Pixar has experienced some highs and lows recently. Following the pandemic, the release of several of their films directly on Disney+ forced the animation industry to rethink the importance of movie theaters. While sequels to popular pre-pandemic films like Moana 2, Zootopia 2, and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 have all been huge successes, earning over $1 billion each, original movies aren’t performing as well as they used to. The disappointing box office results of Pixar’s Elio particularly highlighted this challenge in 2025.
However, it’s worth noting that while Elio is getting a lot of attention, the studio took a risk on an original project last year as well. Win or Lose, an eight-episode series that premiered on Disney+ in February, was Pixar’s first original TV show. Many consider it one of their best works of the 2020s, and it recently received recognition, winning three Annie Awards on February 21st – including Best Limited Series.
If you missed Win or Lose when it came out in 2025, now’s a great time to watch it – and you might even get a sneak peek at what Pixar has planned for the future.
Win Or Lose Is Original Pixar At Its Best
With Disney shifting its strategy for Disney+, Win or Lose might unfortunately be Pixar’s final original series. It was first announced in 2020, when Disney was heavily focused on building its streaming service, and a lot has changed since then. It’s a shame, because the series really demonstrates Pixar’s potential with longer-form storytelling, allowing the creative team to experiment with animation and narratives in ways different from their usual movies.
This show follows a middle school softball team as they prepare for their championship game. Each episode reveals the story from a different character’s point of view – not just the players, but also coaches, parents, and even the umpire. Throughout the season, we learn about the personal challenges each character is facing – things like anxiety, heartbreak, or pressure from their families – and how those struggles affect their behavior during the high-stakes final game, which is gradually revealed piece by piece.
The challenges faced by the characters also impact the animation style, leading to some of Pixar’s most innovative work yet. Pixar has hinted at moving beyond its usual look, and while the Toy Story 5 trailer offers a glimpse of this change, Win or Lose truly demonstrates it. The series is wonderfully expressive and draws you into the characters’ emotions, beautifully supporting the story’s thoughtful approach to difficult feelings – it doesn’t rush to find easy answers.
When the show first came out, it received negative attention because Disney decided to remove any specific mention of the character Kai being transgender. While some believed this meant her gender identity was completely removed from the story, that wasn’t the case. It’s still a central part of her journey, and the way those around her readily accept her is actually quite heartwarming. If you skipped Win or Lose because of this, it’s worth revisiting – it might be the best thing you watch all week.
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2026-02-24 20:48