Netflix is set to release the second season of its animated Stranger Things spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales from '85, on September 17. This announcement comes only a few months after the first season, which premiered on April 23. The upcoming season will feature 10 new episodes.
A description released by Netflix states that "With Valentine’s Day on the way, the gang must uncover the truth behind ghostly apparitions and a swarm of strange creatures causing chaos around town." Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is set between the events of the main series' second and third seasons. The animated series was officially renewed for a second season shortly after its debut, suggesting that animation studio Flying Bark Productions may have been working on subsequent episodes prior to the renewal.
The first season of Stranger Things: Tales from '85 garnered a mixed reception, with a 63% score from critics and a 52% score from users on Rotten Tomatoes. While some reviewers noted its success in capturing the charm of earlier Stranger Things seasons, others found it to be a less essential installment.
Eric Robles and Jennifer Muro developed the initial season, with Robles also serving as showrunner. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the original series, were executive producers. Production credits include Netflix Animation Studios, Upside Down Pictures, 21 Laps Entertainment, and Flying Bark Productions, the latter of which has contributed animation to projects such as Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and Marvel's What If...?.
With the main Stranger Things series scheduled to conclude its 42-episode run on December 31, 2025, the development of a spinoff was anticipated. The flagship show has achieved significant popularity, with its third season setting a record for the most-watched original Netflix series. A live-action spinoff was reportedly in development as of 2023, though no formal announcements have been made regarding its status.