My Chemical Romance releases animated short Prelude to the End

My Chemical Romance has released a seven to nine minute animated short film titled Prelude to the End, created in collaboration with visual artist Lauren Tsai. The project, produced by Tsai’s studio UNREAL INC., serves as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the band’s landmark 2006 album, The Black Parade.

The film utilizes stop-motion and hand-drawn animation to tell the story of Astrid, a student at a repressive New England boarding school called the Paper Academy. After her sketchbook is confiscated and discarded, Astrid enters a garbage chute and finds herself in a surreal world of forgotten ideas. The film integrates the album’s opening track, “The End,” and features a live recording of Pascal Dusapin’s “Flying River, Violin Concerto” performed by the Utopia Orchestra.

The production features a high-profile voice cast, including Billie Eilish as Astrid’s friend, Phoebe Bridgers as her sister, Hideo Kojima as a teacher, and John C. McGinley as the school’s dean. Lauren Tsai provides the voice for the protagonist, Astrid. The short film was scheduled for screening during the band’s residency at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on October 30 and 31, 2026.