[1][2] It was created, written, and directed by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, who also served as executive producers with David Lally, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, and Lindsey Collins.
The series revolves around a co-ed softball team at middle school named the Pickles in the week leading up to their big championship game, with each episode showing the perspective of each member in the same events, each reflected in a unique visual style.
The series' cast includes Will Forte, Ian Chen, Izaac Wang, Jo Firestone, Milan Ray, Josh Thomson, Erin Keif, Rosie Foss, Rosa Salazar, Chanel Stewart, Dorien Watson, Lil Rel Howery, Flula Borg, Kyliegh Curran, Jaylin Fletcher, Tom Law, Beck Nolan, Orion Tran, and Rhea Seehorn.
Win or Lose draws inspiration from the conversations between Hobson and Yates, who would have very different reactions to the exact same events upon working on Toy Story 4 (2019).
[4] Win or Lose follows a co-ed middle school softball team called the Pickles in the week leading up to their big championship game.
Pixar's chief creative officer Pete Docter stated; "It's not so much about softball as it is a comedy about love, rivalry, and the challenges we all face in our struggles to win at life".
[9] At the August 2024 D23 fan event, Ian Chen, Izaac Wang, Jo Firestone, Josh Thomson, Erin Keif, and Rosie Foss were announced as part of the voice cast.
[6] In January 2025, Dorien Watson, Lil Rel Howery, Flula Borg, Kyliegh Curran, Jaylin Fletcher, Tom Law, Beck Nolan, Orion Tran, and Rhea Seehorn were revealed as part of the voice cast.
A Disney 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."
[9][27] Original songs for the series were written and produced by the duo Campfire (Shane Eli and Jonny Pakfar) based on themes by Djawadi.
[17] On June 16, 2023, footage of an episode initially titled "Vanessa: The Cool Mom" was shown at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
The website's critics consensus reads, "By giving each member of its ragtag team of lovable kids their time to shine, Win or Lose bats close to a perfect game.
[38] Polly Conway of Common Sense Media gave Win or Lose a rating of four out of five stars, praising the show's diverse and relatable characters, highlighting positive role models like Laurie, who is determined to impress her father, and Frank, who navigates personal struggles with self-worth and romance.
[39] Jesse Hassenger from IGN rated the series 8 out of 10 and praised its emotional depth and its ability to balance humor and whimsy while exploring themes like anxiety and self-worth, using inventive animation metaphors.
He stated that, despite the show's occasional feeling of fragmentation due to its short episodes, Win or Lose succeeds in offering a relatable and heartfelt experience for both kids and adults.
[40] Elijah Gonzalez of Paste rated the show 8.3 out of 10 and complimented its ability to balance humor with serious themes, including Laurie's struggles with parental expectations and Frank's emotional journey after a breakup.
He noted that Pixar's usual high-quality animation translates well into TV, with inventive visual metaphors that represent characters' inner turmoil in imaginative ways.
While he enjoyed the emotional depth and humor of the show, he pointed out that the episodes lack resolution, making them feel like short films without closure.