At the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 8–14, Annecy, France), Netflix dropped major news in the animation space during its “Netflix Gets Animated” showcase.
New Animated Chapter for Stranger Things Fans
Netflix premiered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of its upcoming animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. Developed by Flying Bark Productions under the creative guidance of showrunner Eric Robles and executive producers Matt & Ross Duffer, the series blends 2D painterly elements with high-end 3D animation. The style draws inspiration from critically acclaimed productions like Spider-Verse and Arcane (m.economictimes.com, whats-on-netflix.com, about.netflix.com).
Plot & Setting Revealed
Set during a cold winter in Hawkins between Seasons 2 and 3, the series brings back familiar faces—Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Max, and Hopper—facing new Upside-Down creatures such as vine hybrids and snow sharks. Characters like tech-savvy newcomer Nikki Baxter join the group, and early story details hinted at paranormal threats tied to Hawkins Lab (m.economictimes.com).
Animation Style & Visual Inspiration
Flying Bark showcased concept art and animatics at Annecy. The style merges nostalgic 1980s Saturday-morning cartoon vibes (à la The Real Ghostbusters) with modern cinematic visuals seen in Arcane and Spider-Verse. Vibrant color palettes and stylized CGI enhance the eerie Upside Down setting (sportskeeda.com).
Release Timeline
Netflix confirmed that Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is an official part of the show’s canon, with a target premiere in late 2026 (m.economictimes.com).
