An upcoming Pixar animated show titled “Win or Lose” is the subject of controversy. The series is about a co-ed middle school softball team, and was made to air on the House of Mouse streaming service, Disney+. While the show itself seems to be your run of the mill young people dealing with life, growing up, and the challenges therein, “Win or Lose” was theoretically going to tackle something else, too.
Actress Chanel Stewart, who responded to the original series casting call for a trans actress, was 14 when she was selected to voice one of the characters in the show. Stewart, now 18, is trans, and the character she voices was going to have a story arc regarding the gender identity of the character. According to industry sources, Disney made the decision to “alter course several months ago,” and opted to remove that arc.
“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,” someone who identified as a spokesperson for Disney said.
Stewart is “very disheartened” by the decision. Her character still remains in the show, but obviously the planned-for arc isn’t. “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.”
Michael Yates, Carrie Hobson, and David Lally created the show, which is Pixar‘s first original series.
“Win or Lose” is currently set for a February 19th, 2025 release date on Disney+.
(Obviously, the original announcement date was changed.)
