| Dream Productions | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Mike Jones |
| Showrunner | Mike Jones |
| Written by | Mike Jones |
| Voices of |
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| Music by | Nami Melumad |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 27–31 minutes |
| Production company | Pixar Animation Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney+ |
| Release | December 11, 2024 (2024-12-11) |
Dream Productions is an American animatedmockumentarycomedy television miniseries produced byPixar Animation Studios for the streaming serviceDisney+. Developed and created byMike Jones, it is set between the events ofInside Out (2015) andInside Out 2 (2024).Dream Productions follows Paula Persimmon (Paula Pell) who teams with Xeni (Richard Ayoade) to create the next big tween-dream. Jones served as the series' showrunner.
Jones was announced to be creating a series based onInside Out at Pixar in June 2023. The series was being produced concurrently with the sequel filmInside Out 2. Its title was unveiled in May 2024.Nami Melumad provided the score for all four episodes. The series runs approximately 82 minutes long in total.[1]
Dream Productions premiered on Disney+ on December 11, 2024.[2] It received generally positive reviews from critics. The series made its linear television debut on August 4, 2025 onDisney Channel, withDisney XD following just a few weeks later on August 30, 2025.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Part 1: The Dream Team" | Valerie LaPointe | December 11, 2024 (2024-12-11) | |
Paula Persimmon is an admired dream director from Dream Productions in Riley's mind since the girl was two years old. When her assistant director, Janelle Johnson, tries to tell her that she is planning on striking out on her own, Paula is too excited and distracted on making a worthwhile dream for Riley. Paula decides to create one where Riley attends an upcoming school dance with Rainbow Unicorn as Mermaid Unicorn making an appearance, despite Janelle feeling that Riley is too mature for that. At a directors' meeting, the head of Dream Productions, Jean Dewberry, have Paula direct the opening night dream, and then promotes Janelle to be a new director, much to Paula's shock. That evening, as Riley falls asleep early, Paula's dream at first goes off great, but when Rainbow Unicorn comes out of a giant clamshell, it accidentally destroys the set. | ||||
| 2 | "Part 2: Out of Body" | Valerie LaPointe | December 11, 2024 (2024-12-11) | |
Paula is assigned a new assistant, Jean's pretentious daydream director nephew, Xeni, who believes that Riley's dreams should be more mature. Paula insists on doing things her way through, which results in another bad dream starring Rainbow Unicorn, who then angrily quits on Paula. Xeni's unhelpfulness and mocking results in Paula discharging him. Meanwhile, Janelle creates her own hit dream, and Jean subtly warns Paula that she might be on the chopping block if she doesn't shape up soon. | ||||
| 3 | "Part 3: Romance!" | Austin Madison | December 11, 2024 (2024-12-11) | |
Paula rehires Xeni and thanks to his influence, the dream they film involves Riley taking a Canadian-based boyfriend ("C.B.") to the dance is a hit. Jean loves this idea and soon decides to give Paula and her crew the entire night to create a "Part 2" dream, which results in Paula once again taking over. Xeni, determined, soon creates another fake boyfriend to add in drama and increase the Feel-sen ratings. This results in Paula and Xeni repeatedly sabotaging each other, overcrowding the set with many fake boyfriends and disrupting Riley's mind to the point where Riley beginssleepwalking, which causes the camera to start moving on its own. In this unconscious state, Riley nearly falls off the stairs while the camera almost falls off an edge. Jean, furious over the debacle, demotes Xeni to work at the local café after Paula shifts the blame on him. Jean puts Paula under pressure to create another mature dream, but if not, she would be demoted to brain farts. | ||||
| 4 | "Part 4: A Night to Remember" | Mike Jones | December 11, 2024 (2024-12-11) | |
Because of the sleepwalking incident, Jean begins giving all of the directors locked scripts from the writers. Wanting to get revenge on Paula, Xeni writes a script designed to be a nightmare and slips it into Paula's folder. Paula reads the script and soon decides to quit, believing she doesn't know Riley at all. Conscience stricken, Xeni finds Paula and confesses his sabotage and that since Paula has resigned, his fake script has been reassigned to Janelle. When Paula tries to warn Janelle of this, Jean comes and actually loves the script. When Paula, Xeni and Janelle become unwilling to direct, Jean fires them all and decides to do the dream herself. The trio manage to sneak back into Dream Productions where Paula soon removes the camera's reality distortion filter (based on Xeni's suggestion) so that Riley can understand that it's all not real when the dream begins taking a toll on her, giving her alucid dream. The dream is changed into a happy one and Riley soon decides to go to the dance with her friends Bree and Grace. As a result of that, many things change: Anger demotes Jean to working at the café, Janelle gets her job back, Xeni becomes the new director, and most significantly, Paula becomes the new head of Dream Productions. | ||||
On June 16, 2023, it was reported that anInside Out television series was being developed by Pixar for Disney+; the series was reportedly being developed as part of an effort byDisney to increase Pixar's output. Mike Jones, who previously wroteSoul (2020) andLuca (2021) for the studio, was set to develop the series.[5] The series was being developed simultaneously with a sequel to the original film, titledInside Out 2 (2024).[6] By May 2024, the series had been titledDream Productions.[7]
In August 2024, Jones revealed he would executively produce the series, as well as serve as director alongsideValerie LaPointe (associate executive producer ofInside Out 2) and Austin Madison, with Jaclyn Simon (characters and rendering manager ofInside Out) as producer,[8][9] and Jones as showrunner.[10] Paula Pell was also confirmed to reprise her role as Paula Persimmon from the first film to star as the main protagonist in the series.[11][12] The series was produced under a smaller budget than most Pixar productions, which Jones compared to making an independent film within Pixar.[1] The series was originally set to be seven episodes long, but the episode count was reduced to four due to budget cuts.[10]
The series is set between the events ofInside Out andInside Out 2.[13] Executive producer andInside Out directorPete Docter said the series would explore "the power of dreams and how they affect us in our waking life".[14] Jones said the relationship between Paula and Riley was inspired by his relationship with his sons, and how he had to "find a different way of talking to them" as they grew up.[15] The producers consulted with the group of nine teens Pixar assembled to consult forInside Out 2 (dubbed "Riley's Crew") to provide feedback for the show; their feedback led the filmmakers to increase the Hollywood-esque aspect of the show after they reacted positively to it.[9]
Bert Berry (shading art director ofInside Out) served as the production designer for the series.[10] Assets from the first film were reused forDream Productions, in addition to collaborating with the team forInside Out 2, who shared new assets created for that film for the series as both productions shared a Perforce server as a cost-cutting measure; visual effects supervisor Bill Wise noted the assets sharing was required due to the series lacking the budget to create new assets. He also noted this allowed the series' team to reuse several character models from the film.[10] Multiple teams, such as the assets and art teams, were also combined to streamline production and allow for the directors to review the material.[10] The set design team, led by Josh Holtsclaw (graphics art director ofLuca), traveled to multiple studio lots, including the20th Century Studios andWalt Disney Studios backlots, to study them and draw inspiration for the design of the Dream Productions studio, while also incorporating elements from San Francisco.[9]
On September 24, 2024, Nami Melumad was revealed to be composing for the series.[16] Melumad joined the series after being asked to present musical reels by Disney's music department, who hired her as composer after she presented said reels, in which she combined different music styles to fit the tone for the series.[17] Jones also gave a few ideas for the series' score.[17] For the dream sequences, Melumad made use of several types of music, including 80s rock music and children's music, in order to reflect how dreams were different every time, while the score for the series itself draws inspiration from "early 70s funk, rock, [and] jazz" due to its humorous tone, while also ultimately aiming for the music to make the setting feel like an actual Hollywood studio.[17] A soundtrack featuring Melumad's score was released on December 20, 2024.[18]
| Dream Productions | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | December 20, 2024 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | 59:00 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Main Dream" | 0:31 |
| 2. | "Dream Productions" | 1:44 |
| 3. | "This Too Shall Paci" | 1:42 |
| 4. | "We All Dream for Ice Cream" | 0:38 |
| 5. | "The Warehouse of Dreams" | 0:58 |
| 6. | "I Dream of Jean" | 0:43 |
| 7. | "Little Cabin in the Valley" | 0:57 |
| 8. | "It's Mermaid Unicorn" | 1:58 |
| 9. | "Dancing Nightmare" | 0:56 |
| 10. | "That's a Wrap" | 2:27 |
| 11. | "The Morning After" | 0:51 |
| 12. | "To Hell in a Golf Cart" | 0:46 |
| 13. | "It's Vintage" | 0:41 |
| 14. | "Goth Complex" | 1:06 |
| 15. | "A Room with a Review" | 1:40 |
| 16. | "Out of Body" | 1:36 |
| 17. | "Chilly Jean Is Not My Mother" | 1:49 |
| 18. | "My Heart Is an Open Mic" | 1:42 |
| 19. | "What's Your Dance" | 1:06 |
| 20. | "Call It a Comeback" | 1:30 |
| 21. | "Riley or Die" | 1:10 |
| 22. | "An Accident Rating to Happen" | 0:43 |
| 23. | "All the World's a Stage Worker" | 1:14 |
| 24. | "Dream Date" | 1:28 |
| 25. | "Sleepwalk the Line" | 2:55 |
| 26. | "Demotion Sickness" | 2:50 |
| 27. | "A Line in the Sandwich" | 0:54 |
| 28. | "A Star Is Drawn" | 0:36 |
| 29. | "Saboteur of Duty" | 1:22 |
| 30. | "Thus Passeth Paci" | 0:41 |
| 31. | "Dis-Dressed Out" | 1:10 |
| 32. | "Script Monster" | 0:44 |
| 33. | "What Teens Want" | 0:55 |
| 34. | "The Strife of Riley" | 1:07 |
| 35. | "There's No I in Dream" | 0:33 |
| 36. | "Carousel of Nightmares" | 1:57 |
| 37. | "Lucidity" | 3:00 |
| 38. | "Boom Go the Speakers" (Performed by Animatics) | 2:37 |
| 39. | "Happy Go Riley" | 1:16 |
| 40. | "New Management" | 0:44 |
| 41. | "Sweeter (When You're Dancing)" (Performed byLily Elise) | 2:57 |
| 42. | "Dream on Ends" | 2:48 |
All four episodes ofDream Productions were released on Disney+ on December 11, 2024.[2] The series was originally scheduled to be released by the spring of 2025 but was moved forward, having swapped its release date with the Pixar television seriesWin or Lose.[7][19]
The series made its linear television debut on August 4, 2025 on Disney Channel, with Disney XD following a few weeks later on August 30, 2025.
Disney+, which calculates its "Top 10" list by considering daily views for episodes and movies alongside the growing popularity of newly released titles, announced thatDream Productions was the most popular title in the U.S. upon its debut.[20] The Walt Disney Company revealed that the first episode garnered 5.6 million views worldwide in its first five days, marking the biggest premiere for an animated series on Disney+ sinceWhat If...? in 2021.[21][22] The series maintained the top position on Disney+'s "Top 10" list until December 29.[23]Dream Productions later moved to fifth place on December 30.[24]Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated thatDream Productions garnered 6.3 million viewers in the U.S. over its first 35 days, making it one of the most popular shows of the 2024–2025 season.[25]
Thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes reported a 75% approval rating with an average rating of 6.5/10, based on 20 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A chipper spin-off from theInside Out assembly line,Dream Productions's combination of genuine sentiment and meta satire works a charm."[26]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 67 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[27]
Lucy Mangan ofThe Guardian foundDream Productions to be a joyful and delightful spin-off ofInside Out, describing it as a "Christmas miracle". She highlighted the series' wit, wisdom, and family-friendly humor, noting that it stays true to the spirit of the original films. Mangan appreciated the show's exploration of Riley as she enters adolescence, with Paula struggling to adapt to her evolving dreams. She found the addition of new characters like Xeni to be a fun and satirical touch. Mangan also noted that the series feels generous and full of heart, created out of a genuine desire to entertain rather than capitalize on the franchise.[28] Mark Feeney ofThe Boston Globe appreciatedDream Productions for its mix of energetic storytelling, mockumentary style, and inside jokes related to filmmaking. He praised the voice cast, including Maya Rudolph and Richard Ayoade, and highlighted the high-quality animation and score. Feeney noted that although the show may appeal more to adults, it remains enjoyable for viewers of all ages, offering a mix of humor and creativity.[29]
Joel Keller ofDecider complimentedDream Productions for maintaining a connection to theInside Out franchise, with several of the original voice actors returning and visual cues linking the series to the films. He appreciated the series' exploration of Riley's transition into preadolescence, noting how Paula struggles to adapt her dreams to Riley's changing needs. Keller found the show to have a good balance of humor and sentiment. He stated that while some references might go over younger children's heads, the physical comedy makes it enjoyable for all ages.[30] John Nugent ofEmpire praisedDream Productions as one of Pixar's most ambitious small-screen projects, noting its satisfying narrative that expands on theInside Out universe. He found the series to be witty, bright, and visually appealing, maintaining the tone of the original films. Nugent highlighted the mockumentary-style format, with Paula's character adding humor. He noted that while the series is not as emotional or profound as the films, it remains funny, with clever visual gags and a light-hearted yet chaotic atmosphere.[31] Ed Potton ofThe Times gave it three stars, described the series as amockumentary, and stated "as ever with Pixar, it works on multiple levels. Your kids might not get all the jokes, but they'll love the pacing, the comedy, the emotion, and the characters. Adults, meanwhile, will be reminded that Hollywood is rarely more entertaining and madcap than when it's navel-gazing."[32]
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