Disney+ Axes ‘Tiana’ Series as Animation Studio Shifts Focus from Streaming

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Contrary to previous announcements in 2020 about a new animated series based on “The Princess and the Frog” titled “Tiana”, Disney has decided not to move forward with this project for their streaming platform. Furthermore, all development plans for content on Disney+ from Walt Disney Animation have been cancelled. Interestingly, this change aligns with other divisions of the Walt Disney Company such as Pixar Animation, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm, who are now focusing more on producing theatrical films rather than streaming projects – a significant shift compared to where the studio stood only five years ago.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, all plans for the Disney+ feature film titled “Tiana” have been abandoned completely. This decision comes with a shift in focus from creating original content for Disney+ to concentrating on animated feature films. As a result, there will reportedly be some job reductions at Disney’s Vancouver studio. Sources close to “Tiana” shared that despite numerous attempts to salvage the series, such as altering the creative team, the high production costs ultimately proved insurmountable for the project to reach its intended potential.

Initially revealed during Disney Investor Day in 2020, Tiana is a follow-up to the successful 2009 movie The Princess and the Frog. Anika Noni Rose will once again voice Tiana, who became Disney’s first black princess. Alongside Tiana, other Disney+ series based on popular films were also announced, such as Baymax (based on Big Hero 6), which premiered on Jun. 29, 2022, Zootopia+, which aired on Nov. 9, 2022, and the Moana series, which was later transformed into Moana 2.

The Streaming Gold Rush is Ending

It could be thought that Disney would transform “Tiana” into a full-length film like they did with “Moana 2”, given how profitable it was for them. With Splash Mountain at Disneyland having just undergone significant renovations to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the idea of creating a sequel to “The Princess and the Frog” appears almost inevitable. However, despite being a cherished modern Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog” was considered a moderate success by some and a disappointment by others at the box office in 2009. In simpler terms, it wasn’t as much of a guaranteed box office hit as “Moana 2” seemed to be. Yet, Disney is not abandoning “The Princess and the Frog”; they are reportedly developing a spin-off short film inspired by the movie, which might be shown in theaters before another animated release.

The shift in direction by Walt Disney Animation Studios, moving away from producing content for Disney+, marks a significant change that appears to conclude the period of influence set by Bob Chapek during his term as CEO of the Walt Disney Company. Although Disney Investor Day 2020 suggested a future centered on streaming, various Disney divisions have been reducing production in recent years. For instance, Pixar has ceased creating original series for Disney+ after two shows, and the Star Wars franchise has scaled back its streaming offerings, with only confirmed titles being Season 2 of Andor and Ahsoka. Similarly, Marvel has paused three live-action series and is reconsidering its strategy, focusing more on longform series rather than miniseries linked to feature films. This trend suggests that the era of streaming platforms dominance might be tapering off.

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2025-03-04 01:33