The ‘Stranger Things‘ world is growing again, and this time it’s taking fans into an animated adventure called ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85‘. Instead of jumping to a brand-new story, the show slips into a winter in Hawkins that the main series never showed.
And now that the first-look footage is out, there’s one big question fans keep asking: where does this lost winter actually fit in the timeline? The answer lands in a tiny gap between two major seasons, and once you see exactly where it sits, things start to make a lot more sense.
A Winter Adventure In ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Is Set Between Two Busy Seasons
The animated series takes place during the winter of 1985, which gives fans their first real look at what happened after the end of season 2. This timing was confirmed at the 2025 Annecy Animation Festival in France, where clips also introduced a new character named Nikki Baxter. She’s described as a crafty “tinker” with pinkish hair, and she steps in just as strange things begin picking up again in town.
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Of course, the main group is back too; Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas all lead the story. Since the show features younger versions of them, new voice actors take over their roles. The live-action cast isn’t returning for the animated versions, but the friendships and group energy still feel familiar. But things don’t stay calm for long. The trailer shows the kids running into new monsters, including young Demogorgons, hinting that the Upside Down remained active long before the Starcourt mayhem in season 3.
The Entire ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoff Timeline Explained
To see where this winter belongs, it helps to walk through the timeline. The story begins in November 1983, when Will Byers disappears, and season 1 starts. Season 2 takes place almost a year later, in late 1984, and ends with the Snow Ball in December. After that, the main series jumps ahead several months to June 1985 for season 3. That season closes with another jump to October 1985, when Eleven and the Byers family leave Hawkins.
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Season 4 starts five months later, in March 1986, and season 5 moves things forward again into 1987. With all of that in place, the animated series finally fills the only empty spot: the early months of 1985. That means ‘Tales From ’85‘ most likely unfolds in January or February, right between the Snow Ball and the start of summer.
Because this story slips into a part of the timeline fans never saw, it opens the door for fresh details and fun surprises. It sits right after the kids thought things had calmed down and right before everything explodes again in season 3. That makes this winter the perfect place to explore new creatures, new trouble, and moments the main show simply didn’t have time to show.
Whether the new series answers questions or just adds an extra layer to Hawkins’ history, it gives fans a chance to enjoy a hidden chapter that helps tie the timeline together a little more neatly. Hawkins always has another surprise waiting!
