Thatsitla attended an event to preview clips from Netflix’s new animated movie “In Your Dreams” and sit in on a Q&A session with director Alex Woo and voice actor Craig Robinson. “In Your Dreams” tells an original tale about two siblings on a magical adventure to the dream world to find the Sandman. The discussion was led by film journalist Katcy Stephan from Variety, and they talked about different aspects of the movie, which features voice performances from Simu Liu, Cristin Milloy, and the funny Craig Robinson, who voices the adorable stuffed giraffe, Baloney Tony. In the Q&A, Alex opened up about his inspiration for the film and how his bond with his little brother influenced the characters, Stevie and Elliot.
Alex Woo was asked why he chose this project as his feature directorial debut. He humorously mentioned that it was the only movie that got greenlit. He expressed his long-standing fascination with dreams and how a dream-themed animated film has been a goal for many studios, often failing to figure out how to create stakes around such a story. When Woo formed his company Kuku Studios and finally came up with a concept that worked, they felt an urgency to make it before someone else did.
As he and his team developed this idea, they were eager to bring their vision to life before another studio did. On a personal level, Alex reflected on how films influenced him to believe that dreams could come true with enough determination. However, he recognized that this isn’t always the case, prompting him to create a film that examines what one does when dreams don’t come true. He wanted to explore themes of hope, resilience, and moving forward despite setbacks, which became the core inspiration for “In Your Dreams.”
Katcy Stephan asked Alex Woo how the relationship between the siblings in “In Your Dreams” developed and why it’s such an emotional focus. Alex explained that he based the character of Elliot on his little brother, while he sees himself as Stevie. He shared that they had their epic childhood battles, with him as the perfectionist, overbearing older sibling and his brother as the carefree, fun loving one. The film was a way for him to understand and appreciate his brother’s unique perspective on life. A friend of his even said that the film is a roundabout way of expressing love for his brother, to which Alex found humor in admitting that making movies is just easier than working through emotions!
Alex Woo then shared some insights on the casting of “In Your Dreams,” especially regarding the parents, Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti, who both shine in their roles and even do a bit of singing in the film. He expressed his long-time admiration for Craig Robinson, who voices Baloney Tony. Alex was thrilled when Craig agreed to join the project, noting that Craig brought incredible energy and a lot of improvised comedy to the character.
Surprisingly, Simu Liu was cast before “Shang-Chi” was released. A friend of Alex recommended Simu, highlighting his charisma and charm, and Alex was quickly won over by him. What excited Simu about the role was that the dad is a struggling musician who gets to sing in the movie, something he loves to do. Alex also shared his enthusiasm for Cristin Milioti, mentioning how he first encountered her talent on “The Venture Brothers,” a show he worked on during college nearly twenty years ago. He marveled at her ability to voice multiple characters and immediately recognized her extraordinary talent, keeping her on the top of his collaboration list. When it came time to cast the mom Cristin was at the top. Her character is also a musician and the lead singer of the family band called the Hipsonics, which ties into the film’s story. Katcy Stephan actually revealed a fun detail about Stevie’s shirt in the movie, noting it references their parents’ band.
Craig Robinson discussed voicing Baloney Tony, he mentioned how the script will resonate deeply with everyone because we all dream and daydream. He found Tony to be a funny and silly character that he could see himself embodying as a crazy stuffed animal.
Katcy Stephan felt that Baloney Tony could become an iconic character for children, which led her to ask Craig how he crafted his voice. Craig explained that while he didn’t have a physical Baloney with him during recording, the voice work was a collaborative effort filled with improvisation and humor. He reflected on the personal connection he has to the story, comparing it to his own experiences growing up with a brother and sister.
Lastly, Alex Woo shared his motivation for incorporating the legend of the Sandman into the film, emphasized how it helped shape the story. He explained that the Sandman is rooted in Scandinavian folklore, which describes how children dream when they sleep. According to the myth, the Sandman sprinkles sand over their eyes, leading to dreams.
Alex revealed that they took this concept and expanded it, imagining a scenario where they could find the Sandman in the dream world, allowing dreams to influence reality. This connection between the dream world and the real world reinforced the story, making it not just a tale about dreams but one that also impacts the characters’ lives.
‘In Your Dreams’ To Release on Netflix in Fall 2025
