A New Chapter in the Stranger Things Universe
After the final season of Stranger Things premiered on January 1, 2026, Netflix continued its journey in Hawkins, Indiana. The main series may have ended, but the fascination with the Upside Down lives on. With Tales from '85, Netflix turned to animation to explore new aspects of the franchise, positioning the spin-off as a bridge between two landmark seasons.
The story unfolds during winter 1985. Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Eleven, and Max face more paranormal occurrences and new creatures from the Upside Down. Hawkins' signature atmosphere is recaptured as the group revisits familiar locations like the Hawkins lab while encountering even more menacing monsters.
The Creative Team and Visual Style
Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer returned as executive producers alongside Matt Thiele and Eric Robles, the latter leading the creation of this animated series. The look and feel are both reminiscent and refreshed—the show balances '80s nostalgia, suspense, and pop culture, but takes a brighter, more family-friendly visual approach compared to the live-action series.
Tales from '85 is officially part of the Stranger Things canon, but it's also designed to stand alone for newcomers. Its storyline is set firmly between seasons 2 and 3, letting Hawkins’ story continue naturally instead of piggybacking on the main show's finale.
Animation and Voice Cast
Teasers and the first footage revealed carefully crafted 2D animation, with Flying Bark Productions handling the backgrounds and overall aesthetics. The showrunners aimed to “capture the magic of Hawkins” from a new perspective, using animation to expand the universe with new creatures and action scenes that go beyond what was possible in live-action.
The core characters are back, but their voices are now performed by a fresh lineup of voice actors: Brooklyn Davey Norstedt voices Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport portrays Max, Luca Diaz plays Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams is Lucas, Braxton Quinney takes on Dustin, Benjamin Plessala voices Will, and Brett Gipson is Jim Hopper. New cast members include Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips, though details about their roles had not been revealed at the time of the show's release. The shift to animation gives performers more flexibility while maintaining the iconic visual and emotional identity of the characters.
How to Watch: Stranger Things, Now Animated
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is streaming exclusively on Netflix as of April 23, 2026. For viewers in France, several Canal+ packages began to include standard Netflix access, making it easier to binge-watch without juggling several subscriptions. For those under 26, the Rat+ Ciné Séries offer provided a similar bundle at a lower price, giving access to a wide catalog of shows, movies, and sports alongside the new Stranger Things spin-off.
Before reporting on streaming platforms, I built my background in writing and web journalism through more technical subjects.
