The Stranger Things franchise is expanding once again, but this time, it’s heading into uncharted territory: animation. Netflix has finally unveiled the official title of its upcoming animated entry in the Upside Down universe — Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 — and while the name evokes some serious throwback vibes, it comes with a twist that might surprise fans of the original series.
This new project, which has been quietly in development since its initial announcement in 2023, won’t feature the voices or likenesses of the cast that made the sci-fi juggernaut a household name. Instead, Netflix is ushering in a completely fresh take on the world of Hawkins, spearheaded by the original creators — but with an entirely new direction.
Matt and Ross Duffer, who brought Stranger Things to life, are once again at the helm of this latest expansion through their production company, Upside Down Pictures. They’ll serve as executive producers alongside longtime collaborators Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen from 21 Laps, with Eric Robles and Flying Bark Productions handling the animation. (That’s the same animation studio also producing Netflix’s upcoming Ghostbusters animated series, so expect high-caliber visuals.)
Netflix is keeping plot details under wraps, but the title — Tales From ’85 — seems to hint at an episodic or anthology structure. Whether this will explore new characters within the existing Hawkins timeline or branch out into entirely new stories is still unknown. What we do know is that this spinoff is aiming to recapture the nostalgic flair of Saturday morning cartoons, a vision the Duffers have been eager to realize.
“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,” the Duffer Brothers said in an official statement to Netflix’s Tudum. “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…”
That adventure, however, will not include the original cast. According to insiders, the series will move forward without returning characters or actors from the live-action run. And with Stranger Things Season 5 currently in production and being positioned as the final chapter for Eleven and her friends, this feels like a strategic decision to differentiate this new spinoff from what came before.
Perhaps most telling is Millie Bobby Brown’s own perspective. The actress, who became synonymous with the character Eleven, has been candid in recent interviews about her desire to move beyond the franchise. She’s compared her time on Stranger Things to “graduating high school,” signaling her interest in new projects, including blockbuster films and entrepreneurial ventures. Brown’s creative priorities have clearly shifted, and an animated comeback doesn’t appear to be on her radar.
As for Tales From ’85, it will be part of Netflix’s animation showcase at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where select attendees will get the first glimpse of what the streaming giant has been cooking up. There’s no word yet on a public release date, but Netflix promises the series is “coming soon.”
With Season 5 poised to close the door on the original story, Stranger Things is gearing up to evolve into something completely new. Whether fans embrace this animated revival or view it as a spin-off too far remains to be seen. But for the creators, the mission is clear: the Upside Down isn’t done with us yet — it’s just taking a new shape.
