What happens when a major studio decides to alter a character’s storyline to address parental concerns? Just now, Disney made such a decision regarding Pixar’s upcoming animated series, “Win or Lose”.
“Win or Lose” is Pixar’s first long-form series, set to premiere on Disney+ on February 19, 2025. The show follows a co-ed middle school softball team, the Pickles, in the week leading up to their championship game, with each episode focusing on a different character’s perspective.
Initially, the series included a storyline featuring a transgender character. However, Disney has confirmed the removal of this storyline, stating, “When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline”.
Despite the removal of dialogue referencing the character’s gender identity, the character remains part of the show.
In view of Disney’s tendency in recent years to give more space to socio-political topics, this is now a step back from these ambitions. Previously, Disney faced some criticism for shelving an episode of “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” that featured a transgender character.
“Win or Lose” was created by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, who drew inspiration from their experiences working on “Toy Story 4.” The series aims to explore varied perspectives, with each episode reflecting a unique visual style to match the featured character’s viewpoint.
