Stranger Things: Tales from ’85: Expected Netflix Release Date & Everything We Know So Far

Picture Credit: Netflix

The Stranger Things universe is officially expanding beyond novels, comics, and a stage play with a full-fledged animated series coming in 2026. After years of rumors, codenames, and festival reveals, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is just around the corner as season 5 brings the mothership series to an end over the festive period. 

Here is an updated guide about everything we know so far about Stranger Things: Tales from ’85.

Team Behind Show, Production Status, Release Date

Developed under the working title PROJECT MIRKWOOD (a nod to the road near Hawkins Lab), the series has been in the works for quite some time and has already been renewed for a second season from the get-go. 

• Release Window: Confirmed for 2026 with season 1 expected in the Spring.
• Season Order: What’s on Netflix understands the series has received a two-season upfront order, which has been developed and produced altogether.
• Studio: Animation is being handled by Flying Bark Productions (Sydney/LA/Spain), the studio known for Marvel’s What If…?, Glitch Techs, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The series is spearheaded by showrunner Eric Robles (Glitch Techs, Fanboy & Chum Chum), with the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, and Dan Cohen serving as Executive Producers.

Beyond Robles, the creative team boasts some serious animation pedigree. Jennifer Munro (Star Trek: Prodigy) has been confirmed as a writer on the series, expressing on social media how hard the team worked to bring this vision to life.

On the directing front, Sarah Partington and Ben Troy have been tapped to lead episodes. According to the Annecy presentation, they were selected specifically for their ability to blend live-action sensibilities with animated storytelling—a crucial skill for maintaining the cinematic feel of the flagship show.

Picture Credit: Netflix

The Timeline: Bridging the Gap

The most critical aspect of Tales from ’85 is its placement in the canon timeline. The series is set between Season 2 (Fall 1984) and Season 3 (Summer 1985). The official logline sets the stage:

“Welcome back to Hawkins in the stark winter of 1985, where the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town.”

Cracking the Code

This setting presented a unique narrative challenge. At the end of Season 2, Eleven closed the massive gate to the Upside Down. So, how can there be monsters?

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Eric Robles explained how they found the solution. “I dissected the show, looking for any loopholes,” Robles told EW. “And then I found this one idea that I was just like, ‘Oh s—! I think that’s it.'”

Robles teased the core concept to Entertainment Weekly as: “Hawkins Lab science meets Upside Down matter.” He notes that even with the gateway closed, there is a “chain reaction” involving creatures already in our world.

Pictures via the Entertainment Weekly Exclusive Story

The Voice Cast for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85

While the characters are familiar, the voices will be new. The live-action cast is not reprising their roles for this animated iteration. Instead, a new cast of younger actors has been tapped to bring the Hawkins crew to life, as announced by Netflix in early November 2025:

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

The series will also feature vocal performances from Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips in undisclosed roles.

New Characters and Monsters

It wouldn’t be Stranger Things without new threats. Robles emphasized to Entertainment Weekly that while the show is animated, “It’s not Scooby-Doo, man… The stakes are real for the kids.”

The Monsters

During the Annecy Film Festival presentation for the series, the team revealed that the “monster of the week” format will actually tie into a larger season-long mystery. New creatures teased include:

• Upside Down Pumpkin Zombies
• Human/Upside Down Vine Hybrids
• Minotaurs

New Character: Nicki Baxter

A major addition to the cast is a character named Nicki Baxter. Described as a “Tinkerer” with spiky pink hair, she bears a visual resemblance to Vi from Arcane. She is slightly taller than the main group and appears to be a valuable asset to the team.

Visual Style and Inspiration

The aesthetic of Tales from ’85 is a specific blend of Saturday Morning Cartoons and modern high-end animation.

The “North Star”

While the Duffer Brothers wanted a “Saturday Morning Cartoon” vibe, they didn’t want it to feel childish. Robles, during the Annecy presentation, cited The Real Ghostbusters, specifically its darker, scarier episodes, as the show’s “North Star,” and also cited examples like E.T., The Lost Boys, and horror-themed young adult book covers like Goosebumps by R.L. Stine. 

Visuals & Locations

According to the Entertainment Weekly report, Robles didn’t look to Marvel for visual inspiration, but rather to the original show posters created by Kyle Lambert. The goal was to bring the vibrant, saturated colors and “Spielbergian” style of those Drew Struzan-esque posters to life in animation.

Picture Credit: Kyle Lambert

The animation team didn’t just create generic backgrounds; they meticulously recreated iconic Hawkins landmarks in CG to match the live-action cinematography. Fans can expect to revisit the Palace Arcade, Hawkins Junior High, Hawkins Lab, and the downtown streets, all reimagined under a new winter aesthetic.

Fan Art Influence

In a unique twist, the production team was heavily inspired by fan artist Meybis Ruiz Cruz. Robles cited her work on Instagram as a “breakthrough” for the show’s character design, proving that fan art can indeed lead to official industry work.

Picture: Meybis Ruiz Cruz / Instagram

Is this the “Tokyo” Spin-off?

A few years back, you may recall we posted about a project we had been tipped off about called Stranger Things: Tokyo, centered on video game-loving twin brothers in 1980s Japan.

This is not that project, although Netflix has been very quiet about whether that project still exists and its status. Stay tuned. 

Is it Canon?

Yes. The Duffer Brothers have been involved from the start, viewing this as the realization of their dream to create a cartoon in the vein of the ones they grew up watching (like He-Man and Transformers). Robles confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the timeline is water-tight: “If we were to do the finale of, like, season 25… It would connect perfectly with the timeline.”

Picture: Netflix

That’s all we know so far – we’ll keep you posted on more about the series as and when we learn more.