Written by: Samantha Hass
When I think of Pixar, classic films such as WALL-E, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles come to mind. I grew up with these movies, which might make me a bit clouded by nostalgia, but I believe that the earlier Pixar works are superior to what they have been producing recently. The older works present charming, emotional tales that stem from simple ideas.
Pixar’s more recent films, like Lightyear, Elemental, and Inside Out 2, lack the charm of the studio’s earlier works. Lightyear is a bland spinoff of the Toy Story franchise, and Inside Out 2 is an unnecessary sequel that rehashes the narrative beats of its predecessor. Elemental, while original and visually stimulating, is rather forgettable. I had stopped expecting innovative animated stories from Pixar, until I watched Win or Lose.
Win or Lose is a fascinating addition to the Pixar lineup because it is an eight-episode Disney+ series, the first of its kind from the studio. Created by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, this 2025 release is, in my opinion, the best narrative from Pixar in recent memory. Its presentation and visual storytelling are unique yet familiar and make for an engaging viewing experience.
Win or Lose explores the lives of a middle school softball team. Each episode focuses on a specific character and their struggles leading up to the big championship game. We see how overlapping events situate themselves in each focal character’s perspective, and we recontextualize situations by viewing the same events multiple times. The show unfolds with intentionality, developing each character before arriving at a satisfying conclusion. This is the most creative that Pixar has gotten with storytelling structure, which is made possible by the TV show format.
The structure might be different from what we’re used to, but the narrative still contains Pixar’s signature emotional storytelling. Every episode, characters’ struggles are portrayed by specific visual metaphors. In the first episode, for example, Laurie tries to impress her father, who is the team’s coach. She wants to prove that she can succeed despite her less-than-ideal track record. Her anxieties manifest as a personified sweat drop named Sweaty who grows as her nerves worsen. Laurie is forced to confront her emotions by the end of the episode, giving us that familiar Pixar resolution. I love how creative the visual metaphors are; not only are they clever and fun to look at, but they are also presented in a way that makes them comprehensible for all ages.
I would take the innovative and entertaining Win or Lose over something like Lightyear any day; the TV show demonstrates its writing prowess with every puzzle piece episode that adds to the larger whole. Employing refreshing creativity in the midst of a lackluster era for Pixar, Win or Lose is definitely a win.
Featured Image Caption: Laurie stepping up to the plate with Sweaty on her back in Pixar’s Win or Lose