The first six minutes of Netflix’s 3D animated spinoff series Stranger Things: Tales From '85 have been released online, giving audiences an early glimpse at the latest chapter in the franchise’s growing universe, ahead of its official premiere on the streamer on April 23.
Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for Stranger Things: Tales From '85.
The first six minutes were shared by Netflix India. Set in Hawkins during the winter, the first episode, titled “Welcome to Hawkins, New Kid,” begins with a lone scientist in a hazmat suit tracking an unidentified creature through a snowy forest. The encounter escalates rapidly, establishing a darker opening than some viewers might expect from the animated format, before cutting into a refreshed version of the iconic title sequence.
The familiar musical theme is briefly disrupted by new audio elements, signalling a major tonal shift for the series. You can watch the full first six minutes of the new series below:
Related: ‘Stranger Things' Season 5 Causes Franchise Retcon : Disney Fanatic
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 launches officially on Netflix on April 23.
It features an entirely new voice cast, which includes Luca Diaz (Mike), Alessandra Antonelli (Nancy), Alysia Reiner (Karen), Jolie Hoang-Rappaport (Max), Elisha Williams (Lucas), Brooklyn Davey Norstedt (Eleven), Brett Gipson (Jim), Braxton Quinney (Dustin), Ben Plessala (Will), Odessa A’zion (Nikki Baxter), Jeremy Jordan (Steve Harrington), and Jonathan (voice actor not confirmed).
Per Netflix, the official logline for the series reads:
“In the winter of 1985, snow blankets the town and the horrors of the Upside Down are finally fading. Our heroes Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max have settled back into a normal life of D&D, snowball fights, and quiet days. But beneath the ice, something terrifying has awakened. Could it be from the Upside Down? From the depths of Hawkins Lab? Or from somewhere else entirely? Our heroes must race to solve this mystery and save Hawkins in this new story set in the Stranger Things universe.”
This new release arrives as the streamer continues to expand Stranger Things beyond its main flagship series, which concluded with Season 5 in December.
The fifth and final season drew a mixed response from fans, however, despite that reaction, the platform has maintained its focus on expanding the property through multiple formats, including gaming collaborations and additional narrative tie-ins.
Other future projects include a filmed version of The First Shadow stage play and a live-action spinoff exploring the mysterious “briefcase rock” introduced in the Season 5 finale.
Are you excited about Tales From ’85? What do you think about the new cast taking over these iconic characters? Let us know in the comments below!
