Just when you thought Hawkins couldn’t get any stranger, Netflix is taking fans back to the neon-soaked ‘80s with a twist. On Stranger Things Day, the streamer dropped a bombshell announcement: Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85’, a new animated series that will explore the untold stories between Seasons 2 and 3. Get ready to see the Upside Down in a whole new dimension—literally.
While the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is still on the horizon, this animated prequel offers a fresh look at our favorite characters as they navigate the chilling winter of 1985. The series, set to debut in 2026, promises to bridge the gap between the Mind Flayer’s initial defeat and the Starcourt Mall’s doomed summer. But don’t expect a simple Saturday morning cartoon; the Duffer Brothers have something much more ambitious in mind, promising a style that evokes classic ‘80s animation with a modern, darker edge.
Caption: The young heroes of Hawkins return in animated form for Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 Credit: Netflix Source: Deadline
What Happens in the Winter of ‘85?
The official logline from Netflix sets a chilling scene: “Welcome back to Hawkins in the stark winter of 1985, where the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an epic new animated series.” [1] This timeline is a crucial, unexplored period for the Hawkins crew. It places the story after Eleven has closed the gate to the Upside Down, but before the Mind Flayer re-emerges by possessing Billy Hargrove. This is a time when the characters—and the audience—believed they had finally found a moment of peace.
According to showrunner Eric Robles, however, that peace is short-lived. “Our story takes place between Seasons 2 and 3, but we soon learn that nothing is quite as they thought it was,” he teased. [3] This suggests that even with the main gate sealed, the Upside Down’s influence was far from gone. Could smaller, residual pockets of the dimension have remained? Or were there other, previously unknown threats lurking in the shadows of Hawkins? The series has a unique opportunity to flesh out the mythology of the Upside Down without disrupting the established canon, potentially introducing new creatures and paranormal phenomena that the live-action series never had the chance to explore.
In a teaser for the announcement, the Duffer Brothers explained their vision. “The idea was to evoke a feeling of an ’80s cartoon,” Matt Duffer said. [2] Ross Duffer elaborated on the creative freedom this new format provides: “With animation, there’s really no limits. Eric and his team can go wild … and they have.” [1] This statement alone should have fans buzzing with excitement. The live-action show, for all its spectacle, is still bound by the constraints of budget and practicality. An animated series can truly let its imagination run wild, delivering monster designs and supernatural events on a scale that would be impossible to achieve otherwise.
A New Voice for Hawkins
While the original characters are returning, the familiar faces of the cast are not. Tales From ‘85 will feature an entirely new lineup of voice actors to bring the Hawkins crew to life. This decision allows the original cast to focus on the monumental final season while giving a new generation of talent a chance to step into these iconic roles.
The new voice cast is a mix of rising stars and established talent:
Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
Eleven | Brooklyn Davey Norstedt |
Max | Jolie Hoang-Rappaport |
Mike | Luca Diaz |
Lucas | Elisha “EJ” Williams |
Dustin | Braxton Quinney |
Will | Ben Plessala |
Hopper | Brett Gipson |
Joining them are Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and the legendary Lou Diamond Phillips in currently undisclosed roles. The recasting is a bold move, but it signals a commitment to making Tales From ‘85 a distinct entity within the Stranger Things universe. It’s a fresh start that respects the source material while carving out its own identity. For fans of animation, seeing how these new actors interpret beloved characters will be one of the most intriguing aspects of the show.
Caption: Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 brings the beloved characters back to fight new monsters in the winter of 1985 Credit: Netflix Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Expanding the Stranger Things Universe
Tales From ‘85 is just the beginning of a much larger expansion of the Stranger Things universe. The Duffer Brothers have been vocal about their plans to continue telling stories in this world long after the main series concludes. This animated show, along with the previously announced stage play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, are the first steps in building a multi-project franchise that could rival some of the biggest names in entertainment.
“There are more Stranger Things stories to tell and in the works,” Matt Duffer has stated. “It’s very important to us that anything with the Stranger Things name on it is of the highest quality and not repetitive—that it has a reason to exist and always blazes its own path.” [2] This commitment to quality and originality is a promising sign for fans who have grown to love the rich lore and endearing characters of Hawkins. While the end of the main series will undoubtedly be bittersweet, the future of the Stranger Things universe looks brighter—and more animated—than ever.
This expansion follows a successful trend in modern franchises. Just as The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman is building a new world with the Energon Universe, the Duffer Brothers are ensuring that Stranger Things can live on through new mediums and new stories. The possibilities are endless, from more animated projects to potential live-action spinoffs focusing on other characters or time periods.
What This Means for Season 5
The announcement of Tales From ‘85 also came with a few tantalizing details about the final season of Stranger Things. The fifth season is set to be a massive television event, released in three parts over the holiday season. Volume 1 will drop on November 26, Volume 2 on Christmas Day, and The Finale on New Year’s Eve. [2]
This release strategy, combined with the news that the series finale will also get a theatrical run, shows just how much faith Netflix has in its flagship series. As fans prepare for the final showdown with Vecna, Tales From ‘85 offers a welcome assurance that the adventures in Hawkins are far from over. It’s a brilliant strategy: give fans a new story to look forward to, even as they prepare to say goodbye to the one that started it all.
References
[1] Forbes: Netflix Just Announced A New ‘Stranger Things’ Show, ‘Tales From 85’
(https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2025/11/06/stranger-things-is-returning-after-season-5-but-theres-a-catch/)
[2] The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85’ Animated Series Coming to Netflix
(https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stranger-things-tales-from-85-animated-series-netflix-1236420138/)
[3] Variety: ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Drops First Look at Animated Spinoff Set Between Seasons 2 and 3 With New Voice Cast
(https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/stranger-things-tales-from-85-first-look-animated-spinoff-1236571423/)
