Anika Noni Rose Responds to Disney’s Cancellation of Tiana Series
Following the announcement by Walt Disney Animation Studios regarding the discontinuation of the princess Tiana series, Anika Noni Rose, the original voice of Princess Tiana, has spoken out about the decision.
On her Instagram account, Rose shared her sentiments shortly after The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of the series being shelved on March 3. In her heartfelt statement, she acknowledged the overwhelming support and disappointment she received from fans.
“I’ve been getting loads of messages expressing kindness, support and overwhelming disappointment,” she stated.
Expressing her own dissatisfaction, Rose added, “I too am deeply disappointed that the continuation of Tiana’s journey in series form has been cut short. The series was a long time coming, and a lot of beautiful work was put into it by all of the creatives involved,” she remarked, giving special mention to long-time advocate Jenn Lee, writer-director Joyce Sherri, and the dedicated animators and music team connected to the project.
She continued, emphasizing the passion poured into the series: “As hurtful as it is for anything you’ve put your heart and soul into to be prematurely ended, my hope is that when what is now to be a ‘Tiana Special Event’ airs, all of your beautiful, loving, loyal fans who’ve been championing not just the series but a Princess and the Frog sequel, tune in.”
“Show your love and desire in the numbers and make that desire an undeniable and real thing,” she urged her followers.
Rose concluded her statement by assuring fans that efforts to deliver beautiful content will continue. “Until then, we will be continuing to work hard to bring you the most beautiful content we can,” she stated.
Background on the Tiana Series and Movie Legacy
The Tiana series was initially announced in December 2020, intended as a musical format that allowed Rose to reprise her beloved role. However, recent sources indicate that, despite the passionate efforts from the team, the series faced challenges in terms of production costs that ultimately led to its cancellation.
In place of the series, Disney is reportedly focusing on a separate short-form special inspired by The Princess and the Frog, with Sherri attached as the writer-director along with Steve Anderson also involved as a director.
Last December marked the 15th anniversary of The Princess and the Frog. Reflecting on the film’s lasting impact, Rose shared during an interview with People magazine how inspirational she finds it to see Tiana’s influence on young girls today. “It’s still mind-blowing to see the impact Tiana had on young girls at the time and still does now,” she noted. Rose reminisced about witnessing children from diverse backgrounds donning Tiana’s iconic green gown at various events.
“When I’m thinking of Black or brown-skinned adults, we spent so much time growing up trying to fit into another standard of beauty. And now, at this point, those children, these new children, are comfortable within themselves in different ways,” she highlighted.
She emphasized the significance of Tiana’s character in shaping self-acceptance and joy among children, stating, “They don’t think anything of putting on their Tiana dress. You can’t tell them they’re not Tiana.”
Originally released on December 11, 2009, The Princess and the Frog featured notable voice actors including Bruno Campos, Jennifer Cody, Keith David, Randy Newman, John Goodman, and Oprah Winfrey. Set against the backdrop of Jazz Age-era New Orleans, the tale follows young Princess Tiana and a frog prince striving to reclaim his human form.
For further details, you can read the full report by Pamela McClintock here.