My Chemical Romance has released a new animated short film titled 'Prelude To The End', featuring voice contributions from Billie Eilish and Phoebe Bridgers. The film was created in collaboration with visual artist Lauren Tsai, who previously directed an animated music video for Boygenius's 'Cool About It'. Tsai voices Astrid herself while Eilish plays her friend and Bridgers voices her sister.
The short follows a student at a mysterious New England boarding school that has become overrun with rubbish, transported into a surreal world inhabited by forgotten ideas when her cherished sketchbook is thrown away by the school's authorities. The project marks a full-circle moment for Tsai who grew up creating animated fan videos set to My Chemical Romance’s music, and she was honored Gerard Way had drawn inspiration from her work. 'Prelude To The End' will be screened ahead of the band’s final two Hollywood Bowl concerts tonight (October 30) and tomorrow (October 31).
The shows conclude their US leg ‘Long Live The Black Parade’ anniversary tour, which has seen the group perform the 2006 record in full alongside selections from the rest of their catalogue. Billie Eilish and Phoebe Bridgers have previously performed together, with Bridgers joining her for a rendition of 'When The Party’s Over' at London's Electric Ballroom in 2023.