Dream Productions Reimagines Several Common Sleep Occurrences - And Makes Them Extra Horrifying

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Dream Productions.Dream Productions takes several normal dream occurrences and makes them surprisingly frightening. The four-episode Disney+ series is set between Inside Out and Inside Out 2 and builds on the concept of Dream Productions that was introduced in the first movie. Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), and the other original emotions are in the series, but Dream Productions' cast of characters most prominently features dream directors Paula Persimmon (Paula Pell) and Xeni (Richard Ayoade), who are forced to work together.

Seasoned director Paula clashes with the young and ambitious daydream director Xeni, as they have polar opposite ideas about the kinds of dreams that are best for Riley (Kensington Tallman). Their conflict, and how Dream Productions' leader, Jean Dewberry (Maya Rudolph) attempts to correct course, leads to nearly disastrous results that unfold in Dream Productions' ending. While the worst-case scenario is ultimately averted, there are still plenty of disconcerting experiences that occur in the series due to Riley's dreams being mismanaged.

Dream Productions Makes Sleepwalking Horrifying

Sleepwalking Could Have Killed Riley

Sleepwalking becomes genuinely frightening in Dream Productions when Paula and Xeni lose control of the camera and Riley begins to sleepwalk. The camera begins to move on its own, as if it is the sentient villain in a horror movie stalking its prey, while Paula, Xeni, and everyone within the Dream Productions part of Riley's mind are rendered temporarily powerless. Several Dream Productions crew members are mowed down by the camera or are dragged away against their will.

Related Dream Productions Teases A Wild Aspect About How Minds Work In Inside Out's Universe Dream Productions expands the scope of Inside Out's world and reveals a surprising way that minds can interact within that Pixar universe.

Even more concerning is what happens outside of Riley's mind, as she walks out of her bedroom and to the top of the stairs in her house. The Inside Out emotions are unable to wake Riley up while she is sleepwalking. They have to helplessly watch as her sleepwalking nearly causes her to tumble down the stairs. If Paula, Xeni, and several crew members had not managed to pull the camera back, Riley could have seriously hurt herself or even died by falling down the stairs while sleepwalking.

Dream Productions Can Turn Any Night Into A Nightmare

This Is In Addition To Planned Nightmares

Nightmares are often seen as rare occurrences. However, Dream Productions reveals that Riley's mind has a dedicated nightmare director, Gigi (Kimberly Woods), who regularly creates nightmares for Riley. In addition to these regular nightmares, episode 1 demonstrates that any dream in Riley's mind can suddenly become a nightmare. This happens when Paula is directing a dream about Riley going to the school dance and incorporates the Rainbow Unicorn. Paula mistakenly believes that including a beloved figure from Riley's childhood is a good idea, even though Riley is trying to act more mature and concerned about fitting in with her peers.

This is not an isolated nightmare, as the Rainbow Unicorn and the song that accompanies it becomes a recurring nightmare that Riley struggles with in future episodes.

The dream is not meant to be terrifying, but it takes a chilling turn when the Rainbow Unicorn ominously descends in a clamshell and then careens toward her. Riley sprints down the hallway, until she is trapped in place as the Rainbow Unicorn barrels toward her. This is not an isolated nightmare, as the Rainbow Unicorn and the song that accompanies it becomes a recurring nightmare that Riley struggles with in future episodes. It is one thing to have nightmare crafted by a nightmare director, but another for happy dreams to become long-running nightmares.

Dream Productions Can Be Shaped By Internal Forces

Dream Productions' Conflict Affects Riley's Daily Life

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Riley's dreams subconsciously have a significant impact on her emotional state and how she acts when she is awake. When there is conflict between Paula, Xeni, Jean, and in the overall state of the Dream Productions department, this takes a toll on how Riley is feeling. While Dream Productions' personnel quarrel over the kinds of dreams she should be having, Riley loses confidence in herself and even begins to believe that she should not attend the school dance despite her friends wanting her to join them.

Dream Productions marks the first appearances of Riley's friends Grace (Grace Lu) and Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) in the franchise's chronological timeline.

When Riley has her lucid dream and directly interacts with Paula, something neither Inside Out movie achieved, she is empowered. Even though Riley does not remember the events of the lucid dream the next day, the way Paula empowers her leaves a lasting impact. Riley regains her confidence and chooses to go to the school dance and participate in a dance routine with her friends. While it is ultimately used for good, Riley's dreams shape her everyday perceptions and actions. This reality adds more narrative and emotional weight to the dreams that occur in Dream Productions.