Since the earliest teasers broke in April 2025, Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer have been steadily drumming up excitement for the franchise’s first animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. And with the announcement came the reassurance that Hawkins is not going anywhere. The reception has been mixed but intensely engaged.

Early teasers promise a blend of nostalgia with fresh visual energy, hinting at a new chapter that still feels true to Hawkins and its mythology.

When speaking about Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, Matt and Ross Duffer have sought to reassure fans that the animated format will not diminish the franchise’s trademark tone. After the final trailer dropped and a 2026 release in queue, speculations about the storyline is on a rise.

“I think people are going to be really surprised by how good that is. If you love the show the most around Seasons 2 and 3, I think you’re going to love the cartoon. And it's not that “kiddie.” It's a monster show,” Matt Duffer told Collider.

"It's going to appeal to everybody," added Matt Duffer. Development of Tales From ’85 has progressed steadily since its official Netflix announcement in April 2025. The animated series is executive produced by the Duffers along with Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, and showrunner Eric Robles, with animation by Flying Bark Productions. It is set in the winter of 1985, positioned between Seasons 2 and 3 of the original live-action series.

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The storyline may have ended, but the Upside Down has not gone quiet. With subtle hints already planted, it is time to look at who is returning to Hawkins and what else the Duffer Brothers are building beyond it.

The most immediate continuation of the Stranger Things world arrives through Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The confirmed voice cast includes Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will, and Brett Gipson as Hopper. According to the Duffers, animation removes limitations, allowing the creative team to push the horror, scope, and spectacle further than before.

Produced under the Duffer’s Upside Down Pictures banner, the series signals a tonal evolution. While Stranger Things has officially reached its end, the world Matt and Ross Duffer built is clearly still evolving. From an animated return to 1985 Hawkins to bold, standalone horror stories, the brothers are carrying forward the DNA of the Upside Down.

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Are you ready to revisit Hawkins in animated form? Share your thoughts, theories, and hopes with us below.