How Is ‘Stranger Things: Tales From '85’ Connected To ‘Stranger Things’?

Who voices the characters on Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85?

What’s the deal with the new animated Stranger Things series? Officially titled Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, this family friendly show kind of fits into the main show like a cartoon puzzle.

The spin-off is neither a prequel or a sequel. But it is set in Hawkins between two seasons of Stranger Things. Technically there is a word for that: midquel. Like Lion King 1 1/2! But anyway, back to Tales From ‘85, the show is about most of the same characters you followed on the original Stranger Things. Eleven and Mike and Lucas and Dustin and Will and Steve and Hopper… the gang’s all here!

It’s also not the only Stranger Things supplemental story that adds to the franchise. There are books, comics, and a stage show set in this universe. This is just the first one that has been on Netflix right next to the original show. So what’s the deal?

• Jim Hopper (Brett Gipson)
• Mike Wheeler (Luca Diaz)
• Eleven (Brooklyn Davey Norstedt)
• Dustin Henderson (Braxton Quinney)
• Lucas Sinclair (Elisha Williams)
• Will Byers (Ben Plessala)
• Max Mayfield (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport)
• Steve Harrington (Jeremy Jordan)
• Nancy Wheeler (Alessandra Antonelli)
• Karen Wheeler (Alysia Reiner)

Some notable new characters will show up on Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, Nikki and Anna Baxter, voiced by Odessa A'zion and Janeane Garofalo. Lou Diamond Phillips voices a character named Daniel Fischer.

Finally, Freddy Krueger himself, actor Robert Englund, voices a character called Cosmo. Even the animated Stranger Things can pull in the big guns from horror franchises. He’s probably a villain too, right? I wouldn’t trust a guy named Cosmo. Not in Hawkins, Indiana!

When is the spin-off set in relation to Stranger Things?

The show is set, obviously, in the year 1985. The specific series of events takes place during the winter, which means that it is between season 2 in the fall of 1984 and season 3 in the summer of 1985.

How do we know which winter months we’re talking about? Technically Tales From ‘85 could be set between season 3 and season 4, which took place during March of 1986. But this definitely seems to be a pre-Robin era of Stranger Things. Plus, you can tell by the way Eleven’s hair is styled that it’s not season 4 yet. Maybe, if the animated series returns for a second season, it can cover that that time jump instead.

What is Tales From ‘85 about, exactly?

The official synopsis reads:

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 untold story set in the Stranger Things universe.

Remember that the season 2 finale takes place at the winter formal dance, during a time of relative calm and romance for the gang. In the trailer it’s clear that the kids are just trying to enjoy winter break and show Eleven around town (on their bikes, of course). At least, you know, until disaster strikes.

So it’s, like, canon to the regular Stranger Things?

Uhhhhhh unclear? Yes? Probably? It’s not Stranger Things season 2.5 officially or set in an alternate universe. The show will definitely reference Stranger Things events. But there’s no way for Stranger Things to retroactively reference events from the new series or any of the new characters that they meet along the way. The original series is over! So if that kind of loose relationship to the Stranger Things official canon doesn’t bother you, then… sure! It’s as canon as can be.