Tiana (The Princess and the Frog)

Tiana
The Princess and the Frog character
Tiana as she appears in The Princess and the Frog (2009).
First appearanceThe Princess and the Frog (2009)
Created by
Voiced by
Based on
In-universe information
Full nameTiana Rogers[1]
Species
TitlePrincess of Maldonia
OccupationRestaurant entrepreneur
AffiliationDisney Princesses
Family
  • James Rogers (father, deceased)[1]
  • Eudora Rogers (mother)
SpousePrince Naveen
Relatives
  • King of Maldonia (father-in-law)
  • Queen of Maldonia (mother-in-law)
  • Prince Ralphie (brother-in-law)
NationalityAfrican American

Tiana Rogers[1] is a fictional character in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Princess and the Frog (2009). Created by writers and directors Ron Clements and John Musker and animated by Mark Henn, Tiana is voiced by Anika Noni Rose, with Elizabeth M. Dampier voicing the character as a child. She will appear in the Disney+ series Tiana.

She is loosely based on two princesses: Princess Emma from the 2002 novel The Frog Princess by E. D. Baker, and the princess from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "The Frog Prince", which inspired Baker's novel. The character also was inspired by famed New Orleans chef Leah Chase.

Tiana is depicted as a hardworking waitress who dreams of opening her own restaurant. She finds her progress stalled when she transforms into a frog after desperately kissing a prince who has been turned into one by an evil witch doctor.

Tiana has been mostly positively received with critics praising her personality and values. However, the depiction of Tiana and her community has been criticized for lacking "emphasis on racial issues".[2] The decision to depict the two main characters, Tiana and Naveen, as frogs for the majority of the film has also caused controversy, with some saying that it downplays the characters' identities.[3] She is the ninth character added to the Disney Princess franchise, and is known for being the first African American member in the franchise. She is also the most modern princess in the lineup, as her story takes place in 1920’s New Orleans.

  1. ^ a b c Graves, Sabina (July 2, 2024). "Tiana's Bayou Adventure Breaks 87 Years of a Weird Disney Princess Canon". Gizmodo. Retrieved September 20, 2024. One of the biggest official reveals is that unlike the Disney Princesses that came before her—even as far back as Snow White—New Orleans' very own princess has a real last name. In the queue for Walt Disney World's attraction, fans have noticed that Tiana is referred to as Tiana Rogers, daughter of Sargent James Rogers, in newspaper clippings and cooking awards for Tiana's Palace and Tiana's Foods (her culinary co-op).
  2. ^ Bidisha (January 3, 2010). "Walt's whitewash". The Observer. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  3. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (January 28, 2010). "The Princess and the Frog". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 5 December 2012.