Disney+ is known for being the home of many series and movies. However, it does not only host Disney content. Many popular companies have found their way onto the platform, bringing a sense of variety to the content hosted there.
“Win or Lose” is an animated Pixar series.. It consists of eight episodes following a softball team to the championship. However, each episode is the same events told by different characters. This storyline allows viewers to look into everyone’s lives leading up to the championship and develop a deep understanding of the individual struggles each character faces.
The first two episodes were released on Feb. 19, 2025. Two new episodes came out each week until March 12, 2025. There has been no indication of a season two happening. Additionally, Disney+ has stated that they will be focusing more on long form content, specifically sequel movies. Due to this, it is very unlikely that a season two of “Win or Lose” will be greenlit in the future.
The show did well in ratings, getting an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 4.6/5 stars on Google reviews. Despite being a children’s show, many adults have found themselves enjoying some of the more mature themes sprinkled throughout the episodes. Topics such as anxiety, financial struggles and pressure from parents are all addressed in a way that both kids and adults can understand. These themes add an extra emotional impact to the show, driving the viewers to truly care about each character and their circumstances.
Disney has faced some backlash regarding the seventh episode of the series, titled “I Got It.” This episode follows Kai, the new girl on the team. There are signs of her being transgender early on in her episode. Throughout the series, elements of her transition can be seen—growing out her hair, transitioning to a more female based friend group, and wearing a skirt to school—but it was revealed that her episode was initially going to be about her transition. This ended up being cut and was replaced by the plotline of living up to her dad’s expectations of her. Now, there is no confirmation that she is transgender besides the scrapped plans that were shared.
“Win or Lose” uses a cute animation style that highlights the emotions of each character. Everyone has their motif in their episode. However, when viewed in others’ episodes, this motif is no longer present. The use of these visual motifs helps the viewer follow each character and fully immerse viewers in the narrative of that specific character. With the point of view changing every episode, this clarification is very much needed.
There are also repeated scenes throughout the series, as the same events are happening. The arrival at the championship is one of these scenes, but the context is what makes all the difference. These repeated scenes add to the emotional impact of the show, drawing on the empathy of the viewers towards the characters on the screen.
Despite being a show for children, the story of this middle school softball team is one that any age can relate to. There are laughs and tears to be had by watching this show. “Win or Lose” highlights the fact that by winning at one thing in life, you have to lose at another. The show emphasizes these values and asks its viewers to really consider what matters to them.
Photo Credits: imbd
