Deeply disappointed
Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Disney's first Black princess in The Princess and the Frog, expressed her deep disappointment after Disney cancelled a long-awaited spinoff series where she was set to reprise her role.
Addressing the cancellation
Rose took to Instagram to address the cancellation, acknowledging the outpouring of support and disappointment from fans. She emphasized the hard work put into the series by the creatives involved and urged fans to tune in to a 'Tiana Special Event'.
Backlash and adjustments
In the past, Disney faced backlash over Princess Tiana's character model and had to adjust it after criticism that her skin tone was lightened in promotional material. The studio reverted to the original character design from The Princess and the Frog.
Shift in content strategy
The cancellation of Tiana is part of Disney+'s move away from long-form episodic content. Projects like Moana 2 and The Mandalorian have been reworked into blockbuster films or big-screen releases, signaling a shift in Disney's content strategy.
The Princess and the Frog, the animated film that introduced Princess Tiana, is currently available for streaming on Disney+.
