As a seasoned gamer with a keen eye for storytelling and representation in media, I must confess that Disney‘s decision to remove the transgender storyline from “Win or Lose” leaves me feeling somewhat disheartened. It’s 2024, and it seems like we’re still grappling with outdated attitudes towards inclusivity.
As a dedicated gamer speaking from personal experience, I’ve learned that the upcoming season of Pixar’s original animated series, “Win or Lose,” won’t feature a transgender storyline as initially planned, according to recent updates from The Hollywood Reporter.
The show focuses on a mixed middle school softball team called the Pickles during the crucial week before their championship match. Each episode explores the personal lives and perspectives of one character, whether they’re a player, a parent, a coach, or even an umpire.
A representative from Disney stated that they’ve taken out a specific storyline and here’s the explanation given to The Hollywood Reporter: “In regards to our animated content aimed at younger audiences, we understand that numerous parents might want to handle certain topics according to their own pace and preferences, so it’s best for them to have those conversations with their children.
In the series “Win or Lose,” certain dialogues related to gender identity are being taken out, and the character continues to appear. Reports indicate that the studio decided to change direction on this matter a few months back.
Disney declined to comment on any further details.
The company hasn’t been free from criticism over LGBTQ+ themed narratives, especially concerning their animated productions, on previous occasions.
2022 saw heated debates within and beyond Disney, sparked by Bob Chapek’s widely criticized handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. In June of that year, Pixar’s movie “Lightyear” incorporated a same-sex relationship and kiss, leading to more controversy. Later in the year, Disney Animation’s “Strange World,” which had an openly gay main character, was released. Despite their innovative themes, neither film achieved significant success domestically or internationally, earning only $226.4 million and $73.6 million respectively at the global box office. The portrayal of LGBTQ+ content often encounters hurdles in certain regions, where countries may assign stricter age ratings or even prohibit such content entirely.
The subject of gender identity has sparked intense debates throughout the United States, particularly in relation to youth and sports. A current point of contention is surrounding Disney Channel’s animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, as team members claimed that an episode featuring a regular transgender character was halted from release due to censorship on social media. However, Disney refuted these claims, stating the delay in releasing the episode occurred over a year ago, and it had nothing to do with the inclusion of the transgender character.
Disney has consistently incorporated LGBTQ+ themes in its mature content, such as Marvel Television’s “Agatha All Along,” Searchlight Pictures’ “All of Us Strangers” and “Next Goal Wins,” “Fire Island,” and FX’s “Pose.” These are just a few examples.
The studio is far from alone in grappling with potential fallout from politically charged content. All of Hollywood is bracing for what could be a tumultuous four years under the Trump administration. President-elect Donald Trump, who won in a sweeping victory last month, has routinely criticized Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, and it’s been widely reported that a number of businesses have started to pull back on DEI programming, a trend that underrepresented groups fear will only continue. Top media execs have already met with Trump, including Apple’s Tim Cook, while Netflix’s Ted Sarandos is scheduled to meet with him at Mar-a-Lago today.
The outcome between ‘Victory’ or ‘Defeat’ is yet undecided, as Disney’s cinematic dominion, spearheaded by Alan Bergman, revels in a grand resurgence at the box office, primarily through animation. Following its summer launch, Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has amassed an impressive $1.7 billion worldwide, securing its position as the highest-grossing animated film ever made. Similarly, Disney Animation’s “Moana 2” has broken numerous records, earning over $725 million so far en route to hitting the $1 billion milestone.
The debut of “Win or Lose” was originally scheduled for this month, but it has been rescheduled to coincide with the success of Pixar’s other original animated series “Dream Productions“, based on the character Riley from “Inside Out“. This change will take place on February 19, 2025. The show was created by Michael Yates, Carrie Hobson, and David Lally, with Will Forte lending his voice to the character of coach Dan.
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2024-12-17 22:24