‘Tiana’ Disney+ Series Shelved as Walt Disney Animation Abandons Longform Streaming Content (Exclusive)

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Walt Disney Animation Studios has decided to discontinue its Princess Tiana series, choosing instead to stop producing original long-form content for their streaming platform.

A representative has announced that job cuts will occur at their Vancouver production facility due to a change in company tactics. Besides the “Tiana” franchise, they are also abandoning an undisclosed full-length film project destined for release on Disney+.

Tiana, initially introduced in December 2020, was conceived as a musical production with Anika Noni Rose reprising her role from the 2009 movie “The Princess and The Frog.” This movie marked Disney’s debut of their first Black princess as its central character.

Reports indicate that, despite considerable attempts, including adjustments to the creative staff, the streaming series titled “Tiana” unfortunately failed to reach its required level due to escalating production expenses.

Nevertheless, “The Princess and the Frog” continues to be a significant asset for the company, seeing as Tiana is among Disney’s official princesses in their lore. In the past year, the Splash Mountain attraction underwent a makeover at both of Disney’s U.S. parks and was reimagined as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Reports indicate that an animation studio is working on a standalone short movie, inspired by “The Princess and the Frog.” At this early stage of development, specifics about the project are being kept confidential. However, it’s anticipated that the story will be entirely new, based on the 2009 film. Joyce Sherri has been confirmed as both director and writer, while Steve Anderson is also set to direct.

The choice to postpone “Tiana” and the sudden release of a movie on Disney+ was made, following last year’s announcement that Pixar would no longer focus on creating long-form episodic content after the debut of “Dream Productions” and “Win or Lose” on Disney+.

Amidst the pandemic, Disney executives, with Bob Chapek being one of them serving as CEO at the time, encouraged their different movie divisions to create exclusive content for Disney+. This was done with the intention of expanding the number of subscribers.

Initially planned as a TV animated series, “Moana 2” from Walt Disney Animation Studios eventually transformed into a feature film. This change proved to be highly profitable, raking in over $1 billion at box offices worldwide before its release. The sequel will premiere on Disney+ on March 12, and is expected to garner massive viewings. In fact, the original “Moana,” which debuted in 2016, gained cult status among kids and was the most-watched streaming movie in 2024, according to Nielsen. Furthermore, with Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” earning a whopping $1.7 billion in 2024, it is evident that theatrical releases are where animation’s true potential lies.

It’s reported that Walt Disney Animation Studios continues to prioritize one annual theatrical release, alongside other short films and unique projects. Upcoming projects include “Zootopia 2,” scheduled for release on Nov. 26, with Jared Bush taking charge as director and writer, while Disney veteran Byron Howard also directs. Another unnamed feature has been planned for November 2026, and the third part of the successful “Frozen” series is expected in November 2027.

Shortform content has gained immense popularity on streaming platforms. Last year, Bluey, a show Disney+ holds the license for, was the most-watched TV series in the U.S., as reported by Nielsen. Previous endeavors in short-form streaming projects by Disney Animation have garnered Emmy awards, such as the acclaimed Zootopia+ and Baymax! series.

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2025-03-03 23:25