Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is an animated spin-off series from the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. Set in the winter of 1985 in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, right between the events of the original series’ second and third seasons, it reunites fans with their beloved core group of kids: Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max. The story follows these young heroes as they settle back into everyday life after their previous battles against the Upside Down, only to face fresh paranormal mysteries and a new breed of otherworldly threats terrorizing their town. Blending ’80s nostalgia, supernatural horror, friendship, and coming-of-age moments, the series aims to capture the spirit of the original while delivering a lighter, more cartoonish take through vibrant and stylised animation.
Welcome To Hawkins, New Kid kicks things off with a chilling cold open that immediately pulls you back into the eerie atmosphere of Hawkins. A mysterious figure in a yellow hazmat suit pursues and then incinerates a small grotesque creature that clearly has ties to the Upside Down. As the remains burn, glowing green spores drift through the air and settle into the thick blanket of snow covering the town. It’s a strong, atmospheric start that hints at something sinister is literally growing beneath the surface.
The episode then shifts focus to the gang enjoying a rare moment of normalcy. Mike and Eleven’s budding romance gets some brief screen time, while Dustin’s endless chatter and Lucas’s level-headedness provide the familiar banter that made the original series so endearing. Will’s quiet sensitivity and Max’s tough exterior round out the group dynamics nicely. All the main character’s are acting as you would expect, the problem is , as this is a new batch of actors, they don’t sound right. The performances aren’t bad, it’s just that the voices are going to take time to get used to.
The new kid from the title is Nikki, daughter of the substitute science teacher (voiced by Janeane Garofalo). Nikki is a lonely outcast with a vibe that fits with our heroes. She quickly crosses paths with the group, stopping Will from taking a beat from the school bully. The problem with adding new characters into the mix is that the don’t appear in the live action show. This puts focus on the writing and immediately you are wondering how they are going to explain the character’s absence from the live action show.
Visually, the animation is impressive and clearly a lot of effort has gone into the design. The snow-covered streets, and neon-tinged ’80s aesthetics pop on screen. The creature designs in the opening and the subtle hints of sprouting horrors under the snow are creepy in a kid-friendly way. The glowing spores and writhing vines evoke the Demogorgon without copying it outright.
At times, the storytelling feels a bit thin and setup-heavy, prioritising character reintroduction and world-building over immediate high-stakes action. The gang spends a good portion of the runtime just hanging out—playing games, dealing with minor school bullies, and exchanging quips. While this nostalgia bait is fun and captures the charm of early Stranger Things, it just rehashes stuff we have seen in live-action. The horror elements are present but dialled back to fit the Saturday morning aesthetic, making the threats feel more like eerie preludes than full-blown terror.
Fortunately the episode moves pretty quick and doesn’t have the bloated runtime of the latter episodes of the flagship show, so you don’t have time to dwell on the flaws while watching it. It builds intrigue through the spore mystery and the vines that start snatching people (including a couple of Dustin’s tormentors, which delivers a satisfying comeuppance with a supernatural twist), but it doesn’t fully explode into chaos. Eleven’s powers get a workout in a rescue sequence that’s thrilling yet brief, reminding us why she’s the group’s powerhouse. However, her training and protective instincts toward her friends are touched on without much depth here, leaving room for growth in future episodes.
This opening chapter is solid, if somewhat safe, re-entry point into the Stranger Things universe. It recaptures the camaraderie and small-town weirdness, while the animation opens up creative possibilities for monster designs and visual flair that might not have been feasible in live action. The introduction of parasitic, plant-like horrors evolving from Upside Down remnants promises an escalating mystery that could pay off nicely across the season.
It’s not reinventing the wheel, but for a spin-off aimed at a slightly younger audience or those wanting a lighter revisit, it delivers enjoyable entertainment. It sets up questions about the new monsters, Nikki’s role, and how this all fits (or doesn’t perfectly) into the broader timeline. While it doesn’t reach the emotional or suspenseful heights of classic Stranger Things, the basics are all there. I’m curious to see how the mystery unfolds and will it retroactively add any depth to what has come before.
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