Stranger Things: Tales From '85 teaser: Netflix unveils teaser of the animated prequel set to release on April 23

As a new story set in Hawkins is set to unfold, Netflix shared the teaser clip on its official handle on Monday.

• Stranger Things animated series debuts April 23, 2026 on Netflix
• Familiar Hawkins gang returns in animated form to face new humanoid monsters
• Original actors replaced by new voice cast for this animated prequel series

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The much-anticipated teaser for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 was released by the makers on Monday, February 2.

As a new story set in Hawkins is set to unfold, Netflix shared the teaser clip on its official handle on Monday. The familiar Hawkins gang — Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Eleven, and Max Mayfield — return, along with fan-favourite characters such as Steve Harrington and Jim Hopper.

The streamer captioned the post, "Something from the Upside Down must’ve survived… Stranger Things: Tales From '85 premieres April 23, only on Netflix."

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The animated series is scheduled to premiere on April 23, 2026. Created by showrunner Eric Robles and Stranger Things co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer, Tales From ’85 takes place in the Stranger Things universe between Seasons 2 and 3, featuring characters that fans are already familiar with.

All characters will return in a younger, animated form to confront humanoid monsters emerging from a parallel dimension.

Netflix shared the teaser on Monday, confirming that Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is set to hit the streaming platform on April 23. Ross Duffer told Netflix’s companion site Tudum, “With animation there’s really no limits.”

The animated prequel is designed to take viewers back to Hawkins during a time when the Upside Down still posed a significant threat. The lead cast — Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Steve, Hopper, and Max — will appear in animated versions of their younger selves, facing humanoid monsters from the parallel dimension.

Also read: Stranger Things Tales From '85 Poster OUT, teaser to drop on THIS date

In the teaser, Jim Hopper is heard warning Mike, “Anything happens to her, these woods hide a lot of mistakes.” In another scene, Dustin tells his friends, “Something from the Upside Down must have survived last year.” The clip also shows the gang coming together for one of Mike’s campaigns.

However, the original actors will not be returning as voice artists. New voices joining the Hawkins adventure include Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, Brett Gipson as Hopper, along with Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips.