View source for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85

{{Construction}}{{Television series
|title = ''Stranger Things: Tales From ’85''
|image = Stranger Things Title.png
|genre = 
<div class="hlist">
*Supernatural
*Drama
*Science fiction
*Horror
</div>
|seasons = [[Stranger Things: Tales From '85/Season 1|1]]
|episode_count = 
|starring = *TBA
|executives = 
*[[Duffer Brothers|Matt Duffer]]
*[[Duffer Brothers|Ross Duffer]]
*[[Eric Robles]]
*[[Shawn Levy]]
*[[Dan Cohen]]
|country_of_origin = United States
|original_language = English
|broadcaster = [[Netflix]]
|premiere = {{year|2026}}<ref name=collider/>
|predecessor = ''[[Stranger Things]]''
|successor = }}
'''''Stranger Things: Tales From ’85'''''<ref name=title>[https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/stranger-things-animated-series-news Stranger Things Animated Series Unveils Official Title]</ref> is an upcoming animated American sci-fi television series that is a [[:Category:Stranger Things spin-offs|spin-off]] of the Netflix series, ''[[Stranger Things]]''.<ref name="netflixorders"/> It will stream on [[Netflix]] in {{year|2026}}.<ref name=collider/>

Developed by [[Eric Robles]] and [[Flying Bark Productions]], ''Tales From ‘85'' will be executive-produced by Robles, the [[Duffer Brothers]] via [[Upside Down Pictures]], and [[Shawn Levy]] and [[Dan Cohen]] of [[21 Laps Entertainment]].<ref name="netflixorders">"[https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/stranger-things-animated-series-netflix-1235577171/  ‘Stranger Things’ Animated Series Ordered at Netflix]" ''Variety''. April 10, 2023.</ref>

==Synopsis==
Welcome back to [[Hawkins]] in the stark winter of {{year|1985}}, where the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town in ''Stranger Things: Tales From ’85'', an epic new animated series.<ref name=collider>[https://collider.com/stranger-things-animated-series-plot-details-release-window-tales-from-85-netflix/ "‘Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85’ Animated Series Premieres First Footage and Reveals What It’s About"] ''Collider''. June 11, 2025.</ref>

==Cast and Characters==
===Main Cast===
*TBA as [[Jim Hopper]]<ref name=collider/>
*TBA as [[Eleven]]<ref name=collider/>
*TBA as [[Mike Wheeler]]<ref name=collider/>
*TBA as [[Dustin Henderson]]<ref name=collider/>
*TBA as [[Lucas Sinclair]]<ref name=collider/>
*TBA as [[Will Byers]]<ref name=collider/>
*TBA as [[Max Mayfield]]<ref name=collider/>
*TBA as [[Nikki Baxter]]<ref name=collider/>

==Seasons==
TBA

==Episodes==
TBA

==Production==
{{MainArticle|pagename = [[:Category:Production|Category:Production]]}}
===Development===
[[File:Stranger Things 5 Announcement.jpg|thumb]]
As part of the announcement of [[Stranger Things/Season 4|Season 4]]'s release dates on {{date|February 17|2022}}, the [[Duffer Brothers]] hinted the ''[[Stranger Things]]'' universe would expand with spinoffs.<ref name=ST5>[https://www.instagram.com/p/CaFZa4yOZd3/ Stranger Things 5 officially announced with Season 4 release dates]</ref>

On {{date|December 23|2022}}, a report by ''What's on Netflix'' claimed that one of the spin-offs will be an anime series called ''Stranger Things: Tokyo'', planned to be around six hours long. The report included a brief overview of the show's premise: ''"An encounter with the Upside Down evolves into a grand adventure for video game-loving twin brothers living on the outskirts of 1980s Tokyo."'' However, the details from the report were not confirmed by either the Duffer Brothers or Netflix, and seemed to be in conflict with later revelations about the series.<ref name=tokyo>[https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-planning-stranger-things-tokyo-anime-spin-off/ "Netflix Planning ‘Stranger Things Tokyo’ Anime Series Spin-off"] ''What's on Netflix''. December 23, 2022.</ref>

A report from ''Variety'' published on {{date|April 10|2023}}, confirmed an animated spin-off was in development, though the Duffers provided no further description of the show's story. In a statement, the Duffers said the following: 
{{Quote|We've always dreamed of an animated 'Stranger Things' in the vein of the Saturday morning cartoons that we grew up loving, and to see this dream realized has been absolutely thrilling. We couldn't be more blown away by what Eric Robles and his team have come up with — the scripts and artwork are incredible, and we can't wait to share more with you! The adventure continues...|The [[Duffer Brothers]]<ref name="netflixorders" />}}
The report revealed the spinoff was being developed by [[Eric Robles]] and [[Flying Bark Productions]], who previously created the animated shows ''Random! Cartoons'', ''Fanboy & Chum Chum'', and ''Glitch Techs''. Furthermore, the report stated the show will be executive-produced by Robles, the [[Duffer Brothers]] (via [[Upside Down Pictures]]), and [[Shawn Levy]] and [[Dan Cohen]] (via [[21 Laps Entertainment]]).

It was later revealed that the Duffers' first idea for expanding the ''Stranger Things'' universe was via a cartoon; they hoped the new series would evoke the same feeling as watching an old '80s cartoon.<ref name=collider/> The animated series ''The Real Ghostbusters'' was a particularly major inspiration for the series:

{{Quote|[The Real Ghostbusters] was silly but had a handful of dark, creepy episodes and we just kept talking about that. That became the north star for us.|[[Eric Robles]]<ref name="deadline" />}}

Other inspirations included ''Transformers'', ''E.T.'' and ''Goosebumps''.<ref name="deadline">[https://deadline.com/2025/06/stranger-things-tales-from-85-netflix-reveals-early-footage-1236430701/ "‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’: Netflix Treats Fans To Early Animation & Designs As Showrunner Reveals The “North Star” Series That Inspired Him"] ''Deadline''. June 11, 2025.</ref>

[[File:Meybis Ruiz Cruz - El art.jpeg|thumb|190px|<center>[[Meybis Ruiz Cruz]]'s fan art for [[Eleven]]</center>]]
Though the series originally had a "Saturday morning cartoon look", the creators realized the animation should feature CG animation and a more realistic look to reflect the intended stakes and tone of the story (one where "not everyone might survive")<ref name="deadline" />. The new visual style was largely informed by the stylised fan art of ''Stranger Things'' characters made by [[Meybis Ruiz Cruz]], which Eric Robles called "a gamechanger". Ruiz Cruz was ultimately brought on board to create character busts as a base for the CG character models.<ref name=collider/>

One of the first CG tests was done in August 2023, taking an image of the [[Byers House (Hawkins)|Byers house]] and making it CG. The team also reached out to [[Carlos Huante]] to help design the creatures for the show.<ref name=collider/>

==Marketing==
On {{date|April 23|2025}}, Netflix revealed the title of the series,<ref name=title/> and ''What's on Netflix'' reported that the series had been given a two-season upfront order, which has been operating under the working title of PROJECT MIRKWOOD.<ref>[https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/stranger-things-tales-from-85-animated-spin-off-series-reveals-title/ ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’: Animated Stranger Things Spin-off Series Reveals Title] ''What's on Netflix''. April 23, 2025.</ref>

On {{date|June 11|2025}}, during the Annecy Animation Festival in France, Netflix presented the first footage from ''Stranger Things: Tales From ’85''. The footage, which was prefaced by a brief message from the Duffer Brothers, showed various locations around [[Hawkins]], including a school lab, Hopper’s house, the [[Palace Arcade]], and the exterior of [[Hawkins National Laboratory|Hawkins Lab]]. Various familiar characters were shown ([[Mike Wheeler]], [[Will Byers]], [[Eleven]], [[Dustin Henderson]], [[Lucas Sinclair]], [[Max Mayfield]], and [[Jim Hopper]]), though the voice actors were not announced. Netflix also released the first synopsis for the series, which confirmed that the series takes place in the winter of {{year|1984}}-{{year|1985}} (between ''[[Stranger Things 2]]'' and ''[[Stranger Things 3]]''). In addition, a new character, “a tinker" called [[Nikki Baxter]], was revealed. The synopsis promises “a paranormal mystery” and “new monsters”.<ref name=collider/>

{{References}}{{ItaliTitle}}
[[Category:Television-format series]]
[[Category:Stranger Things spin-offs]]
[[Category:Stranger Things: Tales From ’85]]