Sandman

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Evil-doer
Full Name	Sandman
Alias	Mr. Sandman
Origin	In Your Dreams
Occupation	Giver of Dreams
Powers / Skills	Oneirokinesis Oneiric Physiology Sand Manipulation Dream World Manipulation Dream World Lordship Immortality
Goals	Ensure everyone will only have good dreams and never any nightmares (succeeded, for a while). Grant Stevie her wish of keeping her family together (succeeded, but not in the intended way). Keep Stevie asleep in her dream reality forever (failed).
Crimes	Attempted Kidnapping Domination Coercion
Type of Villain	Obsessive Control Freak

The Sandman is the main antagonist of the 2025 American animated adventure comedy film In Your Dreams, directed by Alex Woo and co-directed by Erik Benson.

He was voiced by Omid Djalili, who also voiced Yusuf Amir in Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony and Anthony Trumper in Shaun the Sheep Movie.

Biography

He is the ruler of the dream world who ensures that everyone only ever has good dreams while preventing nightmares, and grants wishes to those who manage to reach him in the dream world.

However, it is eventually revealed that he is an obsessive control freak who came to believe nightmares are too scary and no one needed them, even though they can help people. He also misleads anyone who comes to him for a wish, and instead of making it real, he traps them in a dream world that pretends to be reality and that their wish has come true while their real bodies are at risk of staying asleep forever.

The Sandman’s arch-nemesis is Nightmara, the giver of nightmares, who is in actuality a kind being that really gives them to help people face the unknown. She knows the Sandman's true nature and actively tries to stop anyone from reaching him.

Trivia

• The Sandman functions as a foil to Stevie, since both characters desire perfect outcomes. Stevie wishes for a perfect life and a reunited family, and the Sandman wants every dream to remain pleasant and controlled.
  • Both characters experience conflict with others, with Stevie clashing with Elliot and the Sandman opposing Nightmara.
  • Stevie learns to move forward by accepting the changes in her life, remembering her time with Elliot, and allowing herself to let go.
  • The Sandman represents what Stevie might have become if her desire for control continued to overwhelm her.
• Prior to his reveal, Nightmara was thought to be the main antagonist of the movie.