Stranger Things Season 3 Poster Was One of The Inspirations Behind The New Animated Series – Picture: Netflix
Netflix just held its first of two major presentations, and among the stars of the show is undoubtedly Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. Showrunner Eric Robles was on hand to deliver some fresh new information on the series, and although we’re waiting for some first look stills, which should be on the way, here’s what was divulged during the presentation for the upcoming series, confirmed to be releasing in 2026.
Developed under the name Project Mirkwood, audiences today received an extended first look at the new series, slated to hit Netflix in 2026, at the Annecy Film Festival. The presentation, which shared the spotlight alongside In Your Dreams, offered a glimpse into the show.
Alongside new first look photos and lots of new intel about the show, we also got a brand new synopsis giving us an idea of what to expect:
“Welcome back to Hawkins in the stark winter of 1985, where the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an epic new animated series.”
Animation studio Flying Bark, based primarily in Australia, is behind the new show, with Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer serving as executive producers through Upside Down Pictures’ production banner, alongside Hilary Leavitt. Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen are EPs through 21 Laps.
Eric Robles, best known for his work on the Nickelodeon/Netflix series Glitch Techs, serves as showrunner and executive producer and was involved from day one before Flying Bark even signed on. He signed them up, given that his previous collaborator Ian Graham (Senior Vice President of Creative) had joined their Los Angeles team, and thanks to that animation studio’s 3D work on Marvel’s What If…?.
That’s the topline stuff, but what’s new? Here’s what was said over the 30-minute showcase presentation.
Duffer Brothers on the genesis of Stranger Things: Tales from 85 and introduces Eric Robles
The presentation opens with the Duffer Brothers (not present in person, but rather via a clip), who explain the genesis of the show, stating that it was their very first idea when it came to expanding the show beyond the main series. Recognizing Eric Robles’s shared background of loving all things from the 1980s and passion for the series, they confidently handed him creative control. They highlight how Eric’s understanding of the medium and emotional tone made him the ideal steward of the project. They reiterate what they’ve previously said about the show being styled in the mold of a Saturday morning cartoon with an emphasis on 80s aesthetics.
What’s the story going to be? A new character is to be introduced.
As outlined above, all the original characters return, with the story set between seasons 2 and 3. That means Eleven, Mike, Will, Max, Lucas, and Dustin are all back. We also got a glimpse of Hopper. What’s less clear is whether this series is officially canon. Robles described the setup, saying, “Something is brewing in Hawkins, and the kids need to figure out what’s going on.” He went on to explain that the new monsters (more on those shortly) are tied to the Hawkins Lab, just one of the many familiar locations making a return. “When Hawkins Labs’ science meets Upside Down matter, that creates a recipe for a whole new breed of business. And they’re up to no good.”
From there, we’re giving a deep background on the new series, including some of the monsters that will feature. “From Demogorgons to Minotaurs, the creatures of Stranger Things have become stars. And we are now excited to introduce a whole new batch of creatures to the Stranger Things universe,” Robles says, showing numerous new monsters that’ll feature, notably, an “Upside Down pumpkin zombie” and “human Upside Down vine hybrids.”
A new character will also be introduced in the new series, called Nicki Baxter, whom Robles refers to as a “Tinkerer.” With spikey pink hair, she reminds me a lot of Vi from Arcane. She’s a little bigger and taller than the rest of the Hawkins crew, but from the footage shown, she appears to be a valuable asset.
Development of the show + How fan art inspired the look of the show.
Early on, Robles delves deeply into the show’s conceptualization and artistic development. He outlines how the idea originated from his own childhood love for unsupervised adventures, cartoons like He-Man and Transformers, and the emotional tone of Stranger Things. A crucial reference point for the tone was The Real Ghostbusters, particularly its darker episodes. This series, among others, became the “North Star” for shaping Tales from 85. Other inspirations cited included E.T., The Lost Boys, and horror-themed young adult book covers like Goosebumps from R.L. Stine.
To modernize the visual style while remaining faithful to the era, the team, spread across Los Angeles, USA, Sydney, Australia, and Spain, studied contemporary animations such as Spider-Verse and Arcane, but filtered through an 80s lens.
Artist Meybis Ruiz Cruz received significant attention during the presentation. Robles credits one of her designs on Instagram of Eleven, alongside her other incredible array of artwork, as being one of the early references that shaped the show’s visual direction. She helped define the 2D visual development and character design that later informed the 3D modeling and overall tone of Stranger Things: Tales from 85.
“There was one artist in particular that I came across that really, really nailed it for us. And that was Meybis Ruiz Cruz,” Robles says, adding, “Her beautiful style captured the perfect blend of style and realism. And her shapes, painting technique, and her ability to capture the likeness of the actors was a huge breakthrough for us. Even if it’s fan art… it’s moments like this that can give you a new job.”
Picture: Meybis Ruiz Cruz / Instagram
Robles then shifts to the visual identity of the show, citing the posters for seasons 1 through 3 (crafted by Kyle Lambert) as one of the other leading inspirations for the show, citing their vibrant and saturated color schemes.
The design team worked to mirror the atmospheric lighting and cinematography of the live-action series. Iconic Hawkins landmarks, like the Palace Arcade, downtown streets, Hawkins Lab, and Hawkins Junior High, were recreated in CG, enhanced with the newly settled color palettes. A winter setting was chosen to reflect the Upside Down’s chilling influence, and an early painting of the Byers’ house helped define the Midwestern 1980s aesthetic they were striving to capture.
Discussing the direction and storyboarding of the series, Robles notes that the animation team includes veterans from Spider-Verse and other high-end animated series. Directors like Sarah Partington and Ben Troy were selected for their ability to combine live-action sensibilities with animated storytelling.
Robles also shared about the anxiety of designing something worthy of the Stranger Things legacy, and how assembling a dream team of artists helped navigate that challenge.
What’s the animation style like? It’s a solid mix of both Arcane and Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, although it leans towards the latter than the former. Arcane will no doubt be music to the fans’ ears, though, with similarities extending to a strong color palette, particularly emphasizing pinks and blues, as well as the way the action sequences unfold with that almost stop-motion-esque style that’s become incredibly popular in recent years.
We should also note that the voice actors in the clips shown didn’t sound like the original actors from the series. Given that everything was a work-in-progress that could be subject to change.
While first look pictures on the development of the series such as drawings, artwork, logos and even sculptures were debuted alongside, animatics, early concept animation (with a clip of a snowy outside dating back to August 2023) and even a bit of finished animation, they haven’t been released to the public just yet. We were under a strict no-video recording rule and couldn’t snap any pictures either. We’ve been told some first looks should be released soon.
Eric Robles amongst the talent assembled for Next on Netflix: Animation (seen in the brown shoes and all black outfit)
Are you excited for the new Stranger Things animated series? Let us know in the comments down below.
