For the first time in nearly three decades, Disney has featured an explicitly Christian prayer in its content, sparking both celebration and controversy. The new Pixar animated series Win or Lose, which premiered on Disney+ on February 19, includes a scene where a young girl prays to God for strength—marking the first open expression of Christian faith in Disney animation since The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996).

The moment has drawn praise from Christian viewers who have long felt their faith sidelined in mainstream media. However, the inclusion of a Christian character has also been met with criticism, particularly from LGBTQ+ activists who see it as part of a broader cultural shift within Disney.

The series follows a middle school softball team, the Pickles, as they prepare for their championship game. Each episode is told from the perspective of a different character, much like Pixar’s Inside Out films. In the premiere episode, “Coach’s Kid,” Laurie, the daughter of the team’s coach, struggles with self-doubt and anxiety.

As she prepares for an important game, Laurie bows her head, folds her hands, and prays:

“Dear Heavenly Father, please give me strength … I just want to catch a ball or get a hit. I promise I’ll be good, and I, uh, won’t do that thing again.”

Later, she prays again: “Please help me be good. I’m gonna train so hard.”

For Christian audiences, this moment is a refreshing and realistic portrayal of faith—one that resonates with young believers who rely on prayer in times of uncertainty.

The inclusion of Laurie’s Christian faith follows Disney’s controversial decision to remove a transgender storyline from Win or Lose after facing backlash from conservative groups. The move marked a notable shift for the entertainment giant, which has been at the center of debates over LGBTQ+ representation in children’s content in recent years.

Disney’s leadership had previously positioned itself as a champion of progressive causes, openly opposing Florida’s 2022 Parental Rights in Education bill—labeled by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The company’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ representation led to backlash from conservative audiences, with some choosing to boycott Disney content.

Now, with Win or Lose featuring an openly Christian character, some cultural commentators see the decision as a recalibration toward more traditional values. However, critics argue that including a praying child while removing a transgender storyline reflects a politically motivated move rather than a genuine commitment to diversity.

While Laurie’s prayer scene may seem like a simple and authentic depiction of faith, it has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ media outlets. Pink News acknowledged that the inclusion of a Christian character is “fairly innocuous” but suggested that within the context of Disney’s recent decisions, it may indicate a larger ideological shift.

LGBTQ Nation went further, tying the character’s faith to broader political tensions in the United States. The outlet accused Disney of embracing a more conservative worldview, suggesting that Christianity is being used as a justification for policies they claim harm transgender individuals.

Similarly, Them.us warned that Laurie’s prayer “hints at Disney’s embrace of a cultural shift toward traditional conservatism during the second Trump administration.” These reactions highlight the growing divide in how faith-based content is perceived in mainstream media.

For many Christian families, Laurie’s prayer is a welcome and long-overdue representation of faith in Disney content. With Hollywood often hesitant to portray Christianity in a positive light, Win or Lose offers a rare moment where a character’s reliance on God is shown without mockery or cynicism.

At the same time, Disney’s decision to feature a Christian prayer while removing LGBTQ+ themes suggests that the company may be taking a more cautious approach to cultural controversies. Whether this signals a larger shift in Disney’s content strategy remains to be seen.