| Stranger Things: Tales from '85 | |
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| Genre | |
| Based on | Stranger Things byThe Duffer Brothers |
| Developed by | Eric Robles |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
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| Animator | Flying Bark Productions |
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| Network | Netflix |
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| Stranger Things franchise | |
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is an upcominganimatedscience fiction television series and aspin-off ofNetflix'sStranger Things. First announced by Netflix in April 2025, it will be executive produced byStranger Things creatorsMatt and Ross Duffer, as well asShawn Levy and Dan Cohen of21 Laps, Hilary Leavitt of Upside Down Pictures, and Eric Robles withFlying Bark Productions.
Tales from '85 takes place between the events of thesecond andthird seasons ofStranger Things, and depicts the children –Eleven,Mike,Will,Lucas,Dustin, andMax – as they confront new monsters of theUpside Down, and unravel a "paranormal mystery terrorizing their town". The Duffers intend to capture the feel of an '80sSaturday-morning cartoon in theStranger Things universe.
Tales from '85 is scheduled to premiere on April 23, 2026, on Netflix.
The series is set in Hawkins in the winter of 1984, where "the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery".[1] The Upside Down's influence is again seeping into the town: familiar locations such as Hawkins National Laboratory resurface, and new supernatural creatures emerge (early descriptions include threats such as Upside Down pumpkin zombies and vine-like monsters). Official descriptions emphasize that the series is an "epic new animated series", promising a blend ofnostalgia andhorror reminiscent ofStranger Things's tone.[2] According toshowrunner Eric Robles, the setup involves "something brewing in Hawkins", with the kids banding together to investigate the disturbances, much like in the original series. The tone is said to be morefamily-friendly and brighter in its visuals than the live-action show (described by Netflix and press reports as "entry-levelStranger Things" suitable for broader audiences).
Additionally,Odessa A'zion,Lou Diamond Phillips, andJaneane Garofalo have been cast in undisclosed roles.[4]
In February 2022, theStranger Things series creators,the Duffer Brothers, announced their intentions to create spin-offs of the franchise.[5] In July 2022, it was revealed that a spin-off series was in the works.[6] In April 2023,Netflix greenlit a straight-to-series order for an animated series that is set in theStranger Things universe. The animation for the series is being provided byFlying Bark Productions with Eric Robles, the Duffer Brothers,Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen as executive producers on the show.[7] The Duffers said the series would be in the vein of theSaturday-morning cartoons they grew up with.[8][9] In 2025, it was revealed that the animated spin-off will be titledStranger Things: Tales from '85, and as the title implies, it is set in the winter of 1985, between thesecond andthird seasons of the main series.[10] The series will introduce a new character named Nikki Baxter who is said to be "a tinker", and who has pinkish hair that's short on the sides.[11] On November 6, 2025, Netflix released a first look teaser forTales from '85, also revealing its voice cast.[12]
Animation is handled by Flying Bark in Sydney; Netflix specifically called Flying Bark to bring the show to life.[13] The visual style is high-quality computer-generated animation with an '80s flair; character designs feature "bigger heads and sculpted puppet-like faces", and the color palette and textures are more vibrant and neon than the live-action show.[14] Robles cites 1980s cartoons andyoung adult horror as major influences – for example,He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,Scooby-Doo and especiallyThe Real Ghostbusters (which he calls his "north star"). The production team also studied modern animated successes likeSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse andArcane, filtering those techniques through a retro sensibility. Prominent creature designer Carlos Huante, known forE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial andPrometheus, was involved in creating the new monsters, indicating a darker, moreLovecraftian tone despite the family-friendly veneer.[14]
Several main characters from the originalStranger Things series return in animated form,[1] as well as Nikki Baxter, a new character described as "taller and bigger" than the core group who joins the Hawkins kids in their adventures. In November 2025, the voice cast was revealed, with no actor from the original series reprising their role.[3]
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is set to premiere on Netflix on April 23, 2026.[4]
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