Stranger Things fans can finally mark their calendars, spin-off animated series gets a release date

The Upside Down is not closing its doors anytime soon. Stranger Things is officially stretching its universe with Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, and Netflix has now confirmed when fans can jump back into Hawkins. The animated spin-off lands on Netflix on April 23, 2026, with a newly released teaser offering the first proper look at what’s coming.

Set during the winter of 1985, the series sits neatly between seasons two and three. That timeline alone should ring alarm bells for longtime fans. This was peak bike-riding, walkie-talkie-carrying Hawkins era, when things were already strange but about to get much worse.

Everything we know about the Stranger Things spin-off series

The teaser reveals a lot about what we can expect from the spin-off series. Tales From ’85 brings back the full Hawkins crew, including Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Max; this time reimagined in animation. The trailer leans heavily into recognisability for its ardent fans. The snow-dusted streets, the shared looks of panic, and the sense that something is very wrong all echo classic Stranger Things beats.

Steve Harrington also returns, with a new character named Natalie. His accidental slip-up, calling her Nancy, is the kind of small moment fans will instantly clock. It is fan service, but the good kind.

The animated series is developed by Eric Robles, with Shawn Levy and the Duffer Brothers on board as executive producers. Robles has described the show as one continuous mystery rather than an episodic reset, which should reassure anyone worried this might feel disposable. The idea is simple: follow the kids through one unfolding problem, not a neatly wrapped scare every episode.

Visually, the animation has already become a talking point. If you’ve watched the teaser, you’ll immediately notice that the characters look younger, softer, and more expressive, without drifting into parody. It feels less like a gimmick and more like an extension of the universe that has captured so many hearts.

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What we do know is that Tales From ’85 is not replacing the main series, but it is keeping the world alive while fans wait for what comes next. If you ever wondered what happened in the quieter gaps between seasons, this looks like Netflix’s answer: snow, nostalgia, and another mystery Hawkins definitely did not ask for.