'Stranger Things' And Other Popular Movies & Shows That Got Their Own Animated Series
Across the history of film and television, there’s been plenty of material that has been reinvented or reimagined in different styles. Look at icons like Spider-Man or enduring fixtures of culture, such as Dracula, both of whom have been shown to have an innate versatility in storytelling.
Sometimes, though, a specific show or movie will create such a whirlwind of attention that the creatives decide to stretch the success with a spin-off. While they’re usually in the same format, there have been periods of broadly appealing animation where the spin-offs were remade as animated shows to appeal to younger audiences.
It’s a trend that originated from sitcoms getting unexpected continuations, sometimes serving as direct sequels or wild reimaginings. Over time, some shows began to meld both of those approaches—or abandoned the source material altogether to tell a different story with the same broad strokes. To celebrate Netflix reviving this trend with one of their most popular properties, Stranger Things, it’s worth looking back at some of the weirdest and wildest animated spin-offs of popular movies and shows, available to check out on Prime Video, Apple TV, and more!
Although Stranger Things (2016) may have come to an end, fans can revisit Hawkins in the animated side-story Stranger Things: Tales from '85 (2026). The series is set between the events of seasons 2 and 3, placing it firmly within the established canon of the live-action show. It was designed as a broader and brighter introduction to the franchise that younger audiences can enjoy, similar to Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020) and Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (2024).
The show is largely similar in tone to the original and feels more attuned to something like The Goonies (1985), which inspired more of the early seasons compared to the increasing scope and stakes of the show’s final stretch. A fun show for fans who can accept Halloween-y threats amid their demogorgons and ‘80s nostalgia, Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 is a good example of the crossover potential of animated shows and live-action productions.
The history of live-action shows and movies being adapted into animated shows for broader audiences goes back decades, with Star Trek: The Animated Series being an early example of that phenomenon. Running for two seasons, Star Trek: The Animated Series was a continuation of Star Trek (1966), following the continuing adventures of the USS Enterprise as the crew—led by Captain Kirk—ventured boldly into the unknown.
Bringing back the original cast of the show for two seasons of adventures, Star Trek: The Animated Series helped keep interest in the franchise alive long enough for the resurgence that it would experience with film spin-offs or sequel shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). A solid continuation that highlights how animation can serve as a good medium for sequel shows to fan favorite properties, the show got a perfectly funny spiritual successor in Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020).
The ‘90s had plenty of tie-in shows, although many of them—like Beetlejuice (1989) took the concept in a different direction. Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988) was a creepy hit that helped lay the groundwork for the filmmaker’s career as an A-list director. The dynamic between the titular undead figure and the young Lydia was a purposefully creepy one, which makes the reimagining for the cartoon series all the more surprising.
Instead of being a lecherous and cruel antagonist, Beetlejuice is a far more impish and friendly character, who serves as a young Lydia’s best friend as they deal with the mortal world and venture into the monster-filled Neitherworld. While it’s a far cry from the film that inspired it, Beetlejuice is still a fun show from the era and an especially good pick for anyone who loved the antics of Genie in Aladdin (1992).
Similar to Beetlejuice, the cartoon adaptation of The Mask took far fewer cues from the film that inspired it than one would expect. The Mask (1994) was already a broad tonal change from the comic that inspired it, turning the surprisingly violent indie comic into a goofy Jim Carrey vehicle that cemented the comedy legend’s status as an icon of the era.
The cartoon went even further, transforming the character into a bombastic and bizarre antihero. Similar in tone to shows like Freakazoid! (1995), The Mask uses the animated format to its advantage, embracing the Tex Avery-inspired antics of the Carrey film and taking them further than live action ever could. A good time for kids (or adults) who enjoy the wacky antics of SpongeBob SquarePants (1999), The Mask is a goofball of a show and a fun—if not necessarily accurate—adaptation.
Ghostbusters (1984) was a genuine phenomenon when it landed in theaters, but one of the best examples of the franchise revamping itself for new generations was The Real Ghostbusters (1986), which continued the adventures of Venkman and the team.
Leaning more heavily into the supernatural and strange thanks to the animated format, The Real Ghostbusters tones down some of the more mature comedy from the live-action film, but it plays up the supernatural dangers faced by the group. It’s a fun continuation that plays well for the broader audience and sets up an even wilder follow-up with the legacy sequel show Extreme Ghostbusters (1997). If you were left disappointed by the legacy sequels and wanted a return to the original cast of characters, The Real Ghostbusters is a fun flash of that original magic.
One of the better examples from the ‘90s of adapting a film into an animated show, Men in Black: The Series is a solid blast. Although the show takes place in a different continuity from the film, the underlying focus on a secretive organization that contends with extraterrestrials on Earth provides the setup for the episodic investigation and missions.
The show has a distinct art style that helps separate it from other shows of its ilk, fitting neatly into the creepy alien designs. A fun companion piece to the blockbuster Will Smith-led Men in Black (1997), the missions of Agent K, Agent J, and Agent L provide some good cartoon action. If you’re a fan of shows like Gargoyles (1994), then the stylish look and slick action of Men in Black will grab your attention.
Happy Days (1974) was such a success that Hanna-Barbera got the chance to play with the show in some wild ways with The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang. The show follows the trio of Fonzie, Richie, and Ralph as they try to return to 1957 after helping a mysterious girl repair her time machine.
It’s a wild and weird spin-off that put the typically grounded sitcom into space, up against Blackbeard, and teamed up with Sherlock Holmes. Part of a wave of wacky cartoon spin-offs of sitcoms of the era, the sheer bonkers absurdity of The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang at least makes it an enjoyable odd watch that plays with the conventions of shows like Doctor Who (1963) and goes for big laughs thanks to characters like the Fonz.
One of the most iconic sitcoms in television history, Gilligan’s Island (1964) was a cultural fixture that eventually inspired an early example of the spin-off cartoon show, The New Adventures of Gilligan. A more child-friendly adaptation of the live-action show, the overall premise was the same, even if the presentation was tweaked to be more educational. The inclusion of Snubby, a cute monkey who befriends Gilligan, also played up the show's appeal to younger audiences.
The show largely followed the structure and tone of the live-action series, leading to a 24-episode run of lightweight comedy. The sequel, Gilligan's Planet (1982) used the cartoon format more openly by transforming the show into a sci-fi premise when the Professor's rocket is able to help them escape the island—only to end up in deep space and stranded on an alien world. If you’re looking for examples of TV shows that evolve into something different through the medium shift, Gilligan’s Island is a chief example.
One of the strangest cartoon adaptations of a movie for animation is definitely Rambo: The Force of Freedom (1986), which was the ultimate extension of the franchise, leaving the harsher tone of First Blood (1982) behind for more jingoistic appeal. The animated show focuses on a kid-friendly version of John Rambo who leads a team of heroes into battle with the villainous forces of S.A.V.A.G.E.
Recasting the traumatised veteran turned action hero into a kids icon turns out to not be all that difficult, essentially playing out like a clone to G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983) with a broad approach to the source material similar to RoboCop: Alpha Commando (1998). The show became a popular one for younger audiences, but it remains a strange diversion for the franchise before it returned to its gritty roots with Rambo (2008), underscoring just how strange it is to see such a brutal character like Rambo reimagined as a kid-friendly figure.
