Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 first look teases return to Hawkins with classic characters

The Stranger Things world is expanding. While Netflix's breakthrough sci-fi horror series is set to conclude with Season 5 in November 2025, the Duffer Brothers are expanding the Hawkins lore with a new animated series, titled Stranger Things: Tales from '85.

Created by Eric Robles and executive produced by Matt and Ross Duffer, the first teaser for the animated series was unveiled at the Annecy International Animation Festival in France.

The Duffer brothers have expressed the impact of 80s horror films and cartoons on their childhood, and this new animated series will be a homage to the Saturday Morning cartoons they grew up watching.

Reportedly, the animated series was initially envisioned with the Saturday Morning cartoon aesthetic. However, after the Duffer Brothers realised that the stakes for the characters would be intense, they opted for a CGI animation instead.

It was not confirmed whether the new series will be considered canon, but it features many returning characters from the parent series and also includes many iconic locations from Hawkins.

More on Stranger Things: Tales of '85 in our story.

Which OG characters can you expect in Stranger Things: Tales of '85?

While Eleven and her friends will return for a final chapter in November 2025, the Hawkins story is far from over. As the title suggests, Stranger Things: Tales of '85 will be set in the Winter of 1985 in Hawkins, Indiana.

The official logline for Tales for '85 reads as follows:

''Welcome back to Hawkins in the stark winter of 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.''

Canonically, the animated series will be set between seasons 2 and 3. Fans can expect OG characters like Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, Eleven, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Max Mayfield, and Jim Hopper to return in the upcoming show.

In addition, a new character was also introduced, named Nikki Baxter, a 'tinker' with pink short hair on the sides. The series will likely include more new characters, but only a small glimpse of Nikki was included in the teaser.

In addition to the OG characters, the teaser also featured many iconic locations, including the school in a lab, children on bikes, Hopper's house, Hawkins National Laboratory, and the Arcade.

Stranger Things: Tales of '85 will feature the best of both worlds, the feel of Saturday morning cartoons and modern animation.

It is not yet confirmed whether the original voice actors will return for the animation series. Since the animated series will be set in the parent series' universe from Seasons 2 and 3, the fates of original characters will already be known.

However, the show will create tension and feature high-stakes drama for characters like Nikki and more original characters. The synopsis also teases new monsters and otherworldly creatures. While Vecna and the Mind Flayer were popular monsters from the parent series, it remains to be seen which new creatures will make their animated debut.

Stranger Things Season 5 will release in three Volumes. Volume 1 will debut on Netflix on November 26 and will conclude with the finale on December 31, 2025.

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