‘Stranger Things’ Gets Animated in New Spinoff Trailer

The world of Stranger Things is caught in a time loop. Though the show seems to have ended, it’s beginning anew, constantly shifting between the years 2026 and 1985. These two time periods have always existed and will continue to do so.

Now that the popular live-action series Stranger Things has finished its last season, Netflix plans to expand the story with spin-offs and potentially sequels. The first project is an animated show called Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which takes place during the original series. While the familiar characters will appear, they’ll be voiced by a new cast, including Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, alongside Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips.

These stories are set in 1985, fitting between the second and third seasons of Stranger Things. Think of them as events that happened alongside what you saw in the show, but weren’t directly featured. It’s like nearly getting attacked by a Demogorgon and then just not mentioning it to your friends – things like that happen!

Here’s the new trailer for the spinoff series:

Here is Tales From ’85’s official synopsis:

Get ready to revisit Hawkins with Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, a brand new animated series created by Eric Robles and the Duffer Brothers. It’s winter 1985, and things seem to be calming down after the battles with the Upside Down. Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max are trying to enjoy a normal life filled with Dungeons & Dragons, snowball fights, and peaceful days. But a new, terrifying threat is stirring beneath the surface. Is it connected to the Upside Down, Hawkins Lab, or something completely different? Join our heroes as they uncover the truth and fight to save their town in this previously untold story from the world of Stranger Things.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is set to debut on Netflix on April 23.

The Most Random Simpsons Celebrity Cameo

John Baldessari

The episode, titled “3 Scenes Plus a Tag From a Marriage” (Season 29, Episode 13), is a flashback focusing on Homer and Marge’s early married life before they had children. It reveals that Marge used to be a reporter and includes a scene where she interviews artist John Baldessari. The episode also features guest appearances by Kevin Pollak and J.K. Simmons, who plays a character inspired by his role as J. Jonah Jameson, as Marge’s demanding newspaper editor – and a Spider-Man fanatic.

Sal Bando

This episode of The Simpsons, titled “Regarding Margie” (Season 17, Episode 20), is notable for featuring players from the 1974 Oakland Athletics World Series team. Players like Gene Tenace and captain Sal Bando make an appearance, with Bando famously exclaiming, “Look! That guy remembers us!” The show has a history of including references to lesser-known sports figures – remember Steve Sax and his legal troubles?

Dr Joyce Brothers

This episode, “Last Exit to Springfield,” features Dr. Joyce Brothers, a famous personality who gained recognition in the 1950s after winning the game show The $64,000 Question. She became a popular TV psychologist and appears in this episode as a commentator.

Magnus Carlsen

In the episode “The Cad and the Hat” (Season 28, Episode 17), The Simpsons continues its tradition of featuring celebrities playfully parodying themselves and their fields. This time, chess champion Magnus Carlsen appears after Homer takes up the game, and his involvement unexpectedly brings up issues from the Simpson family’s past. If you haven’t watched the show recently, you’ve missed many episodes like this, where a famous person from a particular world comes on to poke fun at both themselves and their area of expertise.

Daniel Clowes

The episode, titled “Husbands and Knives” (Season 19, Episode 7), features a storyline about a new comic book store opening in Springfield. This brings several famous comic creators onto the show as themselves, including Alan Moore (writer of Watchmen), Art Spiegelman (Maus), and Daniel Clowes, known for his graphic novel Ghost World. It’s famously considered one of the worst cameo appearances in television history!

Gerry Cooney

This episode, titled “$pringfield (or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling),” is from Season 5. I don’t remember boxer Gerry Cooney’s career firsthand, but he appears as himself in this episode, working as a greeter at Mr. Burns’ casino after Springfield legalizes gambling. It captures a specific era of Las Vegas really well, and the casting feels perfect – Robert Goulet also makes a cameo as himself!

Helen Fielding

In the episode “A Star Is Born Again” (Season 14, Episode 13), Marisa Tomei guest stars as a movie star who starts dating Ned Flanders. She tries to fit into Springfield life by joining a book club that’s discussing Bridget Jones’ Diary. Ironically, none of the members have actually read the book, so she invites the author, Helen Fielding, to join them. Fielding quickly becomes frustrated, commenting that Americans don’t appreciate British humor, and then makes a hasty exit in a comical scene reminiscent of the classic Benny Hill show.

Brian Grazer

This episode, titled “When You Dish Upon a Star” (Season 10, Episode 5), features a cameo by Brian Grazer, the producer behind Imagine Entertainment and longtime collaborator with director Ron Howard. While well-known in the film industry, Grazer isn’t a household name, which makes his two appearances on The Simpsons all the more amusing. He played himself in this episode and again in Season 20’s “Lost Verizon” – seemingly the go-to guy when a cartoon needs a movie producer to voice a movie producer. The show’s artists also did a remarkably accurate job of capturing his appearance.

Bret Hart

I remember a really cool episode, “The Old Man and the Lisa,” where Mr. Burns had to sell his house. It was awesome that Bret “The Hitman” Hart – a wrestling legend! – ended up buying it. He’s seriously considered one of the greats, and I bet he got a fantastic deal on the mortgage!

Chick Hearn

Let’s talk about how long The Simpsons has been on television. To give you an idea, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn actually appeared as himself in an early episode. And as of today, Chick Hearn passed away nearly 25 years ago!

Dudley Herschbach

Okay, so this episode, “Treehouse of Horror XIV” (the first one of Season 15), is a fun one. You won’t believe this, but the real-life Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dudley Herschbach actually appeared in it! Along with Jennifer Garner, they were the ones who presented Professor Frink with his Nobel Prize. Seriously, it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo, but as a fan, it’s a cool little detail!

Bill James

In the Season 22 episode of The Simpsons called “MoneyBart,” legendary baseball statistician Bill James makes a cameo. Lisa seeks information about baseball and is directed to James’ Wikipedia page by a group of enthusiasts, where a recording of him jokes that he’s made watching baseball as enjoyable as doing your taxes.

Jasper Johns

In the episode “Mom and Pop Art” (Season 10, Episode 19), Homer unexpectedly becomes a modern artist. This leads him to mingle with figures from the art world, including Jasper Johns, who is spotted helping himself to snacks at a gallery opening.

Tom Kite

I still laugh thinking about the episode where the Simpsons get invited to the Springfield Country Club! It’s hilarious when Homer gets golf lessons from actual pro Tom Kite – who, by the way, introduces himself like it’s no big deal. But the best part? Kite totally calls Homer out for stealing his clubs and yells, “Stay the hell out of my locker!” It’s such a funny, unexpected moment, and perfectly captures Tom Kite’s personality, or at least, the show’s take on it!

Evan Marriott

This episode, “The Regina Monologues,” features a humorous take on celebrity culture. When the Simpsons are in London’s West End, they’re surprised to see American stars headlining classic plays. For example, Joe Millionaire (the reality TV contestant who pretended to be a wealthy bachelor, but was actually a construction worker) is performing in Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. The episode playfully imagines these unlikely pairings, with Urkel also appearing in a production of Othello nearby.

Paul McGuinness

In the Simpsons episode “Trash of the Titans” (Season 9, Episode 22), the security guard who scolds Homer when he’s disguised as “Potato Man” is actually Paul McGuinness, U2’s long-time manager. Using someone else in that role wouldn’t have felt right, as McGuinness is a real figure connected to the band.

Robert Pinsky

I’ll never forget the first time I saw this episode, “Little Girl in the Big Ten,” listed in TV Guide. I actually exclaimed out loud – to nobody at all! – when I read that Robert Pinsky, the U.S. Poet Laureate, was going to be on. I was so excited, I just knew it was going to be amazing!

George Plimpton

The episode, titled “I’m Spelling As Fast as I Can” (Season 14, Episode 12), features a guest appearance by writer George Plimpton. The episode playfully references the film Requiem for a Dream and includes a humorous bit where Plimpton hosts a spelling bee while also advertising his own brand of hot plates. (I, for one, would definitely purchase a George Plimpton hot plate!)

Merl Reagle

In the Simpsons episode “Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words” (Season 20, Episode 6), the show featured a cameo by renowned crossword puzzle creator Merl Reagle and New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz. The episode, naturally, revolved around crossword puzzles! It makes you wonder, what’s a nine-letter word for satisfying people, even when it might not be the best idea?

Tom Savini

In the episode “Worst Episode Ever” (Season 12, Episode 11), Lisa sees an ad for a show by special effects expert Tom Savini at the comic book store. Marge explains that Savini is famous for his work on horror classics like Creepshow, Friday the 13th, and Dawn of the Dead. The show itself is bizarre: Savini eats a single French fry and then seemingly explodes on stage, covering the audience in fake blood.

2026-02-02 18:29