Pixar Just Released Its First TV Series Ever – And It Already Has 92% on Rotten Tomatoes
A charming series that will appeal to both adults and children.
The animated series Win or Lose is Pixar's first original work in the TV format. It was supposed to be released before the Inside Out spinoff Dream Productions, but at the last minute it was decided to switch the projects.
The showrunners tell the story of the everyday life of a high school softball team, but as in the case of Ted Lasso, this is not a sports adventure at all – it is more of a children's anthology about people who face invisible difficulties every day.
There are no winners and losers – all the characters are immersed in a multi-layered world of emotions, fears and inner contradictions.
What Is Win or Lose About?
Each episode follows the same events, but from the perspective of a different character. In the first episode, we meet Laurie, the coach's daughter, who is afraid that she got into the team through connections.
Her fear takes on a visible form: a small, viscous creature on her shoulder grows and whispers doubts, turning uncertainty into a tangible obstacle.
Next we meet Frank, a teacher and lonely referee who has become a target for angry parents and losing players. His blue armor, which appears in moments of stress, clearly shows how the man tries to protect himself from the pressure of the outside world.
In the third episode, we meet Laurie's friend Rochelle, who is forced to spend all of her free time at a part-time job to help her family. Her armor is a shiny superstar outfit that materializes every time she has to make a difficult decision.
The fourth episode introduces Rochelle's mother, who hides her vulnerability behind a smile. She is raising two children alone, and her income is barely enough to cover basic needs.
When the woman is laid off again, she decides to try her hand at being an influencer. Her armor is an eternal smile, likes and support from subscribers that help her forget about real problems.
Win or Lose Is a Project That Brilliantly Visualizes the Characters' Inner Fears
The showrunners have been able to convey the inner world of the characters by changing the optics: when the characters are overcome with fear and anxiety, the viewer begins to see the world through their eyes.
In such moments, Laurie's father suddenly becomes huge, Rochelle's mother hides everyone who can hurt her behind a bouquet of virtual hearts, and the girls' panic attacks completely transform the world around them, turning smooth roads into a dangerous, hilly labyrinth.
Win or Lose Is a Realistic But Touching and Heart-Warming Animated Series
Win or Lose is a series about serious issues facing both teens and adults: fear of failure, peer pressure, loneliness, poverty.
In each story there is a moment when the character understands that this cannot go on. They decide to change their life, but a turning point does not always lead to a happy ending.
Pixar offers a realistic view of the world – characters learn to accept their weaknesses, but that does not guarantee instant success. Sometimes victory is the ability to keep going, even when it seems to be in vain.