Episode one of Pixar’s new animated television series Win Or Lose follows a middle school softball team as they make their way to the championship game. Laurie (Rosanna Jean Foss) is the coach’s daughter and the worst player on the team. She can’t get a hit and botches every ball that comes her way in the field. Her anxiety forms into a literal blob named Sweaty (Jo Firestone) that physically and mentally weighs her down and prevents her from having any fun at all. They’ve taken the ideas from Inside Out and turned them into physical manifestations, which really works well in this context. We get to see the adverse effects of anxiety and how an individual perceives the world around her. 

 

Episode two shows the same time period but this time it’s from the viewpoint of the umpire, Frank (Josh Thomson), who is also a teacher at Laurie’s school. Frank is dealing with his own more adult issues. There are minor ones, like parents complaining about calls he makes on the diamond, and more serious ones like heartbreak and navigating dating apps. The perspective change is a welcome twist on what would otherwise be a fairly straightforward story. Presumably the subsequent episodes will also feature new characters, which will keep the pace zippy and the story fresh. 

 

Win Or Lose combines Pixar’s sleek animation with an interesting story structure that allows for the exploration of identity. Episodes clocking in around 20 minutes ensures that parents and kids alike will be entertained without losing interest. Exploring identity and how different people perceive the world differently should make for an engaging and thoughtful watch. It’s too soon to call the series a hit, but it has the foundation of a winner.