Disney Scraps “Tiana” Series Amid Shift Away from Long Form Streaming Content

Walt Disney Animation Studios has officially canceled “Tiana,” its planned Disney+ musical series, as part of a broader strategy to move away from original long-form streaming content, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The decision comes four years after the project was first announced in December 2020. Anika Noni Rose was set to reprise her role as Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess, from the 2009 animated film “The Princess and the Frog.”

Despite multiple changes to the creative team, sources close to the series indicated that the project failed to reach the necessary production benchmarks, particularly given its budgetary constraints.

Layoffs and Strategic Shifts

Along with the cancellation of “Tiana,” Disney Animation is also shelving an unannounced feature-length film that was set to premiere exclusively on Disney+. As a result, the company confirmed layoffs at its Vancouver animation studio, which had been focused on producing original streaming content.

Disney came under fire for shifting work to the Vancouver studio last year, and now they are issuing layoffs.

The move aligns with Disney’s recent strategic shift: steering its animated productions back toward theatrical releases rather than investing heavily in long-form Disney+ originals.

“Princess and the Frog” continues to be integral.

While the Tiana series will not move forward, “The Princess and the Frog” remains a key part of Disney’s princess franchise. Last year, Splash Mountain at Disneyland and Walt Disney World was reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. However, guests have complained about animatronic issues in the months since opening.

Additionally, Disney Animation is currently developing a short-form project inspired by “The Princess and the Frog.” Though details remain under wraps, the new special is expected to feature new storytelling from director Joyce Sherri and co-director Steve Anderson.

Disney’s Evolving Animation Strategy

The cancellation of “Tiana” follows Disney’s recent pivot away from long-form episodic animation for streaming. In 2023, Pixar announced it would no longer prioritize developing long-form content for Disney+ after releasing “Win or Lose” and “Dream Productions.”

Similarly, “Moana 2”, originally planned as a Disney+ series, was reimagined as a theatrical film—a decision that paid off with a $1 billion box office run. The success of “Moana 2” and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2”, which grossed $1.7 billion worldwide, has reaffirmed Disney’s stance that theatrical animation remains its strongest business model.

What’s Next for Disney Animation?

Disney Animation remains committed to releasing one theatrical film per year alongside short-form projects for streaming.

• “Zootopia 2” will be released in theaters on November 26, 2025, and Jared Bush will direct alongside Byron Howard.
• An unannounced animated feature is slated for November 2026.
• “Frozen 3”, the next installment in the billion-dollar “Frozen” franchise, is planned for November 2027.

It seems Disney and Pixar are looking to make more money at the box office and spending less on streaming.