex Woo-directed ‘In Your Dreams’ explores the power and mystery of dreams as two siblings embark on a magical quest to fix their family
Netflix has released the enchanting first trailer for its upcoming animated comedy-adventure In Your Dreams, putting the focus squarely on the transformative power of dreams.
Directed by Alex Woo and co-directed by Erik Benson, the film centers on Stevie, a determined 12-year-old, and her curious younger brother Elliot, 8, as they stumble upon a magical picture book that unlocks the doorway to a vivid and surreal dream world. The book promises that the legendary Sandman can turn any dream into reality — and the siblings are desperate to make their most cherished dream come true: a perfect family.
With that singular goal in mind, Stevie and Elliot journey through fantastical landscapes of the subconscious, encountering both the wondrous and the bizarre. Among their companions is Baloney Tony, Elliot’s hilariously beloved long-lost stuffed toy — a one-eyed giraffe with a tangled mane — voiced by Craig Robinson (The Bad Guys). But the dreamscape has its dangers too, including the chilling presence of the Queen of Nightmares.
A Decade in the Making
The heart of In Your Dreams beats with the passion of its creators. As director Alex Woo shared in a personal note, the film was born over a decade ago when he left Pixar to form Kuku Studios, where this was one of their earliest imagined stories.
“Dreams have always fascinated me. Why do we have them? Where do they come from? What do they tell us about ourselves?” Woo wrote. “Making this movie gave me the chance to explore those questions in the most fun and fantastical ways I could imagine.”
Woo, alongside co-writer Benson and story collaborator Stanley Moore, delivers a script that blends family emotions with imaginative storytelling. The screenplay was penned by Woo and Benson, with Timothy Hahn and Gregg Taylor producing.
Stellar Voice Cast and Annecy Showcase
The voice talent behind In Your Dreams is equally dazzling. Alongside Robinson as Baloney Tony, the cast features:
- Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) as the father
- Cristin Milioti (The Penguin) as the mother
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Stevie
- Elias Janssen as Elliot
Additional voices include Omid Djalili, Gia Carides, Sung Won Cho, and Zachary Noah Piser.
Netflix offered a sneak peek of the film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this week, where Woo introduced early footage during its presentation of the upcoming animation slate.
In Your Dreams promises a heartfelt, humorous, and visually rich exploration of what it means to dream, and how the hopes we hold while we sleep can shape the reality we long for when we wake.
🗓️ In Your Dreams premieres November 14 on Netflix.