Princess & the Frog Sequel Show First Official Image Reveals Tiana’s Return

Disney+ releases the first image for the upcoming The Princess and the Frog sequel series Tiana. The Princess and the Frog followed the adventures of Tiana, a hardworking woman who’s turned into a frog after falling under a curse in 1920s New Orleans. The film was released in 2009 by Disney and was a huge hit, grossing over $271 million at the box office and receiving positive reviews.

The Princess and the Frog was noteworthy for featuring the first African American Disney Princess through Tiana, even if some criticized the film for having her depicted as a frog for the majority of the film’s runtime. Nevertheless, Tiana was well received for her personality and values, emphasizing her independence and pursuit of her own dreams. The Princess and the Frog will soon have a major role in Disney Parks, as Splash Mountain is being reimagined based on the movie in an effort to change the ride’s relation to the controversial Song of the South.

Disney+ tweeted the first image for the new Tiana series, concept art showing Tiana on a large boat walking down the deck with a suitcase in hand. The caption states the series will feature Tiana on a new adventure but indicates her New Orleans origin isn’t far behind. Disney also announced the show will be directed and written by Stella Meghie, director of films The Photograph and The Weekend, and will be released in 2023 on Disney+.

When Disney initially announced the Tiana series last year, it was set to bow in 2022, but it seems that’s now changed. Still, the show is bound to be a success. The Princess and the Frog was noteworthy for its hand-drawn, traditional 2-D animation and its cast, led by Tiana’s voice actor Anika Noni Rose. The ensemble also featured the talents of Keith David, Terrence Howard, and Oprah Winfrey. Tiana is also one of the first Disney spin-offs to be produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios instead of Disney Television Animation.

Since it’s been over a decade since the film’s release, any expansion of The Princess and the Frog property is long overdue. With the rise of diversity and visibility in media, it’s odd a film that pushed boundaries for Disney in 2009 has gone unappreciated for so long. Based on the novel The Frog Princess, the film serves as a testament to how stories can change and evolve over time to serve the audiences of today, as well as an exemplar for how storytelling can depict universal experiences, ones that can and should be for everyone.

Source: Disney+

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