The static crackled, then a child’s voice, distorted and panicked, filled the room, “They’re here… again.” A shiver ran down my spine, even though I knew it was just a trailer. But what if the Upside Down bled into our reality through the screen, one animated frame at a time? The upcoming spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, is about to test that fear.
It’s been just over a month since Stranger Things ended, but the story isn’t over. The first TV spinoff for Netflix’s sci-fi series is coming in Tales from ’85, rendered in a mix of CG and 3D animation.
Developed by Eric Robles and Flying Bark with involvement from the Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy, the spinoff is set between the second and third seasons during the winter. Instead of snow angels and sledding, the Hawkins gang is facing more Upside Down monsters. Dustin is particularly concerned about a pumpkin-headed beast he believes survived the events of the previous season.
The Animated Evolution of Hawkins
Think of the Stranger Things universe as an ever-expanding galaxy. This animated spinoff lets us explore new corners of it. Showrunner Eric Robles previously suggested that Tales from ’85 would ripple back into the original Stranger Things narrative in some fashion. One noticeable adjustment comes with its voice cast: no one from the original show has returned to voice their animated counterpart. The cast includes Brett Gibson as Hopper, Luca Diaz as Mike, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Elisha Williams as Max, Ben Plessala as Will, and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max. Notable guest voices include Janeane Garofalo, Odessa A’zion, and Lou Diamond Phillips.
Will the new voice cast change the dynamic of the group?
A fresh voice can give new shades to a known character. This is especially true in animation, where vocal performance is everything. The new voice actors for the Hawkins crew are stepping into well-worn shoes. They will be tasked with capturing the essence of those characters while making them their own. Will they succeed in honoring what came before?
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 arrives on Netflix on April 23.
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From Live-Action to Animation: Does It Work?
Animation can amplify the surreal elements that Stranger Things has always toyed with. Remember the Demogorgon? Imagine that terror, now unchained by the limitations of practical effects. Animation lets the show creators go wild, and explore scarier realms.
How will 'Tales From '85' fit into the Stranger Things canon?
Canon is a tricky thing; it’s the connective tissue that either elevates a franchise or chokes it. The challenge for Tales From ’85 is to matter—to enrich the established lore without contradicting it. Eric Robles’ hint of reverberations with the original series suggests a careful approach. But could this animated interlude become indispensable to understanding the broader narrative?
The Upside Down Gets a Facelift
I sometimes think of the Upside Down as a dark mirror, reflecting the fears of Hawkins back at itself. The move to animation opens doors to visualizing these terrors in new, unsettling ways. A live-action series can build suspense, but animation can deliver straight nightmare fuel.
Why a spinoff, and why now?
Spin-offs are a gamble. Netflix has certainly seen its share of successes and failures. But, given the massive popularity of Stranger Things, it makes sense to keep the franchise alive. This animated venture might draw in younger viewers while appealing to die-hard fans craving more of the Hawkins universe.
Will the animated format diminish the suspense, or will it amplify the show’s inherent weirdness?