Though Disney is primarily known and celebrated for its movies, its latest comedy mini-series is not a dream easy to forget. With new characters and some returning players, Dream Productions expands on the realm of Riley’s mind established in the first two Inside Out films, but with a twist.
Though the Inside Out films are laid out in the traditional storytelling manner, Dream Productions brings a new take to the table. By having its characters talk directly to the viewer at times, almost like they are being interviewed about the plot, Dream Productions immediately captures attention with its unexpected stylistic choices. Though Inside Out fans may initially experience an adjustment period to the steep departure from the style of the films, its unique approach may be the only thing swaying viewers toward the mini series’ unlikable protagonist.
Compared to the beloved emotions in the films, Dream Productions Paula Perdimmon is not as entertaining to follow. From her introduction with her first dream, she seemed stuck in the past of catering dreams to a two-year-old Riley which honestly has failed to change as Riley has grown up. Perhaps this character flaw could have been mitigated had she had other redeeming qualities, but all there was to her was that she wanted what was best for Riley. However, such a motivation is something shared by every character in this universe so it is nothing special.
Beyond the unique storytelling, what saves Dream Productions is the surrounding cast. With cameos from the original emotions sprinkled throughout, the mini-series welcomed many new voices to the scene. By exploring their dynamics that mature with Riley’s growth, these characters add to the depth of the world of Riley’s mind and the story at large. Though Paula remains the common thread tying them together and allowing them to expand this universe, their unique individual outlooks on the world are what makes the story worth following.
By diving deeper into the Dream Productions sector of Riley’s mind and looking behind the curtain at how dreams are created, the unraveling of their relationship dynamics with each other leads to new discoveries about dreams. What at first seemed like a story about someone trying to keep their job quickly was swept away by mimicking a real-world phenomenon.
Such developments in the Inside Out universe introduce the question of why the miniseries is only four episodes long. The episodes are relatively short at only around half an hour each and because there are so few of them, the pacing remains wonky throughout the miniseries from start to finish. By the time the series reached its conclusion, the ending felt misplaced rather than satisfactory.
Although it has issues across the board, Dream Productions is an entertaining watch that adds to the mystique of the Inside Out films. The mini-series adapts an endearing dreamlike quality to it that even when the pacing is off, or the characters are not ideal to follow, it is impossible not to become invested. By taking viewers behind the scenes of Dream Productions, Disney Plus’ latest miniseries takes everyone along for a wild ride that adds to how Riley’s world works and leaves hopeful questions for the future.
