From Pixar to ‘In Your Dreams’: Alex Woo Directs a New Kind of Family Movie

Director Alex Woo is leveraging his impressive animation background for a new Netflix film, “In Your Dreams,” that defies industry conventions. Woo, who began his career as a storyboard artist at the revered Pixar studio and contributed to beloved films like “Ratatouille,” “WALL·E,” and “Cars 2,” is now at the helm of his own feature. Releasing in theaters this Friday, his adventure-comedy takes a refreshingly honest look at family life, complete with the arguments and struggles often omitted from children’s media.
The plot centers on a deeply relatable, modern fear: the breakdown of a family. The story follows sister Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her brother Elliot (Elias Janssen) as they face the painful reality of their parents’ strained marriage. In a desperate act of childhood hope, they embark on a quest into the dream world to find The Sandman, believing this magical figure is the only one who can save their family.
This premise immediately resonated with the film’s star, Simu Liu. The ‘Shang-Chi’ actor, who voices the father, was fascinated by Woo’s pitch to show a “real family that argues.” Liu has emphasized the importance of this representation, stating that the pervasive “always happy” family trope is “just not true.” He argues that it’s vital for children to see that families can be imperfect and still be families, a core message Woo weaves throughout the narrative.
The film, animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks, also features a stellar voice cast supporting Liu. Cristin Milioti, an Emmy-winning actor and Grammy-winning musician, plays the Mom. “The Office” actor Craig Robinson provides comic relief as the children’s stuffed animal, Baloney Tony. Milioti, known for her musical work in “Once,” particularly enjoyed a duet with Liu, which provides a “beautiful moment” of harmony for the otherwise conflicting couple.
“In Your Dreams” is ultimately a story about accepting hard truths. Young Stevie, as described by her voice actor, starts the film believing she “can fix this on my own.” Her journey is one of learning that some problems can’t be solved with magic. The film’s conclusion reinforces Woo’s and Liu’s shared vision: real life is messy, and true strength lies in navigating that reality rather than escaping into a dream.