Pixar’s Upcoming Series Faces Changes in Storyline
Image: Disney/Pixar
Petrana Radulovic is an entertainment journalist with a focus on animation, fandom culture, theme parks, Disney, and young adult fantasy franchises.
Recent reports indicate that Pixar’s anticipated animated series will omit a storyline featuring a transgender character. This decision follows Disney’s recent withdrawal of an episode from Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, which also included themes related to transgender identities.
In response to inquiries about this change, a representative from Disney stated that the company understands many parents prefer to introduce sensitive topics to their children at their own pace. This sentiment mirrors comments made regarding the retracted Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur episode. However, the company clarified that the removal of this particular episode was not directly linked to its trans narrative but rather is being “held” for future consideration.
Set to premiere in February 2025, Win or Lose will center around a middle school softball team as they prepare for their championship game. Each episode will spotlight different team members and employ various visual styles for storytelling. Initially announced in 2020 with plans for a 2023 release, the show has faced multiple delays pushing its debut back first to 2024 and now again.
While some elements concerning gender identity have been altered—specifically lines related to one character—the character themselves remains part of the series according to sources from The Hollywood Reporter. These adjustments were made several months prior.
Disney has faced criticism over its track record regarding LGBTQ+ representation within its content. Instances include editing scenes out of international versions of films or requesting changes that dilute characters’ sexual orientations—such as making them appear “less gay.” In more extreme cases like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, episodes have been completely withdrawn from airing.
However, there has been pushback from animators and creatives within Disney who advocate for greater representation. Following former CEO Bob Chapek’s tepid response regarding donations made by Disney towards legislators supporting Florida’s contentious “Don’t Say Gay” bill in 2022, numerous Pixar employees expressed their discontent through an open letter criticizing Chapek for minimizing even minor representations of queer narratives.
As it stands now, fans can look forward to watching Win or Lose on Disney Plus starting February 19th, 2025—a date eagerly anticipated by many despite these recent developments surrounding content adjustments.
