Netflix
Even after wrapping up its story across five seasons, Stranger Things isn’t staying in the past.
There were rumours more episodes or even a finale rewrite were in the works following divided fan opinion, with many hopeful they hadn’t just witnessed the true ending of the show when season 5 dropped last year.
While there is more to come, just the world of Hawkins, not everything is as it seems.
There will be no more live-action episodes, but an upcoming animated series is in the works to build on the already beloved storyline.
How will the animated series affect the live-action?
Although the animated series and live-action series are set in the same world with all of the same characters, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, will quietly reshape parts of the show’s established lore.
However, these changes will only occur in animated form and the original Netflix show will remain the same.
The upcoming animated series is set during the winter of 1985, positioning it right between seasons 2 and 3 of the original show.
Developed by Eric Robles, the show revisits a period when Hawkins was still recovering from the Mind Flayer’s influence and just before the Russian operation beneath Starcourt Mall began.
The story brings back younger versions of Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max as they confront new supernatural threats while battling another paranormal mystery.
Will the Stranger Things actors return for the animated series?
While we will see animated versions of the beloved characters, the project will feature an entirely new voice cast rather than the original actors.
What is Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 about?
Season 2 focused on Will’s possession by the Mind Flayer, Eleven’s isolation at Hopper’s cabin, and the introduction of Kali.
Season 3 shifted the danger to a more human scale, with Soviet forces secretly attempting to reopen a gate to the Upside Down beneath a shiny new shopping mall.
Tales From ’85 bridges these two chapters, expanding the gap with new creatures and storylines that were never referenced in the main series.
The show is also expected to adopt a lighter, more family-friendly tone compared to the darker moments of later seasons.
Will there be any new characters?
One of the biggest changes introduced by Tales From ’85 is the inclusion of monsters that never appeared in the original five seasons.
This alone suggests a subtle rewriting of the franchise’s internal history, as these threats were never mentioned by the characters in the live-action series.
Even more significant is the introduction of a new character, Nikki Baxter.
Netflix described her as being “taller and bigger than Eleven and her friends,” and a “tough, mohawk-wearing gal fighting new monsters and unravelling a paranormal mystery terrorising their town.”
What are fans saying about the upcoming animation?
Just like the finale of the original show, opinions on Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 are mixed.
One user took to X to write: “This spinoff is gonna explain the mystery away,” a second agreed: “Fr they were killing it with the world building in the beginning just to ruin it by worldsplaining every little thing, to the point that it feels so far astray and devoid of the charm it originally had that first time you see Joyce using the string lights on the wall in Season 1.”
However, a third chimed in: “They realised Seasons 1 & 2 were peak when the show was still full of mystery,” and a fourth added: “Looks great, love the animation style!”
When can I watch Stranger Things: Tales From ’85?
An exact release date has not been announced but it will be sometime this year.
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