Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 — Netflix’s Animated Return to Hawkins Is the Spin-Off Fans Didn’t Know They Needed

The Upside Down isn't done with us just yet. Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is an animated sci-fi spin-off created by the Duffer Brothers, set in the winter of 1985…

By Reetam Bodhak

April 15, 2026

3 min read

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The Upside Down isn’t done with us just yet. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is an animated sci-fi spin-off created by the Duffer Brothers, set in the winter of 1985 — between Seasons 2 and 3 of the original series. Wikipedia With 10 nostalgia-packed episodes dropping all at once, here’s your complete guide before you press play.

What’s Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 Story?

The show follows Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max as they face fresh supernatural dangers in a freezing Hawkins winter, with a brand-new monster — the Snowshark — lurking beneath the snow-covered streets. Think Saturday morning cartoon energy with real Stranger Things stakes. The show is considered “entry-level Stranger Things,” featuring a brighter, more colourful visual style that’s more family-friendly than the original dark live-action series. FandomWire

Release Date & Episodes

Season 1 drops all 10 episodes at once on Netflix on April 23, 2026, with each episode running between 24 to 28 minutes — making it an easy full-day binge totalling roughly four to five hours. Yahoo!

US fans can also catch the first two episodes early at select AMC Theatres on April 18, at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM local time, across 34 locations nationwide. Theviewersperspective

Full Voice Cast

None of the original live-action actors return to voice their characters — an entirely new cast has been assembled. Yahoo!

Character	Voice Actor
Eleven	Jolie Hoang-Rappaport
Mike Wheeler	Brooklyn Davey Norstedt
Will Byers	Luca Diaz
Lucas Sinclair	Elisha “EJ” Williams
Dustin Henderson	Braxton Quinney
Max Mayfield	Benjamin Plessala
Nikki Baxter (NEW)	Odessa A’zion
Jim Hopper	Jeremy Jordan
Joyce Byers	Janeane Garofalo

Nikki Baxter is the most exciting new addition — a fresh character designed as an entry point for newer audiences discovering Hawkins for the first time. Netflix Tudum

Who Made It & Where to Watch?

The series is executive-produced by the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, and Dan Cohen, with animation provided by Flying Bark Productions in Sydney. Wikipedia You can stream it exclusively on Netflix. Digit Learn more about the show’s full background on the Wikipedia page for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85.

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FAQs

**Q: Do I need to watch all of Stranger Things before Tales from ’85?**

Not necessarily — while knowing Seasons 2 and 3 helps, the new character Nikki Baxter is specifically designed to guide first-time viewers into the world of Hawkins.

**Q: Is Tales from ’85 suitable for kids?**

Yes! It’s rated TV-PG and built around the feel of classic ’80s Saturday morning cartoons, making it far more family-friendly than the original series.