An animated return to Hawkins explores a missing chapter between seasons two and three of Stranger Things.
Although Stranger Things officially wrapped up its main storyline with season five, Netflix is not ready to leave Hawkins behind. With Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, the streaming giant is expanding the universe through an animated spin-off that revisits a crucial moment in the timeline and taps deep into 1980s nostalgia.
Untold Events In Hawkins Between Seasons 2 and 3
Produced by the creators of the original series, Tales From ’85 is set during the winter of 1985 and takes place between seasons two and three of the live-action show. This period has long been a blank space in the overall narrative, making the animated format an ideal opportunity to explore what really happened after the Mind Flayer’s first defeat and before the dramatic events at Starcourt Mall.
The story once again centers on Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max. According to teaser material, the group discovers that not all creatures from the Upside Down were eliminated during the season two finale. Hawkins soon finds itself under renewed threat as strange new monsters emerge, including a briefly shown pumpkin-like creature that hints at an even darker mystery lurking beneath the surface of the town.
Tales From ’85 Brings New Faces And 80s Cartoon Style
While familiar characters return, the spin-off also introduces new faces. One of them is Nikki, a character whose role has already sparked debate among fans. Her absence from later seasons raises questions about continuity and whether the series will close existing narrative gaps or unintentionally open new ones. At this point, Netflix has not revealed how central Nikki will be to the overall plot.
Visually, Tales From ’85 leans heavily into the aesthetic of classic 1980s cartoons, blending bold colors and comic-inspired designs with modern animation technology. The result is a style that feels deliberately retro while still meeting contemporary standards. Despite the familiar cast of characters, viewers should expect changes in voice performances, as the animated series features a new voice cast in multiple language versions, including English.
Stranger Things Returns In Animated Spin-Off
Netflix has officially confirmed that Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will premiere worldwide on April 23, 2026, with the global release expected at 9:00 AM CEST. The release is planned as a global launch, meaning the series will become available simultaneously across regions rather than rolling out country by country. What remains unclear, however, is whether all episodes will drop at once or follow a staggered release model similar to previous seasons of the main show.
With its nostalgic look, unexplored timeline, and return to supernatural horror, Tales From ’85 signals that the Stranger Things universe still has stories left to tell. For fans eager to step back into Hawkins and uncover what truly happened during one of its most mysterious winters, the animated spin-off could be a welcome return.
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