Disney+ Tiana Series Canceled, Special Moving Forward

The planned “Tiana” streaming series from Walt Disney Animation Studios, which was set to feature Disney’s first Black princess (voiced by Anika Noni Rose), has been canceled. Instead, writer-director Joyce Sherri will be working on an animated special that will be available on Disney+ in the future. Joining her on the project is “Meet the Robinsons” director Stephen Anderson.

This decision is part of Disney’s new focus on producing one theatrical movie per year, mixing original movies with sequels like “Frozen 3” and “Frozen 4,” as well as short-form content like the Emmy-winning “Zootopia+” and “Baymax!” series. With this shift, there will also be a slight reduction in staff at the Vancouver studio, but Walt Disney Animation will continue to operate similarly to how it did with “Moana 2,” utilizing one studio split between two locations (the other being the main Burbank campus).

Originally planned as a streaming series, “Moana 2” was reimagined as a theatrical release and has been a massive success, grossing over $1 billion globally since its Thanksgiving release. “Tiana” was meant to follow up on the 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog,” a unique take on “The Frog Prince” story set in jazz-era New Orleans. Despite not being a huge hit upon its initial release, the film has gained lasting popularity, inspiring a beloved Disney Parks attraction that debuted at Walt Disney World and Disneyland last year.

The next feature film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Zootopia 2,” from Jared Bush (also the studio’s chief creative officer) and Byron Howard, is set to premiere on Nov. 26, 2025.