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Dream Productions, Pixar’s latest foray into the realm of Disney+ original series’, is perhaps its most experimental work in that space to date. Rather than standalone shorts or a more straightforward long-form sequel likeCarsOn The RoadorMonsters At Work, this new series opts to take the “dreams as a film set” concept, the basis for one of the most memorable sequences in the originalInside Out, and expand it into its own narrative.
Given my love of bothInside Outmovies and my personal passion for creative work in general and filmmaking specifically, this angle immediately intrigued me. And while the end result did frequently leave me wanting more, I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.
What isDream Productionsabout?
Taking place between the events of the original film andInside Out 2, our story centers on Paula Persimmons, voiced byPaulaPell, a veteran director at the titular Dream Productions studio whose job is to, quite literally, make Riley’s dreams come true every night. But with Riley growing up and dealing with more complex problems, Paula’s old dream ideas are starting to feel out-of-date.
Now, she’s been partnered with an upstart daydream director named Xeni, voiced byRichard Ayoade, and the pressure’s on for the two of them to create the next big hit dream. Though their dream approaches are fundamentally at odds with each other, the two must learn to put aside their differences and work together if they want to give Riley the best dream possible…… and keep their jobs.
How isDream Productions?
It’s worth noting that, as a spinoff,Dream Productionsdoes a very effective job at feeling like it belongs in the world of theInside Outmovies while still being its own distinct entity. The design work, visual fidelity, and even some art-style experimentation make the show feel perfectly in line with the films. Where it sets itself apart is in its tone.
While theInside Outmovies are funny, it would feel inaccurate to describe them as full-on comedies, whereas that very accurately describesDream Productions. The show is a mockumentary sitcom complete with the interview cutaways you’d expect fromThe Officeand various other shows that have followed in its footsteps. Likewise, whileDream Productionshas its emotional moments, they’re not the focal point of the narrative in the way that they are in theInside Outfilms. This is a comedy first and foremost and it wisely keeps its primary focus on that element.
Why Inside Out (2015) Is Pixar’s BEST Movie
And the show is able to mine a lot of humor from the ins and outs of film production, or dream production technically. Script changes, sudden shifts in direction, miscommunication between crew members, the series is able to take all these scenarios and more, run with them, and add that extra “dream” flourish with more fantastical or existential elements to make them feel equal parts funny, thought-provoking, and unique.
But what really carries the series for me are Paula and Xeni themselves. The “old guard vs. young upstart” dynamic is a very tried-and-true sitcom trope, but Paula’s optimistic nature combined with Xeni’s artsy hipster vibe makes it feel fresh and engaging. The characters play off each other very well and I was consistently invested in both of their arcs; which makes it kind of a shame that they happen so quickly.
Inside Out 2 Review — Sequel to Beloved Pixar Film Has Better Humor, Less Emotion
Dream Productionsis only four approximately half-hour episodes; and taken altogether it’s actually shorter than either of theInside Outmovies. As such, the overarching plot that usually only comes up a handful of times per season has to be a major focus in each episode, leaving less time for standalone setpieces or greater development of the cast.
Most of the best sitcoms have large ensembles that grow bigger and often create unique dynamics within them over the course of the series.Dream Productionsfeels like it could’ve used more of that but simply doesn’t have the time for it. Most of the extended onset crew aren’t even named onscreen. There are a handful of fun side characters that pop up throughout, but overall it really feels like they needed more episodes to let those characters grow and give the writers more room to play in this world instead of speeding through the main plot.
IsDream Productionsworth watching?
Dream Productions‘ biggest problem is that there simply isn’t enough of it. The sitcom format just isn’t particularly well-suited to such a small amount of episodes and therefore it doesn’t feel as complete as it should be despite its overall satisfying narrative. But what is there is still a very fun time with charming characters, hilarious set pieces, and clever skewering of the studio system with a strong emotional core. If you love workplace sitcoms and theInside Outfranchise as much as I do, you owe it to yourself to check this one out, if only to encourage Disney and Pixar to make more of it.
Dream Productionsis now streaming on Disney+. All four episodes reviewed.
Dream Productions Review — Inside Out Spinoff Is Fleeting But Fun
Callie Hanna
Articles Published :136
Callie Hanna is an up-and-coming writer, aspiring actor, and full-time nerd. She grew up in a small town in Delaware and was instilled with a love for superheroes, science fiction, and all things geeky from an early age. When she’s not catching up with her comically large backlog of movies, games, shows, and comics, Callie can be found working, writing, chatting with friends, or browsing the dying husk of Twitter.
