Everything You Need to Know About 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85': Plot, Release Date & More

Although Stranger Things ended in December 2025, fans of the franchise still have new adventures in Hawkins to look forward to.

In just a few months, Netflix will premiere the franchise's first official spinoff: the animated series Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Overseen by the original creators, the Duffer Brothers, the project promises to take viewers back to the '80s in a completely new visual format.

Here is everything we know so far about the upcoming animated series.

When Will 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' Be Released?

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is officially scheduled to premiere on April 23, 2026.

Announced as part of Netflix's strategy to expand the successful franchise, it will be the first animated series in the Stranger Things universe.

What Will 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' Be About?

The spin-off takes place between the second and third seasons of the original show, in the winter of 1985. The main characters, who will be around 14 years old, will once again be Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Eleven.

They will face new paranormal threats from the Upside Down and investigate otherworldly mysteries. The series will introduce a new key character: Nikki Baxter, a pink-haired girl with a technical mind and a talent for constructing complex devices.

Her exact role in the overall plot is unclear, but her arrival promises to bring a fresh dynamic to the established team.

'Stranger Things: Tales From '85's Production Process & Visual Style

The creators have prioritized a unique aesthetic, which will be the project's defining feature. Tales From '85 will be produced using CGI animation styled after 1980s Saturday morning cartoons, such as The Real Ghostbusters and Scooby-Doo.

At the same time, the visuals are expected to meet modern standards, drawing parallels with hits such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Arcane.

Sydney-based Flying Bark Productions is handling the animation, and Carlos Huante, known for his work on Prometheus and Blade Runner 2049, is designing the new monsters.

Eric Robles has been appointed showrunner, the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen will serve as executive producers to ensure the spirit and quality of the original is preserved.

Are There Any Other 'Stranger Things' Spinoffs Confirmed?

Netflix hasn't officially announced any other projects yet. However, the franchise's creators have made it clear that they do not plan to say goodbye to Hawkins.

At the Next on Netflix presentation, Matt Duffer stated that many more stories from this universe are in development:

“There are more Stranger Things stories to tell and in the works. It's a bit early at this point to talk about them, but we're deeply involved in every one – it's very important to us that anything with the Stranger Things name on it is of the highest quality and not repetitive – that it has a reason to exist and always blazes its own path.”

Thus, Tales From '85 is just the beginning of the Stranger Things universe's expansion.