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Everything we know About Win or Lose – Pixar’s First Original Animated Series
Pixar is stepping up to the plate with its highly anticipated original series Win or Lose, and the excitement is palpable! After teasing the world with a sneak peek, Pixar recently dropped the first full trailer, offering fans a glimpse into this fresh, sports-themed animated adventure.
In the newly released trailer, Win or Lose showcases the colorful journey of a middle school softball team, setting the stage for what promises to be an emotionally charged and visually stunning series. As each episode explores different perspectives, the series uses unique animation styles to blend humor, drama, and sportsmanship in ways Pixar fans have never seen before.
Expect to dive deep into the dynamics of a middle school team striving for greatness, and what happens off the field when dreams and fears collide. Whether you’re a sports fan or someone who just loves exceptional animation, there’s something here for everyone. Stay tuned as we continue to update this article with all the latest details!
Release date & Where to Watch
Win or Lose will debut on Disney+ on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, with a total of eight episodes. Two episodes will be released every Wednesday, concluding with the final two episodes on March 12, 2025.
What is Pixar's Win or Lose About?
Win or Lose, Pixar Animation Studios' first-ever original series, follows the intertwined stories of eight characters as they prepare for a middle school championship softball game.
The series centers around the Pickles, a co-ed team, and delves into the perspectives of players, their helicopter parents, and even a lovesick umpire. Each episode provides a unique visual style to represent each character’s point of view during the same events.
The show explores the emotional, humorous, and relatable experiences of the characters in the lead-up to the championship game. It highlights how each individual sees the world differently, whether it's the insecure kids, overbearing parents, or the smitten umpire.
Win or Lose presents the same events from each character’s viewpoint, offering audiences a fresh, emotional, and often funny take on everyday experiences.
Who’s in the Voice cast of Win or Lose?
- Will Forte (The Great North) Pickles Coach Dan
- Lil Rel Howery (Vacation Friends) as James
- Melissa Villaseñor (Saturday Night Live)
- Flula Borg (The Suicide Squad) as a janitor
- Jaylin Fletcher (Snowpiercer)
- Ian Chen (Fresh Off the Boat)
- Rosie Foss (Criminal Minds) as Laurie
- Kyliegh Curran (Young Jedi Adventures) as Taylor
- Josh Thomson (The Office) as Frank
- Jo Firestone (Joe Pera Talks with You) as Sweaty
- Milan Elizabeth Ray (The Wonder Years) as Rochelle
- Izaac Wang (Good Boys) as Yuwen
- Chanel Stewart (Barbie) as Kai
- Erin Keif (Hello From the Magic Tavern) as Lena
- Orion Tran (Little Bird) as Little Yuwen
- Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel) as Vanessa
- Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul)
- Winston Vengapally as Boma
- Edward Hong as Junn's Dad
- Ariana Mahallati as Nadia
Official Trailer
Pixar's upcoming series Win or Lose centers on the Pickles, a middle school softball team, as they prepare for their championship game. The trailer introduces Frank, an umpire who nervously attempts to ask a barista, Lena, out for coffee, only to be awkwardly rebuffed.
The narrative then shifts to the team's journey, highlighting their challenges and growth. A poignant line from the trailer encapsulates the show's theme: "Everyone is chasing the feeling of a win... but if someone wins, somebody has to lose."
For a visual glimpse into the series, you can watch the official trailer below:
A teaser was also released that gave viewers anticipating the release a fresh look at the show.
Episode Titles
- Season 1 Episode 1: Coach's Kid (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 2: Blue (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 3: Raspberry (Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 4: Pickle (Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 5: Steal (Wednesday, March 5, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 6: Mixed Signals (Wednesday, March 5, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 7: I Got It (Wednesday, March 12, 2025)
- Season 1 Episode 8: Home (Wednesday, March 12, 2025)
Why is Pixar’s Win or Lose Receiving Backlash From LGBTQ+ fans Before its Disney+ Release?
Pixar’s Win or Lose is facing backlash after reports revealed that a transgender character’s storyline was cut. In December 2024, The Hollywood Reporter noted that a line affirming the character’s transgender identity was removed, with a Disney spokesperson stating that certain topics should be left for parents to discuss with their children.
The character remains in the show, but all dialogue referencing their transgender identity was omitted. This follows previous claims of Disney censoring queer content in Lightyear and Inside Out 2.
Chanel Stewart, the transgender actress who voiced the character, expressed disappointment, telling Deadline, “I was very disheartened… Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard.” Former Pixar employees also criticized the decision, calling it part of a broader trend of Disney sidelining LGBTQ+ representation.
The move has sparked calls for a boycott, with critics arguing that trans children deserve representation and that Disney wasted resources editing an already finished episode instead of telling diverse stories.
Behind the Scenes
Win or Lose is an upcoming American animated series from Pixar Animation Studios. Created, written, and directed by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, the series is executive produced by Hobson, Yates, David Lally, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Lindsey Collins, with animation led by Brendan Beesley, Brandon Kern, and Tom Zach.
It features a score by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon) and original songs by CAMPFIRE and Djawadi.
The series, in development since Disney+ launched, was officially announced during Disney’s Investor Day in December 2020. Its concept was inspired by conversations between Hobson and Yates during their work on Toy Story 4, where they explored how people perceive the same events differently—a theme central to Win or Lose.
“I played softball growing up,” Hobson shared. “Inspired by that experience, we felt fast-pitch softball was the perfect backdrop for the show. There are so many facets to playing sports that I love—it can bring out the best and worst of a person. And when it comes to winning and losing, the consequences are nothing, and yet, they’re everything.” (via The Walt Disney Company)
Yates added that the idea of shifting perspectives came from their time at Pixar: “Carrie and I were officemates on Toy Story 4. We would always have different reactions to the same meeting. One of us would say, ‘That went great!’ and the other would say, ‘No! It was terrible.’ We realized that our experiences shape how we perceive events. We wanted to tell a story that illustrated all of that.”
Pixar CCO Pete Docter describes Win or Lose as a groundbreaking project for the studio. “We consider Win or Lose a major, first-of-its-kind tentpole series,” he said. “One that really showcases what makes Pixar great: bold, imaginative storytelling; laugh-out-loud humor; and characters we can all relate to.” (via Comic Book)
While centered around an eight-episode sports story, Docter emphasizes that Win or Lose is “not so much about softball as it is a comedy about love, rivalry, and the challenges we all face in our struggles to win at life.”
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