Disney Animation Cancels Long-Awaited ‘Tiana’ Series, Will No Longer Develop Longform Content For Streaming

Walt Disney Animation Studios has shelved Tiana, a series that it had first announced during an investor day presentation in December 2020. The project was intended as a follow-up to the studio’s 2009 hand-drawn feature The Princess and the Frog.

The news about the cancellation was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, which offered these additional details:

• WDAS, which is the studio’s feature animation division, is abandoning longform content creation for streaming. The studio produced only one longform series, Iwájú, while its second series based on Moana was reformatted midway through production into the feature-length theatrical film Moana 2.
• Disney did not provide an official reason for scrapping the series. Per THR, “Sources close to the streaming series say that despite best efforts, including several changes to the creative team, Tiana ultimately could not get to where it needed to be given production costs.”
• Disney is in early development on a shortform special inspired by The Princess and the Frog. Joyce Sherri, who was the lead writer and director on the Tiana series, is directing the special. Longtime Disney vet Stephen Anderson (Winnie the Pooh, Meet the Robinsons) is also a director on the project.
• WDAS has also canceled an unannounced direct-to-streaming feature-length film.
• As a result of this new direction, Disney will be laying off some staff at its Vancouver satellite studio, which had been working on the direct-to-streaming content. No details on who is getting laid off or how many people are impacted.