Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 Revealed – Where The New Animated Series Fits Into The Show’s Timeline

Netflix brings Stranger Things into a new space with Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, an animated series that seamlessly integrates into the world fans already know. Stranger Things remains one of the platform’s biggest titles in sci-fi, horror, and fantasy, and even as season 5 prepares to close the main story, the universe keeps growing with fresh ideas. The first look at the new animated show debuted at the 2025 Annecy Animation Festival in France, adding a new layer while retaining the familiar energy of Hawkins.

Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 Storyline And Cast

Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 takes place in 1985 during winter. The preview confirmed the arrival of new characters, with the most notable being a tinker named Nikki Baxter, who stands out with her pinkish hair. The story still follows the Hawkins crew that fans are familiar with. Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas return in animated form, but their original live-action actors do not provide their voices. The series brings in a new cast to portray the younger versions of these characters.

The show also places the group in the middle of fresh dangers from the Upside Down. The trailer already shows young Demogorgons and hints at a new paranormal threat that hits the town. It requires no special mention that Hawkins once again turns to the same group of kids who have faced every strange event since the beginning, and their story now expands through moments that were never shown in the main series.