Gorillaz’s 25th Anniversary: A Virtual Odyssey or a Real-World Mirage?

They’ve always existed in the space between pixels and flesh—four animated misfits who somehow became more real than most of us. Now, as Gorillaz celebrates its 25th anniversary, the question isn’t whether they can still captivate us; it’s whether we still believe in them.

House of Kong—the name alone conjures images of digital jungles and forgotten dreams. What is it? An exhibition? A shrine? Or perhaps a mausoleum of their own making? The trailer offers little, leaving fans to wonder: is this a celebration or a cryptic commentary on their own obsolescence?

Damon Albarn, ever the enigma, has hinted at new music. But with the band’s history of genre-hopping and sonic reinvention, will this new album be a return to form or another detour into the unknown?

The Copper Box Arena gigs are set to be spectacles, but are they a genuine return to live performance or a calculated move to remind us of their relevance? The line between nostalgia and novelty is thin, and Gorillaz has always excelled at making us question which side we’re on.

As the anniversary unfolds, one can’t help but wonder: are we celebrating a band that transcended its virtual origins, or are we witnessing the last act of a digital dream?