As Stranger Things heads toward its final season, Netflix isn’t waiting for the lights in Hawkins to go out. The streamer is officially expanding the franchise with its first animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, a series designed to keep fans in the world they love without rewriting the ending of the flagship show.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 — Release Window on Netflix
Netflix has confirmed that Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 will arrive on the platform sometime in 2026. For now, there’s no exact premiere date, but the project is officially greenlit, in production, and already has a first visual tease and key creative team attached.
The series is positioned as the first official animated spin-off of the Stranger Things universe. It will stream exclusively on Netflix and is set within the existing timeline of the live-action show rather than continuing the story past its conclusion.
Netflix has already shared an early look at the show:
Where Tales from ’85 Fits in the Stranger Things Timeline
Instead of jumping forward or backward centuries, Tales from ’85 is anchored in a very specific moment: winter 1985 in Hawkins, Indiana. The story unfolds between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series, a period when the emotional fallout from earlier events is still raw and the threat from the Upside Down hasn’t disappeared—it’s just mutated.
Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max are all back as animated versions of their younger selves. Over the course of the show, they’ll face new supernatural anomalies and previously unseen creatures tied to the Upside Down, but the story is crafted as a standalone arc. Think of it as a self-contained paranormal case file: one major mystery, one escalating threat, and a full resolution that doesn’t interfere with the live-action fifth season’s ending.
A Self-Contained Mystery, Not Stranger Things Season 5.5
From a storytelling perspective, Tales from ’85 is designed more like a premium animated event than a direct sequel. It doesn’t attempt to “fix,” rewrite, or extend the live-action finale. Instead, it explores a missing chapter that could logically slot into the canon without changing what fans already know about Hawkins’ ultimate fate.
This approach gives longtime viewers extra time with the core group of kids—still in the mid-’80s, still in their small-town environment—while also offering newcomers a relatively accessible entry point. You don’t need every detail of the main show’s mythology to follow this particular story, but fans will spot plenty of callbacks.
Who’s Making Stranger Things: Tales from ’85?
Tales from ’85 is spearheaded by creator and showrunner Eric Robles, a veteran of genre animation. He’s in charge of shaping the series’ tone, pacing, and overall direction.
The original architects of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, remain closely involved as executive producers, ensuring the spin-off still feels like it belongs in the same universe. They’re joined by longtime franchise collaborators Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.
On the production side, the series is developed by Upside Down Pictures (the Duffers’ company) and 21 Laps Entertainment. Robles has been given notable creative freedom to push the format into more stylized, animated territory, while still respecting the emotional core and narrative rules of Stranger Things.
’80s-Inspired Animation With a Modern Genre Edge
The animation is handled by Australian studio Flying Bark, known for its dynamic and stylized storytelling. For Tales from ’85, the team leans into a distinctive 3D animation style with intentionally exaggerated proportions and a richer, more saturated color palette than the live-action show’s muted, horror-driven look.
The creative direction taps into the aesthetic of 1980s fantasy and supernatural cartoons that American audiences will instantly recognize—from the energy of shows like The Real Ghostbusters to the mystery-driven spirit of Scooby-Doo. At the same time, it draws from contemporary animation trends, blending nostalgia with modern camera work, lighting, and effects.
On the creature design front, Netflix brought in acclaimed artist Carlos Huante, known for his work in dark fantasy and horror. His involvement suggests that while the show is animated and visually vibrant, it won’t shy away from eerie, unsettling monster concepts that feel right at home in the Stranger Things universe.
New Voice Cast for Familiar Characters
Although the animated series features all the major characters from Hawkins, the original live-action actors are not returning to voice their roles in Tales from ’85. Instead, Netflix has assembled a new voice ensemble for the English-language version.
Here’s the confirmed main cast so far:
- Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
- Luca Diaz as Mike
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin
- Elisha Williams as Lucas
- Ben Plessala as Will
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max
Additional roles will feature Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips, among others, rounding out a cast that mixes emerging talent with recognizable names.
Why Netflix Is Betting on an Animated Stranger Things Spin-Off
From a strategy standpoint, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is a way for Netflix to extend one of its biggest global franchises without overextending its main storyline. Animation offers the flexibility to revisit younger versions of the characters, explore more visually ambitious monsters, and experiment tonally—balancing humor, adventure, and horror—without the constraints of live-action production schedules or aging casts.
For U.S. audiences in particular, Tales from ’85 taps directly into a potent mix of ’80s pop culture nostalgia, small-town Americana, and genre storytelling. If the spin-off connects, it could pave the way for additional animated or hybrid projects set in and around Hawkins—or perhaps even new corners of the Upside Down.
What Fans Should Expect Going Into 2026
With the 2026 release window confirmed but no exact date yet, fans should expect Netflix to roll out more footage, trailers, and behind-the-scenes details over the coming months. The key takeaways for now:
- The show is canon but self-contained, slotted between seasons 2 and 3.
- It focuses on a new supernatural case in Hawkins rather than revisiting the main series’ finale.
- The tone will balance kid-centered adventure, horror elements, and ’80s-flavored humor.
- The look, feel, and voice cast will be fresh, even as the characters and mythology remain familiar.
In other words, Tales from ’85 isn’t trying to be Stranger Things season 6—it’s trying to be the best animated “lost adventure” from the height of the Hawkins era.
FAQ
When will Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 be released on Netflix?
Netflix has announced a 2026 release window for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, but has not yet revealed the exact premiere date. As production progresses, expect a more precise timeline along with trailers and promotional material.
Is Tales from ’85 a direct continuation of the main Stranger Things story?
No. The animated series is a spin-off set between seasons 2 and 3 of the original show. It tells a standalone story that fits into the existing timeline but does not extend or alter the events of season 5 and the live-action conclusion.
Are the original Stranger Things actors voicing their characters?
No. While Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Max, and Hopper all appear in the series, they are portrayed by a new voice cast. Brett Gipson, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt, Luca Diaz, Braxton Quinney, Elisha Williams, Ben Plessala, and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport are among the talents bringing the animated versions to life.
Do I need to have seen all seasons of Stranger Things to understand Tales from ’85?
Having watched at least the first two seasons of Stranger Things will definitely enrich the experience, since Tales from ’85 is set right after those events. However, the story is designed as a <strongself-contained supernatural adventure, so new viewers should still be able to follow the main plot, even if they miss some Easter eggs and character nuances aimed at longtime fans.
