Have We Really Moved Beyond Purl’s World?

Writer-Director: Kristen Lester

Producer Gillian Libbert-Duncan

In 2019, Pixar’s Purl arrived as part of its SparkShorts series — and looking back from 2025, it feels strikingly ahead of its time. Through the story of an animated ball of yarn navigating a male-dominated workplace, Purl captured deep realities that women and minority groups continue to face even today.

Purl, a titular character and a lovely-lively ball of wool, joins a male-dominated company. Ignored and treated as an outsider by her colleagues, Purl tries to adjust and adapt in the homogenous environment by changing herself. When another woolen character, Lacy, joins in, Purl includes her in the ‘tribe’ and soon that workplace changes its dynamic from undiversified to a diversified and inclusive one.

The animated movie uses many metaphors to give a clear narrative and a lasting impact. The most striking one is when Purl changes her clothing style to a ‘knit stitch’ outfit and its color from pink (color associated with feminism) to black and white (both indicating sophistication, black indicating power). She also changes herself from a plump, fluffy character to a modern and sleek one. This shows how women (and minorities) suppress their identities in order to be accepted in the male-dominated culture.

Soft-natured Purl also conforms to the aggressive male behavior in conversation, be it the casual jokes or the serious boardroom discussion (this shift is also symbolized in the presentation visuals). This mirrors the real-life experiences of many women who do anything and everything to prove that ‘we can do anything men can’.

However, you get a feeling occasionally that Purl is in a dilemma and is not happy with the change she instilled in herself to break the glass ceiling. The scenario changes when Lacy walks in, and it catalyzes a shift in the office dynamics. This can be observed with the transformed office environment, with employees wearing colorful attire and representing a broader range of identities.

The non-human protagonist tells us how women often feel the need to change their behavior, appearance, or personality to fit into male-dominated workplaces. Even six years later, Purl remains a deeply relevant watch. In 2025, while many companies claim to champion diversity and inclusion, women across industries still often encounter “Purl moments” — situations where they must choose between fitting in and standing out.

Purl offers a simple but powerful message: real inclusion doesn’t ask individuals to change who they are — it celebrates them for it. It reminds us that true progress happens when we support each other in owning our identities, rather than conforming to outdated norms. The film ultimately encourages women to be confident in their uniqueness and reminds them that they don’t have to compromise who they are to succeed.

-Dr. Aabha Pimprikar is a dentist, entrepreneur, Life Skills Trainer, and Founder of Subhojyam Spices.