A lot of people are definitely upset about the arc being cut, and some ex-Pixar employees who actually got to see what could have been have been talking about how great the original arc was. In an interview with THR, the anonymous source said:

“The episode in its final form was so beautiful — and beautifully illustrated some of the experiences of being trans — and it was literally going to save lives by showing those who feel alone and unloved, that there are people out there who understand…So it’s just very frustrating that Disney has decided to spend money to not save lives.”

We don’t have too many specifics on the arc, but it’s said that one of the central characters in the series was supposed to be trans and even had a moment where they would have a problem figuring out which bathroom to use. After the story was rewritten, it was said that the character will now just appear as a straight girl.

Though Pixar has been doing some great work when it comes to representation, outright showing it always comes with a couple of snags. Besides the conservative box office censorship of China, there’s also the case of anything deemed ‘woke’ getting attacked by the alt-right online mob.

It’s definitely a shame that this had to happen to Win or Lose, but at least fans know that the artists behind the series were trying their best to actually show representation before Disney put the hammer down.

Win or Lose comes to Disney+ on Feb. 19, 2025.

According to a new report from THR, Disney had apparently forced Pixar to remove a transgender storyline in their upcoming series Win or Lose. The series is set to run for eight episodes, with each entry focusing on a different member of a middle school softball team called the Pickles.

Though it’s not the main focus of the show, one character was supposed to have an arc where they struggle with their transgender identity; and Disney has decided to pull the arc and all the references to the character being trans; if it’s any consolation, the character will still be in the series, but forget them mentioning anything about being transgender.

A spokesperson at Disney explains in a statement:

“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.”

When it comes to children’s content, there does seem to be an issue when it comes to trans visibility. It has been said that though Disney publicly celebrates LGBTQ+ representation, they secretly censor the content so it would be able to fly in more conservative markets like China.

It’s certainly a shame that this had to happen with Win or Lose, but maybe the creators can find a way to get the story told even if Disney doesn’t want it to be part of the official series.

Win or Lose is set to release on Disney+ on Feb. 19, 2025.