‘Stranger Things’ Getting More Kid-Friendly Makeover as Main Series Winds Down
As Stranger Things nears the end of its flagship run after five seasons across nine years, Netflix has already found an interesting way to keep audiences engaged with the franchise. The main series has always drawn viewers across multiple age groups, but Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 seems designed to reach an even younger demographic.
A teaser recently released by Netflix includes commentary from creators Matt and Ross Duffer and showrunner/executive producer Eric Robles. While the show still looks as dark and as mysterious as its live-action counterpart, it will most likely draw those younger viewers simply because it’s animated. The main series is already popular with kids, despite featuring plenty of genuine moments of horror. Watch the featurette/teaser below:
Set between seasons 2 and 3, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is a 3D animated series that expands the story of Hawkins while maintaining the essence of the original show. In a similar way to how Camp Cretaceous and Chaos Theory introduced a new generation of viewers to the Jurassic universe, Netflix appears to be aiming for the same effect here.
The animation style, inspired by classic 1980s cartoons like The Real Ghostbusters, which Robles revealed earlier this year, will allow the series explore horror and suspense in a slightly softer, more stylized way. Although, with that said, the Ghostbusters cartoon is as edgy and as unsettling as they come. Who knows — Tales From ’85 may end up being even creepier than the flagship series.
Actors from the original show, such as Millie Bobby Brown, Natalia Dyer, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp, will not be reprising their roles. Instead, the series will feature a new voice cast taking on the familiar roles. Brett Gipson voices Jim Hopper, Luca Diaz is Mike Wheeler, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt plays Eleven, Braxton Quinney steps in as Dustin Henderson, Elisha Williams is Lucas Sinclair, Ben Plessala voices Will Byers, and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport brings Max Mayfield to life.
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Tales From ’85 is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in 2026.
Stranger Things seasons 1 — 4 and Season 5 Volume 1 are now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 will premiere on December 25 and the finale will premiere on December 31.
Are you excited about Tales From ’85? Let us know in the comments below!
