Stranger Things: Tales from '85

Lore & Background

The series is set in Hawkins in the winter of 1985, between the events of the second and third seasons of Stranger Things, where the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery. The Upside Down's influence is again seeping into the town, with familiar locations such as Hawkins National Laboratory resurfacing and new supernatural creatures emerging, including Upside Down pumpkin zombies and vine-like monsters. The tone is described as more family-friendly and brighter in its visuals than the live-action show, intended as entry-level Stranger Things suitable for broader audiences.

Voice cast members include Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler, Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield, Elisha Williams as Lucas Sinclair, Ben Plessala as Will Byers, Odessa A'zion as Nikki Baxter, Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper, Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter, Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington, Griffin Burns as Jonathan Byers, Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer, Robert Englund as Cosmo, Alysia Reiner as Karen Wheeler, Jim Titus as Officer Powell, Miriam Flynn as Flo, Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy Wheeler, Jordan Reynolds as Officer Callahan, Valeria Rodriguez as Rosario, and Jack Griffo as Jeff Nelson.

Animation was handled by Flying Bark Productions in Sydney. Eric Robles cited 1980s cartoons and young adult horror as major influences, including He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Scooby-Doo, and especially The Real Ghostbusters. The production team also studied Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Arcane in creating the visual style. Creature designer Carlos Huante was involved in creating the new monsters.

Reader's Guide

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 represents Netflix's first animated expansion of the Stranger Things universe, bridging the narrative gap between the second and third seasons. The series was greenlit straight-to-series in April 2023 and announced in April 2025, with the Duffer Brothers intending to capture the feel of an '80s Saturday-morning cartoon. Its mixed critical reception—63% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 52—reflects a divide between those who appreciated the nostalgic animation style and family-friendly approach and those who found it less compelling than the live-action original. The series was renewed for a second season five days after its premiere, set for release on September 17, 2026. Its significance lies in expanding the Stranger Things franchise into animation, introducing new characters like Nikki Baxter, and offering an entry point for younger viewers while maintaining connections to the core fanbase through returning voice actors and familiar Hawkins settings.

Did You Know?

• The series was first announced by Netflix in April 2025.
• It was renewed for a second season just five days after its premiere.
• Robert Englund, who portrayed Victor Creel in the original series, voices the character Cosmo.
• The animation studio Flying Bark Productions is based in Sydney.