My Chemical Romance have released a new animated short film titled "Prelude to the End," featuring high-profile voice appearances from Billie Eilish and Phoebe Bridgers.
According to Pitchfork, the project was created in collaboration with visual artist Lauren Tsai. The release closely follows the arrival of the band's 20th-anniversary reissue of their 2006 studio album, The Black Parade.
The storyline centers on Astrid, an adolescent attending a trash-filled boarding school in New England. While searching for her lost sketchbook down an institution garbage chute, she enters an uncanny realm where forgotten ideas come alive. Bridgers provides the voice for Astrid's sister, while Eilish portrays the main character's close friend. The voice cast also features game creator Hideo Kojima as the Teacher and actor John C. McGinley as the Dean.
The animated project incorporates orchestral music, including a live recording of composer Pascal Dusapin's Flying River, Violin Concerto, performed by the Utopia Orchestra under conductor Giuseppe Mengoli.
My Chemical Romance will screen the animated short on October 30 and 31 during their two final shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, which conclude a five-night residency celebrating the anniversary of The Black Parade.