Disney removes transgender storyline from Pixar’s ‘Win or Lose’ series
Pixar’s much-anticipated animated series Win or Lose is set to premiere on Disney+ in February 2025, bringing the story of a middle school softball team, the Pickles, to life. The series explores the lives of players, coaches, parents, and even umpires in the week leading up to their championship game, with each episode showcasing a different character's perspective.
However, Win or Lose has undergone a notable change before its debut. Disney confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that a storyline involving a transgender character has been removed. A Disney spokesperson explained, “When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline.” While the character remains in the series, references to gender identity have been cut.
According to an insider close to the project, the decision to revise the script was made months ago. The announcement comes amidst a broader conversation around LGBTQ+ representation in media, a topic that has sparked both support and criticism for Disney in recent years.
The move has drawn comparisons to other instances of LGBTQ+ content being adjusted or removed in Disney projects. Most recently, creators of Disney Channel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur claimed an episode featuring a transgender character was shelved, though Disney denied the episode was “banned,” stating the decision had been made over a year earlier. In 2022, Pixar’s Lightyear faced international backlash over a same-gender kiss, and Disney Animation’s Strange World, featuring an openly gay lead, struggled at the box office.
Chanel Stewart, the transgender voice actress portraying the affected character in Win or Lose, expressed disappointment over the decision. Stewart, who was 14 when she was cast for the role, shared with Deadline: “From the moment I got the script, I was excited to share my journey to help empower other trans youth. Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard.”
This latest development highlights the challenges studios face in navigating politically sensitive topics, particularly those centered on gender identity and youth. Gender and LGBTQ+ themes remain polarizing issues in the United States, especially in contexts involving media for younger audiences.
Despite these challenges, Disney continues to include LGBTQ+ narratives in its content aimed at older audiences, such as Marvel’s Agatha: All Along and FX’s Pose. Still, debates over representation are part of broader cultural shifts, with Hollywood bracing for further scrutiny of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives under the current political climate.
As Win or Lose nears its debut, Disney celebrates significant wins at the box office. Pixar’s Inside Out 2 shattered records as the highest-grossing animated film of all time, while Disney Animation’s Moana 2 is closing in on $1 billion in global earnings. Amid these successes, Win or Lose creators Michael Yates, Carrie Hobson, and David Lally, along with voice star Will Forte, are set to bring a heartfelt and diverse series to audiences.
