Return to Hawkins with Eric Robles as we discuss the exciting new animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From 85, in this interview.
Get ready to return to Hawkins in an entirely new way. Stranger Things: Tales From 85 is officially arriving on Netflix on April 23rd, offering fans a fresh perspective on the beloved universe. By blending the familiar nostalgic charm of the 80s with a unique, stylized animation approach inspired by the series’ iconic poster art, this new series expands the world of Stranger Things while standing on its own as a thrilling adventure. Whether you are a lifelong fan or a newcomer looking for a jumping-in point, this series aims to deliver the heart, humor, and jump scares that the franchise is known for.
Mama’s Geeky had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the creative mind behind the series, Eric Robles, to discuss the ambitious journey of bringing this project to life. We dove into the challenges of carving out a new narrative space within such a massive flagship franchise, the artistic inspiration behind the show’s distinct visual identity, and the creative decisions that shaped its development.
From the introduction of new characters like Nikki Baxter to the intentional approach taken with the voice cast, Eric shared fascinating insights into how the team built this project to honor the original while embracing the organic nature of creativity.
Eric Robles On Netflix’s Stranger Things: Tales From 85
Mama’s Geeky: Nikki is a great addition. Can you talk about finding a character that was going to connect with the core group and not feel like an outsider?
Eric Robles: If you think about what the Duffer brothers have done so well, when they brought Max into season two, everybody was like, “We don’t need Max.” But then you realize why Max of it all—she’s bringing this whole new perspective. Bringing Nikki Baxter into the picture, where she doesn’t see “zombie boy” as a bad thing, she sees that, “Dude, are you kidding me? That’s fricking cool.” Looking at Will with those new fresh eyes and that point of view really gives you the sense of understanding why the Nikki of it all.
Mama’s Geeky: I love that the new voice actors aren’t trying to do impressions of the live-action actors. Can you talk about making that decision?
Eric Robles: Some of the comments I’ve seen would be like, “Oh, why don’t they just bring in the original actors?” And it would sound weird to have these designs as 12-year-olds, and then you have deep voices coming out of them. But the magic is when you get kids performing, you have kids just being kids, then everything they say and do is very natural. You can’t fake that. I wanted these lines to feel natural in every aspect. There’s ownership in the acting. These performers are bringing their own unique way that their character is reading it right now.
Mama’s Geeky: Can you talk about the decision to make this a standalone story that welcomes in new viewers?
Eric Robles: It was really one of the things the Duffer brothers asked from the get-go. They told me, “Robles, this needs to have your voice. You need to carve your story and figure out what that is.” It cannot fit perfectly with the timeline and the story that we’re telling with the flagship. If we have to figure out our own version of carving out our new adventures, then we need to make sure it makes sense. We respect the flagship, but at the same time, now create our own math.
Mama’s Geeky: Your animation style is beautiful. Can you talk about the look you chose for the series?
Eric Robles: When I started thinking about what the look could be, I had the answer in front of me the whole time. It was looking at the Kyle Lambert posters that were done for the flagship series. Those are illustrated, and those colors were vibrant. I’m like, if we can figure out a way to bring those posters to life, we got ourselves an animated series. We wanted to integrate brushstrokes on the designs and get that realistic, stylized look, but still in a way that’s animation.
There is so much more to uncover about the secrets of Hawkins! To hear our full conversation, including more about the creature design and the incredible score, be sure to watch the full video interview with Eric Robles.
About Stranger Things: Tales From 85
Welcome back to Hawkins in the winter of 1985, where the original characters face new monsters and a paranormal mystery.
Stranger Things: Tales From 85 season one starts streaming on Netflix on April 23rd.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.