Disney is making major changes to its animation strategy, and one of the biggest casualties is the highly anticipated Tiana series. Walt Disney Animation Studios has officially canceled the longform musical series, which was set to continue the story of Disney’s first Black princess from The Princess and the Frog.
The decision comes as Disney moves away from producing original longform content for streaming, instead refocusing its efforts on theatrical releases. A spokesperson for the company confirmed that this shift will also lead to layoffs at its Vancouver studio. In addition to Tiana, the studio has also scrapped an unannounced feature-length film that was set to premiere exclusively on Disney+.
Announced in 2020, Tiana was expected to be a musical series starring Anika Noni Rose, reprising her role from the 2009 film. However, despite multiple creative team changes, sources say the series ultimately could not meet production expectations due to cost concerns.
Though the series is no longer moving forward, Disney is still keeping Tiana’s story alive in other ways. The company recently revamped its Splash Mountain ride into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Additionally, a shortform project inspired by The Princess and the Frog is currently in early development, with Joyce Sherri attached as director and writer, and Steve Anderson also directing.
Disney’s decision to cut back on streaming-focused animation aligns with a larger trend at the company. Pixar also announced last year that it would no longer prioritize developing longform series for Disney+, following the release of Win or Lose. Instead, both studios are shifting their focus back to big-screen animated films, a strategy that has paid off.
Disney’s Moana 2—originally planned as a streaming series—was reworked into a theatrical release and went on to gross over $1 billion worldwide before debuting on Disney+. Similarly, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 became the highest-grossing film of 2024, earning $1.7 billion at the box office.
Going forward, Walt Disney Animation plans to release one theatrical film per year, along with shorts and special projects. Zootopia 2 is set to hit theaters on November 26, 2025, followed by an unannounced film in 2026 and Frozen 3 in 2027. Meanwhile, Disney continues to see success with shortform streaming content, as seen with its hit series Zootopia+ and Baymax!
