Stranger Things: Tales From '85 - What You Need to Know

Stranger Things, which concluded its fifth season on New Year's Eve, continues to expand its universe. Instead of another live-action installment, Netflix is releasing a lively animated spin-off titled Stranger Things: Tales From '85. This new series promises more adventures within the world of Hawkins, Indiana.

Setting the Stage: A Return to 1985

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 isn’t a direct continuation of season five. The story takes place in the winter of 1985, falling between the events of seasons two and three. Expect a snow-covered Hawkins, vintage winter attire, and familiar scenes of Dungeons & Dragons in the basement.

A Nostalgic Vibe

The animators have focused on capturing the 1980s winter aesthetic, aiming to evoke nostalgia for fans of the original series. The teaser trailer showcases exciting monster fights set against a snowy backdrop.

The Story Unfolds

The series finds Mike Wheeler and his friends enjoying a period of relative peace after the traumatic events of season two. However, beneath the surface, a new threat emerges. As the official synopsis states: “In the winter of 1985, snow blankets the town and the horrors of the Upside Down are finally fading…But beneath the ice, something terrifying has awakened.”

The story will feature battles with pumpkin-headed Demogorgons and Demodogs, alongside the series’ signature campy dialogue and one-liners.

New Voices for Familiar Faces

The original cast will not be reprising their roles. A new voice cast will bring the characters to life, including:

  • Luca Diaz as Mike
  • Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
  • Braxton Quinney as Dustin
  • Elisha Williams as Lucas
  • Benjamin Plessala as Will
  • Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max

Supporting Cast & New Characters

Supporting characters will be voiced by Jeremy Jordan (Steve), Brett Gipson (Jim Hopper), Alessandra Antonelli (Nancy), and Alysia Reiner (Karen Wheeler). New characters, Nikki Baxter and her mother Anna, along with town clerk Daniel Fischer, will also be introduced. Notably, Robert Englund, who played Victor Creel in the original series, will voice a character named Cosmo.

Behind the Scenes

While Matt and Ross Duffer remain involved as executive producers, Eric Robles will serve as showrunner. Robles has a strong background in animation, having worked on shows like Fanboy and Chum Chum and Glitch Techs for Nickelodeon, as well as RoboCop: Alpha Commando.

Release Date

Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will premiere on April 23, with all ten episodes of the debut season released simultaneously. The series aims to appeal to a younger audience while potentially drawing in long-time fans eager to revisit the world of Stranger Things.