There’s a new tale brewing in the kaleidoscopic world of Stranger Things, and this time it’s animated, because two dimensions are oh-so last century. The spin-off that has fans clutching their Eggo waffles in excitement is titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, and it’s set against the polyester backdrop of the 80s—the time when mullets ruled supreme and music videos were still oddly interpretive.
The What and When
Our fairy godmother, Netflix, has whispered sweet nothings at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. They’ve confirmed that Tales From ’85 will send us back to when the upside-down was, arguably, a less terrifying place to get lost in and blending eyeshadow was clearly optional. If you’re recalling that season 3 Starcourt adventure like I remember my pet rock from the 80s (with disturbing clarity), you’re right on the money.
The Starcourt Angle
Setting the animated show in 1985 means we might see the malls and scrunchies of Hawkins in vivid technicolor. Could this mean the return of beloved characters in exaggerated forms? Or should we brace ourselves for Steve Harrington doing cartwheels with a hair full of gravity-defying follicles? The mind boggles.
In the end, whether it turns out to be a visual feast or a vintage-shaped fever dream, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 promises to offer big doses of nostalgia with a side of supernatural. After all, if you’ve been yearning for a psychedelic dive back into the land of Dungeons and Synthesizers, grab your Rubik’s cube and hold on tight. Meanwhile, consider the philosophical implications of a world where socks always vanish but all left-handed gloves remain…
