New Animated Series ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Announced by Netflix

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Netflix has provided a first-look at ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85,’ a new animated series that expands the universe of the smash-hit live-action show. The announcement was made as part of Stranger Things Day, an annual celebration marking the date Will Byers first went missing in Hawkins. The series is slated to premiere on Netflix in 2026.

Premise and Setting

Set in the backdrop of an icy Midwest winter in 1985, the animated show takes place between the events of Season 2 and Season 3 of the original Stranger Things series.

The animated adventures follow Eleven and her friends as they confront new monsters and attempt to unravel a paranormal mystery that is once again menacing their small town. As series co-creator Ross Duffer noted, the animation medium removes constraints, allowing showrunner Eric Robles and his team to “just go wild.”

Creative Team and Visual Style

The series aims to capture the nostalgic tone of classic 1980s Saturday morning cartoons, with showrunner and executive producer Eric Robles (Glitch Techs, Fanboy & Chum Chum) citing influences like The Real Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, and Transformers.

  • Executive Producers: Matt and Ross Duffer (via Upside Down Pictures), Hilary Leavitt (Upside Down Pictures), and Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen (via 21 Laps) are all executive producers on the project.
  • Animation Studio: The animation is being produced by Flying Bark Productions, the Sydney-based studio known for work on shows such as Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Marvel’s What If…?
  • Art Inspiration: The show’s visual style was directly inspired by the work of fan artist Meybis Ruiz Cruz, whose Stranger Things fan art helped define the project’s unique look.

The Voice Cast

In keeping with the tradition of classic animated tie-ins, the series will feature a new voice cast, rather than the original live-action actors:

  • Eleven: Brooklyn Davey Norstedt
  • Max: Jolie Hoang-Rappaport
  • Mike: Luca Diaz
  • Lucas: Elisha “EJ” Williams
  • Dustin: Braxton Quinney
  • Will: Ben Plessala
  • Hopper: Brett Gipson

Supporting roles will be voiced by actors including Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips.