The flickering basement lights cast long shadows as the kids huddled around the worn Dungeons & Dragons board. A sudden chill filled the room, and Will swore he saw a Demogorgon miniature twitch. Was it just his imagination, or had something truly followed them home from the Upside Down? The world of Stranger Things expands this spring with a fresh chapter.
Something Strange Returns This April
Remember waiting for the next episode of Stranger Things? The breathless anticipation, the fan theories swirling online? The series captivated audiences with its blend of sci-fi horror and ’80s nostalgia. A new animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, promises to reignite that excitement when it premieres on Netflix on April 23, 2025.
Set between the second and third seasons, Tales From ’85 revisits our beloved Hawkins crew – Eleven, Dustin, Mike, Will, Lucas, and Max – as they face a brand new mystery. The trailer hints at Steve Harrington navigating new relationships, too, and, of course, echoes of the Upside Down. The Duffer Brothers are back as executive producers, so expect familiar themes.
What is Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 about?
Think of the show’s timeline as an hourglass, with the animated series filling the space between seasons. Tales From ’85, developed by Eric Robles, promises a standalone narrative. Robles, in an interview with Netflix TUDUM, mentioned his love for horror movies and ’80s classics like The Lost Boys, E.T., and The Goonies, explaining how that affection influenced his passion for Stranger Things. He enjoyed watching kids confronting challenges, a clear connection to the source material. This new series acts as a bridge, not unlike the Star Wars animated shorts filling gaps between films.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 follow a mystery that’s not reset after every episode. The audience can feel like they’re part of the journey with these kids.
Will the original cast be involved in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85?
The beauty of animation is its ability to capture likeness and evoke familiar emotions even without the original actors. The designs of the characters, rendered in animation, seem pulled straight from our memories of Hawkins, Indiana. The showrunners are prioritizing story and atmosphere above celebrity cameos.
Consider the animation a fresh coat of paint, if you will. A way to explore corners of the Stranger Things universe that might be difficult or impossible to realize in live-action. This offers limitless storytelling potential. Stranger Things is more than a TV show; it’s a cultural phenomenon, a shared experience that transcends medium. Will this animated chapter live up to the hype, or will it be another monster best left in the Upside Down?