Before the holidays, news broke that Disney would cut a story for a transgender character in an upcoming Pixar series, Win or Lose. At the time, Disney said the removal would allow parents to “discuss certain topics with their children on their own terms and timeline,” which sparked a lot of discussion online, as it was the second show with a trans-focused storyline to recently get the axe.

Win or Losewhich hit Disney+ in February, centered on a co-ed softball team; One episode was supposed to be devoted to a character named Kai, who remained in the episode but without any mention of their gender.

Now, the former creators of Pixar shared their feelings on the matter in Hollywood Reporter. Former Pixar assistant editor Sarah Ligatich, who was trans and consulted on the episode, said the removal would cause problems, as the overall show had been finished for “a long time,” despite being repeatedly delayed from with a planned release in 2023. The cutting of Kai’s storyline did not surprise Ligatich, but he still felt “devastated” nonetheless: “Disney is not in the business of making good satisfied,” he said. “They are in the business of making money. Even two years ago when I was at Pixar, we met with (then-CEO) Bob Chapek, and they made it clear to us that they saw animation as a conservative medium.

That sentiment was shared by his fellow Pixar workers who spoke to the outlet. Some find it ironic that Disney has no problem cutting the story of a trans character, but has spent years giving a pass to media with heavier themes, such as confronting (and moving from) the death of a loved one. Others noted how the finished episode had to have more story elements adjusted first Win or Lose mid-February launch. An anonymous former employee called it “so disheartening that Disney decided to spend money not to save lives,” explaining that the episode was “very beautiful—and beautifully depicts some of the experiences of being trans—and it literally saves lives. by showing those who feel alone and unloved, that there are people out there who understand.”

Disney’s recent history of throwing people under the bus (up to not), and others Pixar projects in particular, has been documented before. But Donald Trump’s impending second term has Pixar staff worried Win or Lose may be just one of several projects that cut through particular messages or views. A former Pixar artist who spoke to THR accused the studio of 2026 film Hoppers should tone down any messages of environmentalism. The film centers on a girl who swaps a beaver’s brain, and as the artist points out, “if your entire film is based on the importance of environmentalism, you can’t go back to that. That group struggled a lot to find out, ‘What are we going to do with this note?’”

For Ligatich, Disney’s management of Win or Lose is also a reminder that for queer creators and viewers they must look elsewhere to find stories that show themselves. He chose Netflix, which came alive again and released a queer-centric film last year Nimona after Disney used to be it was dismissedand said the streamer is “more than happy to host content that tells real LGBTQ stories. That’s exactly how it’s going to evolve, are you going to see more indie studios pop up to story.”

Win or Lose premieres on February 19, 2025 on Disney+.

Want more io9 news? Check when to expect the latest wonders, Star Warsand Star Trek releases, what’s next for DC Universe in film and TVand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.