NEWS: Transgender Storyline Cut From ‘Win or Lose’ Series Coming to Disney+

By AJ and the DFB Team Leave a Comment

The Walt Disney Company is preparing for a new Pixar original animated series to debut on Disney+ this February. Ahead of the premiere, reports indicate that Disney is still making changes to its new series, Win or Lose.

Walt Disney Company Headquarters ©LA Times

Win or Lose is the first-ever original series by Pixar Animation Studios. The series will follow the stories of eight characters as they prepare for a big championship softball game. Disney explained that each episode will focus on a different character’s point of view, ranging from “the insecure kids” to “a lovesick umpire.” While the show was initially set to be released on December 6th, 2024, the date was later shifted to February 19th, 2025. Now, it has been confirmed that Disney is making some changes to the story.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney removed a transgender storyline from its Win or Lose series. A Disney spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter, “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.”

©Pixar

While the storyline changed, Disney confirmed that the character will still be featured in the show. That said, all dialogue surrounding the character’s gender identity will be removed. Deadline reported that Chanel Stewart, who plays the character and is transgender, was informed that the character “would now be a cis girl, a straight cis girl,” adding, “So yeah, that’s all they really told me and that I was still a part of the show.”

©Deadline

In response to Disney’s decision, Steward said, “I was very disheartened,” explaining, “From the moment I got the script, I was excited to share my journey to help empower other trans youth. I knew this would be a very important conversation. Trans stories matter, and they deserve to be heard,” per Deadline.

©Pixar

This is not the first time Disney has introduced (and removed) an LGBTQ+ storyline. When Lightyear premiered in 2022, the film included a same-gender relationship. After initially removing a scene where the two characters kiss, the scene was reinstated following criticism of Disney’s decision to cut the moment. That same year, Strange World featured a gay male character.

©Pixar

The Win or Lose series will premiere in 2025. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

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