Pixar’sWin or Loseis the studio’s most exciting upcoming project, but the TV series is also under a lot of pressure to succeed. Even with 23 Academy Award wins and box office record-breaking hits likeInside Out 2under its belt,Pixar is still navigating an uneven path forward with Disney. Acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2006, right around the time the originalCarsmovie hit the big screen, Pixar has managed to produce original content over the last two decades or so. However, there’s no denying the recent shift in the animation studio’s trajectory.
For everyTurning RedandElemental, Pixar has anIncredibles 2,Toy Story 4, andInside Out 2at the ready. Plus, it’s those franchise-spawning sequels that have earned Pixar its biggest box office draws. Both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar have leaned harder into sequels and established IP in recent years, and both animation studios have massive sequels in the pipeline, fromFrozenmovies to theconfirmedIncredibles3. Since fresh ventures don’t boast built-in audiences or money-making track records,there’s so much pressure onWin or Lose’s performance, which could determine Pixar’s future.
Win Or Lose Is Pixar’s Most Exciting Upcoming Project (Even With Sequels On The Horizon)
The Show About A Middle School Softball Team Takes A Unique Approach To Episodic Storytelling
Despite several sequels on the horizon, includingIncredibles 3,Win or Loseis Pixar’s most exciting upcoming project. Not only does it look compelling, but it also marks Pixar’s first-ever conventional animated series. In the past, the animation studio has created shorts for Disney+, likeForky Asks a QuestionandDug Days, butWin or Loseis a completely new IP without any ties to any ofPixar’s best movies. If done correctly,Win or Losecould be completely groundbreaking for the acclaimed studio. In fact, itcould even shift the studio’s entire approach to filmmaking.
[Each] 20-minute episode will recount the same events from a different character’s point of view.
Based onWin or Lose’s trailer, the upcoming Disney+ series has a lot of positives going for it.Pixar’s first long-form animated series centers on a middle school softball team, the Pickles, in the lead up to the season’s championship game. Comedian-turned-actor Will Forte (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,Nebraska) lends his voice to the Pickles' well-meaning coach. The most intriguing element ofWin or Loseis that each 20-minute episode will recount the same events from a different character’s point of view, with the animation style changing to capture each character’s personality.
Win or Losewill debut on Disney+ on July 30, 2025.
Pixar’s Upcoming TV Show Is Under Pressure To Succeed For 2 Key Reasons
Win Or Lose Will Determine Pixar’s Future In Television
There’s so much riding onWin or Lose’s success, turning the show’s high-stakes championship game plot into something kind of meta for Pixar. For one, howWin or Loseperforms on Disney+ will feed into the debate surrounding the success of Disney and Pixar’s original content. This year,Inside Out 2surpassedIncredibles 2as Pixar’s highest-grossing movie ever, grossing a whopping $1.675 billion in theaters.Pixar’s other highest-grossing movies of all timeincludeFinding Dory,Toy Story 3, andToy Story 4. In recent years, this has put extra pressure on original ideas to succeed.
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Aside from needing to prove the validity of Pixar’s pursuit of new IP and original ideas,Win or Losecould also reshape the studio’s approach to filmmaking. Although Pixar’s best shorts often accompany its theatrical releases, the studio has mostly focused on feature-length films for the last few decades. The launch of Disney+ changed that trajectory a bit, with Pixar releasing serialized shorts, likeDug Days, as well as its acclaimed SparkShorts project. Whether it is a huge hit or a massive misstep,Win or Lose’s outcome will decide how the studio decides to approach television in the future.
Win Or Lose’s Performance Could Determine Pixar’s Future On Disney+
Pixar’s Disney+ future could very well be determined byWin or Lose’s performance. Since Disney launched its streaming platform in 2019, Pixar’s Disney+ exclusives have been pretty minimal in comparison to other brands. For the most part,Disney has relied onStar Warsand the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for television projects. Aside from the aforementioned short-form movie tie-in series and the SparkShorts project, Pixar hasn’t had any major Disney+ exclusives. In the past, some Pixar movies, likeLuca, have had streaming-only releases, while others, likeElemental, had second lives on the platform.
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There’s a lot of potential for Pixar to grow in new ways with future TV series. While nothing will necessarily replace the studio’s feature-film arm,Win or Losecould prove that investing in more Pixar shows is a win-winfor Disney+, which has struggled to find runaway hits in the wake ofThe MandalorianandWandaVision. With so much pressure resting onWin or Lose’s shoulders, it will be exciting to see how the series impacts Pixar’s future.
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.
