Disney removes transgender storyline from Pixar's new series 'Win or Lose'
Disney has chosen to remove a transgender storyline from a character in Pixar's new animated series Win or Lose.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson for Disney confirmed that the transgender representation will no longer be shown in the series as they want parents to discuss that subject with their kids in their own time.
"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," the representative told the news outlet.
Win or Lose, Pixar's first-ever original long-form animated series, follows a co-ed middle school softball team called "The Pickles" in the week leading up to their championship game.
According to the studio, each of the 20-minute episodes offers "a look inside the off-the-field life of a character—a player, their parent, the umpire—revealing their funny, emotional, and always relatable point of view in a unique visual style."
While the transgender character will remain a part of the show, a few lines of dialogue that alludes to their gender identity are being cut out, but Disney declined to comment on any further details.
Pixar previously announced in 2021 that they are seeking a youth talent to voice its character named Jess, a 14-year-old transgender girl for an upcoming animated project. The character is described as "compassionate, funny and always has your back."
It's unknown whether the project is for Win or Lose as the casting call sheet did not specify further details about the venture and the voice talent’s role.
The animation studio has previously featured LGBTQ+ characters in some of its works, which have drawn criticism from some conservative viewers.
Pixar introduced their first lesbian character—a cyclops police officer named Specter—in their 2020 fantasy-adventure film Onward. They later included a same-sex kiss between a character named Alisha and her wife in the 2022 science-fiction film Lightyear.
Later, in the 2022 adventure film Strange World, the first gay protagonist in a Walt Disney Animation Studios film was introduced. Named Ethan, the character was shown to be in a relationship with another man named Diazo.
Lightyear and Strange World were not released in several international markets due to this content, which subsequently affected their earnings.
Win or Lose, which has eight episodes. is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on Feb. 19, 2025.
