Netflix Announces ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85’ Animated Spinoff

Set in Hawkins during the winter of 1985, the series bridges Seasons 2 and 3 with new supernatural mysteries.

Summary

• Netflix announces animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, expanding the franchise with new Hawkins stories set after Season 3
• Set to release in 2026, the teaser video hints at lingering supernatural mysteries

Netflix has officially announced Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, a new addition to the franchise that revisits the eerie aftermath of Hawkins in 1985.

The teaser trailer hints at the continuation of supernatural mysteries, with the tagline “Something survived in ‘85” suggesting that the events following Season 3 still hold untold stories. Positioned as a companion project to the main series, Tales From ‘85 expands the Stranger Things universe by exploring fresh narratives set against the familiar backdrop of Hawkins, while maintaining the nostalgic tone that has defined the show since its debut in 2016.

The show will premiere on Netflix in 2026, with creators Matt and Ross Duffer noting in the announcement video that the idea was “one of our first ideas” for expanding the Stranger Things universe. The project fully embraces the animated format, which, according to the creators, gives the team “no limits” to “go wild” and allows them to successfully “evoke a feeling of an ’80s cartoon” while capturing the “magic of Hawkins in a new way.”