Nestled just a stone’s throw from Pixar’s legendary campus, Berkeley’s Kuku Studios is about to drop a cinematic bomb that’ll make you ugly cry and laugh simultaneously.

Imagine a world where sibling squabbles meet dream-hopping adventure – that’s the magic brewing in “In Your Dreams,” the studio’s debut feature film landing on Netflix this week. Founded by ex-Pixar wizards Alex Woo, Stanley Moore, and Tim Hahn, this local animation powerhouse is serving up a poignant tale that’s part family drama, part fever dream.

Dreams, Dysfunction, and Deliverance

At the heart of the film are Stevie and Elliott, two siblings on a wild quest to save their parents’ marriage by journeying through the wildest dreamscapes imaginable. Think zombie breakfast foods, snarky stuffed animals, and a confrontation with the queen of nightmares – all in a day’s work for these pint-sized heroes.

Personal Stories, Universal Truths

Woo’s inspiration comes from a deeply personal place. Drawing from childhood memories of watching his mother leave to “figure things out,” he transforms a painful memory into a universal narrative about family, resilience, and the power of imagination.

Bay Area Storytelling Magic

With “In Your Dreams,” Kuku Studios isn’t just making another animated film – they’re continuing the Bay Area’s legendary storytelling tradition. By prioritizing emotional authenticity over sugar-coated narratives, they’re carving out a unique space in animation that speaks directly to the heart.

Starring Simu Liu and packed with more emotional punch than a therapy session, this film promises to be a game-changer in family animation.