The animation studio’s softball series is occasionally tender and wise, with moments that are rich and funny – even if the characters don’t get enough airtime

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. It’s a cliche because it’s true, and it could be the motto for Pixar’s best creations – its animations have revealed the hidden feelings of toys, monsters, even cars. That idea powers Win or Lose, the studio’s latest TV series – and in the moments where it commits to its ethos fully, it delivers a powerful appeal for empathy with a knowing smile.

We watch the Pickles, a middle-school kids’ softball team led by blustering dad-coach Dan (Will Forte), as they play a crucial match. They win! Thus they have the chance to play in the state championship seven days later, which is as scary as it is exciting. That is the foundation every instalment is built on. Like a sporting version of multiple-perspective arthouse classic Rashomon, we keep replaying the same week’s events – but through the eyes of a new person each time.