Warning: Spoilers ahead for Win or Lose episodes 1-4!Pixar‘s first ever TV show is here, and it’s keeping something alive that the studio has done in so many of its feature-length productions. It’s not something that happens in every Pixar movie, but it’s commonplace enough to be notable that it has occurred again. It’s a trend that started all the way back in 1986, so Pixar’s new episodic tale means the recurring instance has been active – albeit relatively intermittently – for almost four decades. It rarely has a huge impact on the larger story, but it’s a great reference to the studio’s formative years.
The Win or Lose cast helps tell the story of a small American town on and around the day of a championship softball game. Although it boasts the same signature aesthetic as other Pixar projects, it’s far more grounded than the studio’s feature-length projects. It does have certain fantastical elements, but they’re incredibly muted in comparison to concepts like Toy Story‘s sentient toys or The Incredibles‘ superpowered family. Regardless, Win or Lose lets viewers know that it hasn’t forgotten where it came from.
Win Or Lose Episode 4 Shows A Quick Glimpse Of Pixar’s Luxo Ball
Rochelle’s mother stops her baby from biting with the spherical Pixar mascot
Win or Lose bounces around various characters in the story’s immediate vicinity. Rochelle’s mother, Vanessa Rodriguez (Rosa Salazar), pops up at a few key moments in the show’s first three episodes, and the show intentionally paints her in a relatively negative light. However, when she finally gets her time in the spotlight in Win or Lose episode 4, “Pickle,” Rodriguez’s character’s actions and attitudes are contextualized to reveal just how hard she works for the good of her children. During this episode, the Pixar Ball shows up in an unexpected place.
One of the biggest of Vanessa’s many parenting challenges is the fact that she can’t seem to get Zane (Harlow Hodges) to stop biting people.
One of the biggest of Vanessa’s many parenting challenges is the fact that she can’t seem to get Zane (Harlow Hodges) to stop biting people. It’s an issue that’s largely played for laughs, and Vanessa manages to temporarily solve the problem a couple of minutes into “Pickle” while also providing long-standing Pixar viewers with a subtle piece of fan service. In short, Vanessa thrusts the Pixar Ball into Zack’s mouth just as he’s gearing up for another chomp.
Pixar’s History Of Using The Luxo Ball As An Easter Egg Explained
1986’s Luxo Jr. marks the ball’s first of many apperances
The Pixar Ball, also known as the Luxo Ball, earned its first appearance and eventual name from 1986’s Luxo Jr. The two-minute short had a relatively thin plot, but was made to further demonstrate the possibilities of CGI animation during the medium’s earliest stages. Since then, the ball has shown up in pretty much every Pixar movie, with a few exceptions. For instance, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) can be seen using the ball as part of his “flying” display in 1995’s Toy Story. It has even had small appearances in 2001’s Monsters, Inc., 2009’s Up, and more.
Related
10 Theories That Completely Change Pixar Movies
Despite being aimed at younger viewers and having a family-friendly tone, Pixar movies have been the subject of a variety of theories.
The Pixar Ball wasn’t the only thing to become part of the studio’s catalog after Luxo Jr. The short’s younger lamp, who the project is named after, can also be seen before every Pixar movie. He jumps on the “I” in the Pixar logo, flattening it. This is a reference to the character doing the same thing to the ball in Luxo Jr., an act for which he was gently admonished by his father – a larger lamp named Luxo Sr. The younger lamp has also occasionally shown up within the movies themselves.
Win Or Lose Is One Of The Sneakiest Attempts To Hide The Pixar Ball In Plain Sight
The recognizable red star is barely on show in “Pickle”
Pixar never really draws much attention to the Luxo Ball when it shows up. Instead, it’s just kind of there for people to spot if they want, and then the story can move on. Having said that, it’s usually relatively easy to spot, as its bright colors can draw the eye – as can its placement in the frame. Although it’s obviously not impossible to notice the ball in Win or Lose, the moment definitely falls into the upper echelon of Luxo Ball moments that are tricky to notice.
I would probably still award the title of hardest-to-spot Pixar Ball to 2003’s Finding Nemo, where it can just about be noticed in the dentist office toy box.
The blue stripe around the mostly-yellow sphere caught my eye, but the red star that I needed to confirm the ball’s presence was largely obscured. I had to skip back a few seconds on Disney+ to confirm my theory, and I smiled a little when I managed to do just that. However, I would probably still award the title of hardest-to-spot Pixar Ball to 2003’s Finding Nemo, where it can just about be noticed in the dentist office toy box.
Win or Lose
6/10
- Release Date
-
February 19, 2025
- Network
-
Disney+
- Writers
-
Carrie Hobson, Michael Yates
-
Will Forte
Coach Dan (voice)
-
Milan Ray
Rochelle (voice)
