The time has come, the Vecna said, to talk of many things… Many stranger things. Even though we just said goodbye to Stranger Things in the early days of 2026, the series is ALREADY back again. And you know what, we were feeling empty without Stranger Things in our lives. So we welcome it. Get ready for the official trailer for Stranger Things: Tales of ’85. You can check it out below.
What Happens in Stranger Things: Tales of ’85 Trailer?
“Things are finally back to normal,” the trailer begins, with our favorite Party, now in animated form, back where they belong, on their bikes. There’s Will, Lucas, Max, and Mike with Eleven on his bike. He’s excited to finally get to show El some of their other favorite hangout spots. Lucas thinks Mike is wayyyy too obsessed with El, but Max wants him to step up his own game. This all tracks because Mike and El can’t get enough of one another in Stranger Things 3… but, of course, that doesn’t last. Remember, “I dump your ass?” Classic.
Dustin and Steve Ride Again
In any case, the Stranger Things: Tales of ’85 trailer continues with a ton of animated fun to get us started… Because YES, there it is, our favorite Stranger Things relationship arrives in animation, with Dustin and Steve hanging out. I screeched in delight to see them again. After all, they were by and far the best part of Stranger Things 5. “I kind of realized I have to go back to being some an ordinary kid… I guess I like the idea of another adventure, you know?” Dustin tells Steve… Well… don’t get too ahead of yourself. There’s A LOT of adventure left for you in the world of Stranger Things.
The Party Has a Little Bit of Light-Hearted Time
But, at least for a minute, everyone gets to have a laugh as they go all in on a snowball fight. It IS nice to see The Party getting to hang out altogether. We loved their many side quests and individual adventures, but it would be amazing to see them as one unit more often in Stranger Things: Tales of ’85.
New Character, Nikki Baxter, Arrives in This Animated Stranger Things Trailer
Of course, the trailer for Stranger Things: Tales of ’85 gives us a good look at new character, Nikki Baxter, who is “super punk rock,” and “the barbarian and the protector [of the crew].” Nikki’s voice actress, Odessa A’zion, shares, “They had everything, and she was the missing puzzle piece. You need a little muscle in that crew.” Well, don’t say that around Steve, but okay. Looks like Nikki is going to meet an Upside Down monster and send everyone back into the dark world we know and love. Is that a… Demo-scorpion? No thanks! Good thing El and the gang are there to save the day.
Is the Gate to the Upside Down Closed in Stranger Things: Tales of ‘85?
We know, thanks to Stranger Things 3, that the gate to the Upside Down IS closed in Stranger Things: Tales of ’85, but some parts of the Mind Flayer are still flying about. Where did it come from, then? El wonders that in this animated Stranger Things trailer. Dustin is pretty sure some stuff from the Upside Down must have survived. And well… he’s right. Cue the many Upside Down monsters coming for us as Nikki tries to understand what the heck is going on. But she does think El is pretty cool. And just like that, the Party is back on. They have to stop those things from hurting other people.
Pumpkin Monsters and More, Ahoy!
Are those Stranger Things pumpkin monsters, we spy? It sure looks like it. And Dustin?! With Steve’s bat?!! Like father, like son, we always say. “I thought this Upside Down stuff was over, Henderson!!!” God, we’ve missed Steve.
After that, it’s epic battles and squaring off against MORE Upside Down monsters, with a little Hopper and a little Nancy for taste.
Well, you know. We’re in. But we need Stranger Things: Tales From ’86 next, so we can get some more Eddie Munson in our lives. Deal? (In the meantime, don’t miss his official Dungeons & Dragons adventures!)
When Does Stranger Things: Tales of ’85 Take Place?
This new Stranger Things animated series takes place in the winter of 1985, after the devastating events of season two but before the traumatic summer of season three. How we’ll manage to get this to fit into the story without something needing to change, we don’t yet know, but we’re about to find out.
Stranger Things: Tales of ’85 Trailer Official Synopsis
In addition to the trailer, here is the official synopsis for the Stranger Things animated series, “Return to Hawkins with Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an exciting new animated series from showrunner Eric Robles and executive producers the Duffer Brothers. In the winter of 1985, snow blankets the town and the horrors of the Upside Down are finally fading. Our heroes Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max have settled back into a normal life of D&D, snowball fights, and quiet days. But beneath the ice, something terrifying has awakened. Could it be from the Upside Down? From the depths of Hawkins Lab? Or from somewhere else entirely? Our heroes must race to solve this mystery and save Hawkins in this new story set in the Stranger Things universe.”
When Does the Animated Stranger Things Series Release?
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 releases on April 23, 2026, with 10 episodes, each 30 minutes long. It will stream on Netflix.
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