For nearly three decades, the Gorillaz have thrived in the space between sound and story, animation and attitude. Now, the genre-blurring collective is stepping further into cinematic territory with a new hand-drawn animated short film titled The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God — a project that blends their evolving musical chapter with the surreal mythology fans have followed for years.
The film premieres on YouTube this Friday, February 27, with a special early screening set for February 26 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. That screening will also include a venue-exclusive documentary exploring the making of the project, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at how the band’s animated universe continues to expand.
A Story That Turns on Its Creators
The short film draws its name from three tracks featured on the band’s forthcoming album, The Mountain, scheduled for release on March 20. But this isn’t just a visual companion piece — it’s a narrative detour into something darker.
The trailer hints at an adventure gone wrong. The Gorillaz set out to make a movie. Instead, they become trapped inside one. What begins as a dreamlike creative journey morphs into a nightmare, as a mysterious force stalks them at the peak of a mountain where there is “no way down.” The imagery leans into danger and displacement: at the summit, they’re no longer in control — they’re at the bottom of the food chain.
The tone strikes a curious balance. There’s a playful, faux-vintage flair in the presentation, but beneath it simmers tension. The jungle metaphor lingers ominously. It’s a self-contained story, yet one that feels aligned with the larger mythology surrounding the band’s animated alter egos.
The Virtual Band That Became a Cultural Fixture
Created in 1998, Gorillaz have long stood apart as a virtual band — a concept that once felt experimental but has since become iconic. The real-life creative force behind the project, musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, built an entire fictional universe populated by animated band members with distinct personalities, histories and ongoing story arcs.
Over time, that internal lore has intertwined with the music itself. Songs don’t just exist as standalone tracks; they often reflect the evolving narrative of the cartoon counterparts who perform them. Music videos and short animated pieces have long expanded that world, offering glimpses into the band’s day-to-day life, conflicts and surreal misadventures.
A dedicated short film, however, represents a notable next step — a more focused cinematic effort that promises the same striking visual style that has defined their most memorable videos.
The Album Behind the Film
The short arrives in tandem with The Mountain, the follow-up to 2023’s Cracker Island. Recording for the new album took place primarily in London and Devon, with additional sessions held across India — including Mumbai, New Delhi, Rajasthan and Varanasi. The geographical sweep hints at a record shaped by movement and atmosphere, a fitting backdrop for a story set atop a perilous peak.
In the lead-up to the album, the band has steadily released singles, each showcasing their signature genre-hopping style and collaborative spirit. Among the most recent are “Orange County,” featuring Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar, and “The Hardest Thing,” which features the late Tony Allen.
Earlier singles include “Damascus” with Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey, “The God Of Lying” featuring IDLES, “The Happy Dictator” with Sparks, and “The Manifesto,” which includes Trueno and the late Proof of D12.
The diversity of collaborators underscores what has kept Gorillaz culturally relevant: a refusal to stay in one sonic lane. Hip-hop, electronic, rock, global influences — all co-exist within the same animated framework.
A Long Road to the Screen
Talk of a Gorillaz film isn’t new. As far back as 2021, Albarn had revealed that writing had begun on a full-length project in partnership with Netflix. That effort, after multiple iterations, was ultimately canceled in 2023.
In that context, The Mountain, The Moon Cave and The Sad God feels both like a fresh start and a creative workaround — a more contained cinematic experiment that allows the band’s universe to stretch without the weight of a full feature-length production.
Why This Moment Matters
Few musical acts have sustained a multimedia identity quite like Gorillaz. Their success hasn’t depended on a single genre or era. Instead, it has grown from the interplay between music, visual art and fictional storytelling. The animated personas aren’t a gimmick; they’re an evolving narrative device that deepens fan investment.
This new short film taps directly into that legacy. It promises high-style animation, a self-aware storyline about filmmaking gone wrong, and a continuation of the band’s tradition of blending reality with fiction. In a media landscape crowded with franchise reboots and algorithm-driven content, Gorillaz remain something else entirely — a project where the music feeds the myth, and the myth feeds the music.
At the top of the mountain, danger awaits. But for fans, the climb looks more than worth it.
