In 2020, Disney first announced the Tiana series for Disney+, with Anika Noti Rose reprising her role as Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess from The Princess and the Frog. However, in a shocking twist, Walt Disney Animation Studios has officially canceled the project. The reason behind the cancellation is from the company shifting away from producing content for streaming. Fans are left asking, “Is there another way to bring Tiana’s story to the big screen or will it leave a big gap in representation?”
Disney’s New Approach to Streaming Content
According to a spokesperson, this change in strategy may result in layoffs at the studio’s Vancouver location. Not only did the Tiana series get canceled, but an unannounced feature-length project intended for Disney+ was also scrapped. The series was first revealed in 2020 and aimed to expand on the beloved character from the 2008 film. Marking a significant shift in the studio’s approach to streaming content, this move raises questions about the future of its original programming.
Despite multiple creative team changes, the Tiana series couldn’t meet the necessary standards due to high production costs. The Princess and the Frog is a vital representation of Disney’s history as Tiana holds prominence among its canon princesses. Just last year, the company reintroduced the New Orleans princess by revamping the Splash Mountain attraction at its US parks, turning it into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Reportedly, Disney is developing a short-form special inspired by The Princess and the Frog in place of the canceled series. Currently, the project is in early development and will feature all-new storytelling based on the 2009 film. Whereas Joyce Sherri is attached as director and writer, Steve Anderson will also direct. Although specific details regarding the special remain undisclosed, it’ll innovatively tell Tiana’s story.
Disney’s Strategic Plan Proves Successful
The cancellation of Tiana and the unannounced special aligns with the announcement Pixar made last year. Specifically, they’ve decided to stop prioritizing long-form episode content, which was made following the release of Dream Productions and Win or Lose on Disney+.
During the pandemic, Disney executives pushed for more original content from its film divisions for the platform as a strategy to increase subscriber numbers. By taking this approach, the company could focus on balancing streaming and theatrical releases more effectively.
Undergoing a significant transformation, Disney’s Moana 2 went from an animated series concept to a theatrical release. Generating a $1 billion-plus run at the global box office, the film highlighted Disney’s strength in theatrical animation.
Similarly, the first Moana film is considered a cult classic among children audiences and garnered impressive streaming numbers. According to Nielsen, the 2016 blockbuster hit became the most-watched streaming movie in 2024. Furthermore, Moana 2‘s success isn’t an isolated incident as Pixar’s Inside Out 2 earned a remarkable $1.7 billion, becoming 2024’s highest-grossing film.
Although Walt Disney Animation remains dedicated to releasing one theatrical film annually, they also continues to produce shorts and special projects. On November 26, Zootopia 2 is set to release with the studio’s new chief creative officer, Jared Bush, as director and writer alongside Disney veteran Byron Howard.
Notably, short-term content has performed incredibly well on streaming platforms. In fact, Bluey, licensed by Disney+, ranked as the most-watched show in the U.S. last year. Likewise, short-term projects like the Emmy-winning Zootopia+ and Baymax! series was also successful. Additionally, an unannounced feature is planned for November 26, and the third Frozen film is slated for a Thanksgiving release in 2027.
Disney Replaces Tiana Series
It seems that the Tiana series had fallen victim to bad timing with Disney shifting toward prioritizing theatrical releases and shortform content over longform streaming projects. While fans hoping for a deeper exploration of Tiana’s story are left disappointed, the studio’s focus on maximizing the impact of its animation through proven formats is showing good results. Even if Tiana’s return to the screen hits a wall, the development of a Princess and the Frog-inspired short-form special suggests that the legacy of the first Black princess is still valuable.
