Disney and Pixar’s newest series,Win or Lose, is already a cute watch for the whole family following its first season premiere. The series centers on a middle school softball team as they prepare for their big game.Win or Lose’s voice castfeatures some familiar actors along with some new faces who bring the animated characters to life. While many of Disney’s previous shows and movies center on characters going on exciting adventures,Win or Losehas been well-reviewedprecisely because it does the opposite, focusing on the emotions and events in its characters' everyday lives.
Interestingly, the series switches focus for each episode. The episodes each focus on the events leading up to the championship game, but they do so from the perspectives of different characters who each face their own struggles. However,Win or Losehas also faced controversyafter sadly removing the story of a transgender character, which would have provided great representation for trans teenagers onscreen. WhileWin or Losehas two new episodes airing each week, there are several other similar shows to watch in the meantime for audiences looking for great animated shows.
Monsters At Work
Cast
Monsters at Work is a computer-animated series and a part of Disney’s popular Monsters, Inc, franchise. The series stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman as Mike and Sulley respectively, both of whom are reprising their roles from the Monsters, Inc movies. The first season arrived on Disney+ in mid-2021 and was fairly well-received by both viewers and critics.
Monsters at Workpicks up right whereMonsters, Inc.left off, so several of its characters will be familiar to many audiences. Following Henry J. Waternoose’s arrest at the end of the original movie, Sulley and Mike Wazowski take over Monsters Incorporated and transition from scare power to laugh power. Along with the struggles that they face in taking over during this change, the series also follows Tylor Tuskmon who has just begun working at Monsters Incorporated, though things are not what he hoped they would be after the change from scare power.
Both shows do have some funny moments, but they are also very heartfelt and deal with the struggles that the characters face in various parts of their lives.
WhileMonsters at Workdoes have some noticeable differences fromWin or Losein its plot, the two shows actually have several aspects in common. Both shows do have some funny moments, but they are also very heartfelt and deal with the struggles that the characters face in various parts of their lives. Mike and Sulley, along with new characters Tylor and Val, highlight the importance of friendship and working through problems together.
Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb follows the adventures of stepbrothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher as they embark on various creative and often unreal projects during their summer vacation, while their sister Candace tries to reveal their escapades to their mother. Concurrently, the family’s pet platypus Perry leads a double life as a secret agent battling the evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
Phineas and Ferbis arguably one of the best-received and most popular Disney Channel shows of the last 20 years, withthe perfect combination of entertaining, silly plots and moments of real friendship between the characters. Each episode of the series focuses on a different project that Phineas and Ferb, along with their friend group, build, only to have it later destroyed each time. The series is very funny and creative, and has many episodes for audiences to enjoy.
Both children and adults can enjoyPhineas and Ferbas the episodes are lighthearted but very interesting. ThoughWin or Losecertainly has more focus on the negative emotions in its characters' lives which impact their experiences and understanding of the upcoming softball game,the two shows pair well together because of the shared theme of friendship and the lessons that the characters learn as the shows progress. While the series initially ran from 2007 to 2015,Phineas and Ferbhas been renewedfor another season which is set to premiere this summer.
Iwájú
Iwájú is an animated sci-fi series created for Disney+ and released in 2024. Set in the distant future in Lagos, Nigeria, Iwájú follows a young girl named Tola and her friend, Kole, who travel between dimensions and explore new worlds while exploring the culture of the place they come home through a new point of view.
Just likeWin or Lose, Iwájúis an important series for Disney because of its creativity and difference from many of Disney’s animated series, which are based on preexisting franchises. Likewise,the two shows are both a bit more emotionally heavy than many of Disney’s earlier animated shows, which were aimed at sharing gentle lessons with children.Iwájúdoes not shy away from the complexities of real life, and it taps into the interesting culture of Lagos, Nigeria, making it well worth a watch.
Why Iwájú Is An Exciting New Step For Disney’s Future
The upcoming animated series Iwájú is a new experiment for Disney, and its creation is an indication of the exciting direction the company is taking.
The 2024 series follows 10-year-old Tola Martins who runs into trouble after deciding to visit her father while he is working in the city.Iwájúcombines interesting science fiction elements in the form of Tola’s lizard robot and real cultural messagesthat make the series both appealing to younger audiences and educational. LikeWin or Lose, Iwájúmakes it clear that everything is not perfect in the lives of the characters nor in the world more generally, but they are able to grow and have some positive experiences along the way.
Bluey
Bley is an Australian animated kids' show centered on a family of talking dogs. Bluey is a female Australian Blue Heeler Cattle Dog, and together with her sister Bingo, Mum, and Dad, Bluey always finds herself in the middle of an adventure.
The Australian seriesBlueyhas become one of the most popular children’s series in recent years, receiving praise across its three seasons. However, beyond its popularity with younger audiences,even adults have enjoyedBlueybecause of its entertaining and wholesome depiction of family and friendship dynamics. In fact,many ofBluey’s episodes are actually quite deepand may even go beyond the understanding of younger audiences.
Bluey’s younger characters learn about life and the impact of their actions on the surrounding world, which also subtly teaches the kids watching about important life lessons.
The animated dogs ofBlueymay be different from the characters ofWin or Lose, but the two shows' abilities to focus both on the lives of the adult and child characters give them a level of similarity.Bluey’s younger characters learn about life and the impact of their actions on the surrounding world, which also subtly teaches the kids watching about important life lessons.
Highlights The Challenges Of Growing Up In A Fun, Lighthearted Way
Dream Productions
Set in the whimsical world of Riley’s mind, this Inside Out spin-off series follows the crew at Dream Productions, the studio responsible for creating Riley’s dreams and nightmares. As they craft cinematic experiences each night, the team faces unexpected challenges, blending humor and creativity in a vivid exploration of the subconscious.
Just two months prior to the release ofWin or Lose, Disney releasedDream Productions, a short series set in the world ofInside Out. The series takes place in a production studio in Riley Andersen’s head that creates her dreams while she sleeps. The show’s creative premise fits perfectly into theInside Outuniverse, and the result is incredibly sweet. As with the films,Dream Productionsplaces a lot of emphasis on how Riley’s personality and the things that she likes change as she grows up by personifying those changes.
Why It Took 4 Years For Disney+ To Release Win Or Lose
Pixar’s animated series Win or Lose is finally releasing, and here’s why the show took so long to come out and got delayed so many times.
By focusing episodes ofWin or Loseor different characters and their emotions, the show does something quite similar toDream Productionsin representing the inner lives of the characters. Both shows create complexities in their characters, but they are subtle enough to feel like a natural part of the show rather than an overstatement. This subtlety also helps the two shows to appeal to a broad age range, making bothDream ProductionsandWin or Losegreat shows for the whole family to watch together.
Win or Lose
Win or Lose is an animated sports comedy series produced by Pixar. The show follows a co-ed middle school softball team and their coach as they navigate the highs and lows leading up to their championship game. Each episode is from a different character’s perspective, providing unique insights into their individual experiences and emotions.
