Disney+ Series Tiana Canceled, Special in Progress
The animated series “Tiana,” set to continue the story of Disney’s first Black princess, will not be coming to Disney+ after all. Instead, writer-director Joyce Sherri will be spearheading an animated special for the platform, joined by “Meet the Robinsons” director Stephen Anderson. This change reflects Disney Animation’s shift towards focusing on one movie release per year, blending original films and sequels like “Frozen 3” and “Frozen 4” with shorter content such as “Zootopia+” and “Baymax!” which have both earned Emmy awards.
While this shift will lead to a slight reduction in staff at the Vancouver studio, it signals that Walt Disney Animation will continue to operate with a single studio spread across two locations – the other being the main Burbank campus. Taking a page from the success of “Moana 2,” originally a streaming series turned theatrical film that grossed over $1 billion worldwide, reveals Disney’s dedication to quality storytelling across all platforms.
“The Princess and the Frog” from 2009 was the inspiration for “Tiana,” set in a jazz-era New Orleans and offering a fresh take on the classic “The Frog Prince” tale. Although it didn’t achieve blockbuster success upon release, it has become a beloved title in Disney Animation’s vast library, even inspiring a Disney Parks attraction.
Looking ahead, the next feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Zootopia 2,” helmed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, is scheduled to hit theaters on Nov. 26, 2025.
