The New Stranger Things Animated Series Was Inspired by D&D’s Weird Cousin

Image: Netflix

Although the curtains officially closed on Stranger Things this past New Year’s Eve, the Duffer Brothers have been meticulously planning the franchise’s expansion for years. If you’re itching to venture back into the eerie streets of Hawkins, circle April 23 on your calendar. That’s when Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85, an ambitious animated midquel, makes its grand debut on Netflix.

“The Duffers were incredibly enthusiastic about revisiting their characters during their younger years,” showrunner Eric Robles shared with Polygon. “We wanted to recapture that sense of wonder, offering fans a chance to embark on fresh, high-stakes adventures alongside the group of friends they’ve grown to love.”

The genesis of this collaboration began during the final stages of Stranger Things season 4. What was initially intended to be a brief check-in evolved into a 90-minute brainstorming session, with the creators so captivated by the potential of this new timeline that they nearly missed their own production duties.

“It felt like we were just kids in a sandbox, speculating on what we could build in that unexplored space between seasons 2 and 3,” Robles added. “We just started geeking out, and the ideas began to take on a life of their own.”

To avoid cluttering the primary show’s canon, the creative team crafted a standalone mythology for Tales from ‘85. By blending the unsettling lore of the Upside Down with the clinical terror of Hawkins Lab, they engineered a shape-shifting plant-based monstrosity that brings an entirely fresh menace to the town.

“If we relied solely on existing Demogorgons, we risked contradicting the main narrative trajectory,” explains Robles. “By developing our own creature logic, we’ve opened up an entirely new avenue for horror storytelling.”

For the creature’s distinct flavor, Dustin leans on his trusty copy of the Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, while also drawing inspiration from the post-apocalyptic classic Gamma World. It’s a synthesis of classic ‘80s table-top gaming and cinematic dread, bridged by the writing expertise of series veteran Caitlin Schneiderhan.

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 arrives on Netflix on April 23.

Source: Polygon