Win or Lose

“Win or Lose” notches another Pixar win and proves yet again how the studio remains an animated champ.

Win Or Lose manages to tell detailed stories about each of its characters, with emotions rooted in reality while taking advantage of Pixar’s ability to create a fascinating visual landscape.

Some characters elicit more interest than others, which could very well remain the only reason to see what’s in store, and it’s not uncommon for a background character or two to add a bit of weight to their own story several episodes later.

Pixar is still clearly trying to iron out the wrinkles in how to best use episodic television to tell their types of stories, but Win or Lose is a great step in the right direction.

Win or Lose’s lack of trans representation merely puts it on a par with virtually every other show on TV, and might ordinarily have passed by unnoticed. But it’s another reason why it feels like a swing and a miss.

The Mickey Mouse-shaped softball field the series operates in holds it back in a way that fails creators Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates’ original vision. .... “Coach’s Kid” is the most “Inside Out”-esque of the bunch, heartwarming but oddly familiar. The other episodes take strong liberties that feel refreshing even for Pixar. .... Though Kai’s episode “I Got It” wasn’t screened for me, her appearances in the episodes portrayed her as straight and cisgender. It felt like a one-two punch after the sheer cowardice of “Captain America: Brave New World.”

It’s too parochially American for a European audience, littered with cries of, “You got this!”, “Way to go!” and “Great job!” It also feels derivative. On top of the stylistic spoofs, it’s a little bit Mighty Ducks and a lot Inside Out.

Pixar’s Win or Lose is a delightful and heartwarming series that proves the studio’s storytelling magic isn’t limited to feature films. As their first-ever long-form project, Win or Lose delivers a fresh and engaging narrative filled with humor, emotion, and unforgettable **** series takes a unique approach by telling the same story from different perspectives, following the misfit Pickles softball team as they prepare for their championship game. This structure adds depth and creativity, allowing viewers to see events through the eyes of different characters, each with their own emotions and interpretations.

"Win or Lose" is Pixar's inaugural original series, now streaming on Disney+. The show centers on the Pickles, a middle-school co-ed softball team, and uniquely presents the week leading up to their championship game through the perspectives of various characters, including players, parents, and even the umpire. Each episode offers a fresh viewpoint, enriching the narrative with depth and relatability.

Brilliant story, told in episodic chapters, with one of the most original story structures and other techniques I have seen in many years. Funny and breathtakingly full of verisimilitude in the writing, and character behavior, a real tour de force in the creators’ storytelling skills and depiction of the poignant and complicated lives of the characters. While consistently being entertaining. And lovable. And with excellent judgment used about what to include in a story, with no vulgarity or crass childhood type show humor inclusion. Classy and deeply impressive, even truly profound. Very refreshing among the stories out there today. Wholesome.

I really wasn't expecting this show to be so good. Like. It's about a group of middle schoolers playing softball. IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS DEEP! The only thing that is keeping this show from being a genuine 10/10 is because Francis didn't say. "This is softball baby." (This is such a in-character thing of him to say. Like why didn't they do that?) It was so close but so far. But I really just live how mature the show is. My favourite episodes were the episodes that focused on the adult. They were handled so masterfully. Not to mention the relationship stuff. Like. I really looked down on the jerk boy before that one episode. I really love how this show just gives you all the perspectives. You see everyone's side of the story. And they all feel so real. The finale episode was serious too good to be true. I ADORE the couch. And his just trying to be so positive and supportive while he's dealing with some seriously stressful stuff. It just Jabs at you in your gut and you're just left there to FEEL it. That's how you just know they handled this expertly. Best show of 2025 so far. More than worth the watch. I literally watched all the episodes in one day. THIS DAY. It all takes less than a quarter of a Sunday to experience what I just did. It's truly rich and absolutely dense with quality. Just watch it.

Being trans is something I have to talk about with my children in private but religion which is a very special choice and lifestyle apparently gets foisted upon us in the most flimsy representation possible in the first episode. In the immortal words of another cartoon ball player, good grief! The disappointing part about Win or Lose is that softball is the weak thread that barely brings this all together. This could have been a movie about middle schoolers just trying to survive and the world around them with teenage antagonists and the adults who are supporting their lives as they grow. Could have. But the writers decided to cling to every possible storyline, even the weak ones that bring down the overarching plot. Each episode revisits The Pickles' big game and changes some bits of dialogue based on which character is the focus. In theory, this makes sense because everyone perceives things differently. In practice, you're the audience and only you can understand one point of view and that's your own point of view. This fails. One might change the emphasis of words for a similar effect but changing entire lines is just going to confuse your audience. Congrats, I had to replay scenes. You have your Orange Soda Swilling Oracle which spoils the entire episode and this gives you a laugh but what purpose do you get here other than a running gag that doesn't even show up for all the episodes. However there is some creativity in animation mediums used. It's not jarring and it blends nicely while showing what each character believes or what they're interested in. Children are engaging with technology so they use blocky pixels when they engage with their phones. Some children have beautiful hand-drawn worlds when engaging with their imaginations. It's engaging for these fantasy sequences. Some characters like Rochelle and Yuwen are impeccably written and may bring you back to being that age. You might feel like you're sitting in a classroom and rolling your eyes because you knew a classmate just like them. The writing is good and yet it's spotty. The characters shine for some and then others just feel empty and unbelievable. It's depressing, honestly. This should have been better and someone needed to be there to encourage better cuts to help this project shine better. This is a mess where some pieces have heart and soul and then others have pure pandering. You should have gotten rid of Laurie and kept her sweat anxiety monster. That disgusting thing was somehow charming and it takes skill to make anxiety charming.