You can watch the first episode of Win or Lose, Pixar’s inaugural original TV series, at no cost on YouTube. The show revolves around a co-ed middle school softball team, known as the Pickles, with each episode delving into a different character’s perspective — including their inner struggles and defense mechanisms brought to life through animation.

The debut episode focuses on Laurie, the team’s right fielder and the coach’s kid, who struggles with softball due to her self-doubt. Her insecurities are cleverly depicted as a talking perspiration blob named Sweaty.

If Win or Lose piques your interest, you can access the remaining seven episodes on Disney+, but this will require a subscription. Currently, there’s an opportunity to save money on a Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ad support.

Pre-release controversy

Win or Lose found itself at the center of controversy months before its release on February 19. Initially, the series was set to feature an openly transgender character, Kai, but Disney chose to remove several dialogue lines referencing Kai’s gender identity, although the character remains in the show.

The controversy was compounded by two significant factors: the announcement came after Donald Trump’s election victory, and the series includes an openly Christian character (Laurie) who is depicted praying aloud to “Heavenly Father” before playing. This led to speculation that the decision was an attempt to appease the president-elect, especially given the trend of business leaders visiting Mar-a-Lago and making decisions such as cutting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs along with trans-inclusive features.

However, Disney described its decision as respecting parents’ freedom to discuss LGBTQ+ topics with their children on their own terms. A company spokesperson stated, “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,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter in December. An unnamed source close to the project revealed that the decision to remove the lines was made several months prior, which would have been before the election outcome was certain.

Despite the controversy, you can view the first episode below if it interests you.