The world of Stranger Things is expanding into animation. Netflix has revealed the first look at Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an all-new animated series that will bring Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Max back for another adventure. The spin-off is scheduled to arrive on the streaming service in 2026.
The announcement, made on November 6 to celebrate Stranger Things Day, included a teaser featurette and the first official images. The series will feature a completely new voice cast and tell a standalone story set within the beloved universe.
The Story and Setting
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is set in the winter of 1985, placing its story between the events of the live-action show’s second and third seasons. The official logline welcomes viewers back to Hawkins, where “the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town.”
This new adventure will introduce fresh threats from the Upside Down, with early descriptions mentioning new monster designs. The series is described as an “epic new animated series” that aims to be an “entry-level Stranger Things” experience, making it suitable for a broader, family-friendly audience while still delivering the show’s signature blend of mystery and horror.
A New Voice for Hawkins
A major update is the voice cast. The original live-action actors will not be reprising their roles for the animated series. Instead, a new group of actors will voice the iconic characters from Hawkins.
The main voice cast has been confirmed as:
- Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven / Jane Hopper
- Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson
- Elisha ‘EJ’ Williams as Lucas Sinclair
- Ben Plessala as Will Byers
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield
The series will also feature additional voices, including Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips in roles that have not yet been revealed.
The Creative Vision Behind the Animation
The series is developed and showrun by Eric Robles, with the Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy serving as executive producers. The animation is being handled by Flying Bark Productions.
The creators have stated that the project was one of their first ideas for expanding the Stranger Things universe. The goal was to capture the specific feeling of the Saturday morning cartoons from the 1980s.
“The idea was to evoke the feeling of an ’80s cartoon,” said Matt Duffer in the announcement featurette.
Ross Duffer added that the medium of animation offered unique creative freedom, stating, > “With animation, there’s really no limits. Eric and his team can go wild, and they have.”
Showrunner Eric Robles emphasized capturing the essence of the original show in a new format. > “What we have been able to capture is the magic of Hawkins in a new way,” Robles said. “Our story takes place between Seasons 2 and 3, but we soon learn that nothing is quite as they thought it was.”
The visual style is a high-quality computer-generated animation that incorporates an 80s flair, with character designs featuring larger heads and sculpted faces. The team drew inspiration from classic cartoons like The Real Ghostbusters, which Robles described as a “north star” for the series.
When to Watch and What’s Next
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is set to premiere on Netflix in 2026. While an exact release date has not been announced, the news has generated significant excitement for fans eager to see more of Hawkins after the main series concludes.
The final season of the live-action Stranger Things is scheduled to premiere in batches starting on November 26, 2025.
Also Read: Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour Reunite at Stranger Things 5 Premiere Amid Controversy
