Stranger Things Gets Animated in "Stranger Things: Tales From '85"
Netflix has unveiled a featurette, first-look images, and an official cast list for the upcoming animated spin-off Stranger Things: Tales From '85. The announcement came on November 6, the anniversary of Will Byers' disappearance in the series’ first episode, making it a fitting date for the reveal.
Unlike the much-anticipated fifth and final live-action season, this animated adventure reintroduces fans to Hawkins’ familiar heroes — Eleven and Will — as they face a new supernatural threat set between the second and third seasons of the original story. The new series is slated for release in 2026.
A New Paranormal Mystery in Hawkins
The freshly released featurette offers a vivid glimpse into the animation style and introduces terrifying new creatures that await the gang. The creative team, led by showrunner Eric Robles, appears to be embracing the limitless possibilities of animation.
“With animation, there’s really no limits,” said executive producer Ross Duffer. “[Showrunner] Eric [Robles] and his team can just go wild.”
“And they have,” added executive producer Matt Duffer.
First Look at the Monsters
Netflix also shared two exclusive images from the show. One depicts the Hawkins crew preparing for a new adventure, while the other reveals an enormous creature resembling a fusion of a Demogorgon and a spider, its tendrils ensnaring Eleven and her friends.
Author’s Summary
An animated spin-off of Stranger Things, Tales From '85, arrives in 2026, continuing Hawkins’ eerie legacy with fresh animation, familiar heroes, and entirely new monsters.