There was a time when Pixar seemed untouchable, a studio that could do no wrong. It crafted a remarkable winning streak, producing films that captivated critics and audiences alike while fundamentally reshaping what animation could achieve as an art form. That era, however, has faded, leaving a void that other studios are now attempting to fill.
A Netflix Answer to the Pixar Slump
Enter Netflix's new pre-Thanksgiving release, In Your Dreams. The film arrives at a time when Pixar's output has been described as underwhelming, with this year's Elio reportedly suffering the studio's lowest-ever opening. While Pixar's sole recent bright spot, Inside Out 2, points to a sequel-heavy future, Netflix's latest animated feature attempts to recapture the classic Pixar magic, both visually and thematically.
The film is a clear step up from Netflix's previous animated effort, last year's Spellbound, which was criticised for its visual style and failed attempt at a Disney princess narrative. In Your Dreams feels more akin to Inside Out with noticeable shades of Coco, weaving a quest narrative set within the intricate world of dreams.
Navigating Family Struggles Through Dreams
The story centres on Stevie, a young girl whose dreams are filled with memories of a happier family life, a time she describes as being 'like one of those happy families you see at the beginning of a disaster movie'. Her subconscious, however, knows that this idyllic past is just an illusion, as her parents' marriage is on the rocks. This internal conflict transforms her dreams into nightmares, forcing her back to a less-than-perfect reality.
A convoluted chain of events leads Stevie and her younger brother, Elliot, to a book about the Sandman, a mythical figure who can allegedly turn dreams into reality. With their mother threatening to leave the family home for a new job, the siblings are propelled on a fantastical journey inside their own minds to save their family.
A Familiar, Yet Competent, Aesthetic
The visual style of In Your Dreams, particularly its human characters, is so deeply inspired by Pixar that it might feel derivative if not for the film's creative pedigree. The writer-director is Alex Woo, a former story artist on defining Pixar titles such as Ratatouille and Wall-E. While this is undoubtedly Netflix's version of that high standard, it is significantly more convincing than many of the platform's lower-tier animated offerings.
Woo and co-writer Erik Benson, another ex-Pixar employee, successfully import the studio's signature script style—life lessons delivered with a light touch within a dynamic adventure. Although the film doesn't quite reach the emotional heights of Pixar's best, it contains worthy observations. Much like Inside Out taught us that sadness is necessary, In Your Dreams posits that nightmares can strengthen us just as dreams can inspire.
This thematic texture, combined with the relatively rare focus on a brother-sister dynamic, helps distinguish the film. Where it struggles, however, is with wit. The attempts at humour often fall flat, with an obligatory sidekick—a stuffed toy voiced by Craig Robinson—being notably unfunny. The various dreamscapes also lack the truly silly, inventive details that might have elicited more smiles.
With a runtime that finishes at under 80 minutes, the film feels slightly too brief and breezy to leave a lasting impression, much like a dream forgotten upon waking. In Your Dreams is now showing in select cinemas and will be released on Netflix on 14 November.
