Netflix has confirmed an April 23 premiere date for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, a new animated series led by showrunner Eric Robles and created with Stranger Things co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer. The project expands the franchise through animation while returning to Hawkins during a specific moment in the story timeline, set between Seasons Two and Three of the original series.
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Stranger Things fans will recognize the era immediately. The story takes place in 1985 during a freezing winter in Hawkins, where familiar characters face new threats and a fresh paranormal mystery. Netflix describes the premise through a concise logline that frames the season around original characters who confront new monsters while trying to understand what haunts their town.
Eric Robles, who produces the series through Flying Bark Productions, describes the animated format as a rare chance to spend extended time with the core group of kids. Speaking to Tudum, Robles emphasizes the excitement of youth and the presence of real danger and high stakes. He explains that the series allows viewers to return to an earlier point in the story and simply spend time with these characters again, before later events reshape their lives.
Matt and Ross Duffer developed the idea while discussing future possibilities tied to Hawkins. Ross Duffer explains in the teaser that this concept emerged early during those conversations. Animation offered a format that encouraged freedom in visual storytelling, allowing Robles and his team to explore ideas without limits. The Duffers previously shared their enthusiasm for the scripts and artwork, praising the creative direction and expressing excitement about sharing more with audiences.
The animated series carries strong creative backing. The Duffers and Hilary Leavitt serve as executive producers through Upside Down Pictures. Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen executive produce via 21 Laps. Netflix released a first-look asset on Stranger Things Day, offering an early visual preview and reinforcing the scale of the animated approach.
The voice cast brings familiar faces back in animated form. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt voices Eleven, with Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will, Brett Gipson as Hopper, and Jeremy Jordan as Steve. The series also welcomes Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips to the cast, expanding the ensemble tied to Hawkins.
Robles explains that the story reveals how little the characters truly understand about the forces around them. He hints at discoveries that challenge their assumptions while maintaining the sense of wonder that defined earlier seasons. Ross Duffer echoes that sentiment in the teaser, noting that animation allows the creative team to push ideas further than before.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 premieres April 23, streaming exclusively on Netflix.
