My Chemical Romance Tap Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers as Voices in Emotional Animated Short ‘Prelude to the End’: Watch

My Chemical Romance are commemorating the 20th anniversary of their influential album, The Black Parade, with a striking animated short film called Prelude to the End. The stop-motion and hand-drawn animation, directed by visual artist Lauren Tsai, features an impressive voice cast including Phoebe Bridgers, Billie Eilish, Hideo Kojima, and John C. McGinley.

Astrid, voiced by Tsai, is a student at the strict Paper Academy who embarks on a journey after her sketchbook is confiscated by the headmaster. Along the way, she finds support from her sister and friend, but faces challenges from a Japanese teacher and the dean of the school. The film delves into themes of creativity, youth, and determination to express one's truth, tying in with My Chemical Romance's discography.

Tsai, who has previously directed animated videos for Boygenius, expressed her excitement to collaborate with the band on this project. The film also includes a live recording of Pascal Dusapin's Violin Concerto, performed by the Utopia Orchestra. With My Chemical Romance enjoying renewed success from their recent stadium tours, the animated short will premiere before their final dates at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.