Tales from '85 will take place between the events of the second and third season of Stranger Things, and will depict the children – Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max – as they confront new monsters of the Upside Down, and unravel a "paranormal mystery terrorizing their town".[3] The Duffers have said the show intends to capture the feel of an '80s Saturday-morning cartoon in the Stranger Things universe.[4]
Tales from '85 is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in 2026.[5]
Premise
The series returns to Hawkins in a snowy 1985, where “the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery”.[6] The Upside Down's influence is again seeping into the town: familiar locations like Hawkins National Laboratory resurface, and new supernatural creatures emerge (early descriptions include such threats as Upside Down pumpkin-zombies and vine-like monsters). Official descriptions emphasize that this is an “epic new animated series,” promising a blend of nostalgia and horror reminiscent of Stranger Things' tone.[2] According to showrunner 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 more family-friendly and brighter in visuals than the live-action show (described by Netflix and press reports as “entry-level Stranger Things” suitable for broader audiences).
Voice cast and characters
The main characters from the original Stranger Things series all return in animated form.[6] These include Eleven / Jane Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield, 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. The small-town sheriff Jim Hopper is also reported to appear (in glimpse form at least). Previews at the Annecy Festival in June 2025 indicated that the original live-action actors will not be reprising their roles as voice actors.[2] In November the same year, the voice cast was revealed:[5]
In July 2022, it was revealed that a spin-off series was in the works.[7] In April 2023, Netflix greenlit a straight-to-series order for an animated series that is set in the Stranger Things universe. The animation for the series is being provided by Flying Bark Productions with Eric Robles, the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen as executive producers on the show.[8] The Duffer Brothers said the series would be in the vein of the Saturday-morning cartoons they grew up with.[9] In 2025, it was revealed that the animated spin-off will be titled Stranger Things: Tales from '85, and as the title implies, it is set in the winter of 1985, between the second and third seasons of the main series. 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.[10] On November 6, 2025, Netflix released a first look teaser for Tales from '85, also revealing its voice cast.[11]
Animation is handled by Flying Bark in Sydney; Netflix specifically called Flying Bark to bring the show to life.[12] 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.[3] Robles cites 1980s cartoons and young adult horror as major influences – for example, He-Man, Scooby-Doo, and especially The Real Ghostbusters (which he calls his “north star”). The production team also studied modern animated successes like Spider-Verse and Arcane, filtering those techniques through a retro sensibility. Prominent creature designer Carlos Huante (known for ET and Prometheus) was involved in creating the new monsters, indicating a darker, more Lovecraftian tone despite the family-friendly veneer.[3]
Release
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is set to premiere on Netflix in 2026.[5]
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