(Credits: Netflix)

Before the Upside Down opened. Before Hawkins became cursed. Before Eleven ever broke a single nosebleed, the world of Stranger Things was just a small American town in the mid-1980s. That is exactly where the new Netflix animated series Tales from Hawkins ’85 plans to begin.

Netflix has officially announced Stranger Things: Tales from Hawkins ’85, an animated prequel that will explore the early days of Hawkins, Indiana. The series promises to take fans back to a time before the original events of Stranger Things. This will offer fans a new perspective on the eerie town long before it became a hotspot for supernatural chaos.

The project was first confirmed during Netflix’s Next on Netflix 2024 showcase. Back then, fans got a brief but exciting look at the streaming giant’s animated slate. Produced by the Duffer Brothers under their Upside Down Pictures banner, the show is being created in collaboration with Flying Bark Productions. Eric Robles, known for animated titles like Fanboy & Chum Chum and Glitch Techs, is also attached to the series.

Unlike the core live-action show, Tales from ’85 will use traditional animation to bring Hawkins to life. Netflix describes the animation style as inspired by Saturday morning cartoons, but with a dark, supernatural twist. It is a visual change that still aims to capture the tone of the original series: part horror, part nostalgia.

While plot details are still under wraps, the show is expected to follow a group of new characters in Hawkins during the mid-1980s. Given the title, setting, and production team, it is likely that the story will lean into small-town paranoia, Cold War anxieties, and the kind of mysterious government activity that shaped the original Stranger Things mythos. Do not expect Eleven or Mike or the usual gang this time. This is a separate chapter set in the same universe, built to stand on its own.

That said, the Duffer Brothers have hinted in past interviews that Hawkins has always had strange energy long before Dr. Brenner or the Demogorgon ever arrived. This spin-off might finally explore those earlier mysteries, giving fans a wider look at the supernatural history that has only been hinted at so far. Also, there is a high possibility that it will delve into discovering why the “cursed town” of Hawkins became cursed in the first place.

The animated format also opens up creative possibilities. From mindscapes and shadow dimensions to elaborate creature designs, the team is free to go bigger and weirder than live action could allow. With Stranger Things wrapping up with its upcoming fifth season, this spin-off also ensures the universe lives on in a fresh format.

Netflix has not confirmed a release date for Tales from ’85, but production is underway, and more details are expected later this year. The show is part of the growing Stranger Things franchise, which already includes novels, comics, a stage play, and the upcoming live-action spin-off teased in 2022.

If all goes well, this prequel could mark the beginning of a much larger animated universe. For now, it offers one more trip back to the town where it all began before the walkie-talkies, before the Demodogs, before the world turned upside down.