PHASES: The Untold Story of Gorillaz”

The moment the screen fades from black to a pulse of red and electric blue, PHASES: The Untold Story of Gorillaz announces itself as more than a documentary. It feels like an event. A collision of animation, music, rebellion, and reinvention. This Netflix Original dives deep into the myth and machinery behind one of the most groundbreaking virtual bands ever created, revealing how four animated misfits reshaped global pop culture.At the center of the story is Gorillaz — a band that blurred the line between fiction and reality so convincingly that the world stopped asking where the cartoon ended and the music began. Emerging at the turn of the millennium, they weren’t just another alternative act. They were a statement about media, identity, and the future of fame. In an era obsessed with celebrity faces, they hid behind illustrated ones.The documentary explores how Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett built an entire universe around 2D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel. It wasn’t just branding; it was world-building. Each album cycle became a “phase,” complete with evolving character arcs, visual aesthetics, and sonic experimentation. The band didn’t simply release music — they released chapters in an ongoing animated saga.Visually, PHASES is hypnotic. The film stitches together storyboard sketches, early concept art, concert visuals, and glitch-heavy digital collages that mirror the band’s aesthetic. The documentary itself feels like a Gorillaz project — fragmented, stylish, unpredictable. It embraces distortion and static as storytelling tools, echoing the group’s fascination with technology and media culture.Musically, the documentary revisits the seismic impact of tracks that defined eras. From genre-bending anthems to melancholic synth-driven ballads, Gorillaz refused to live inside one sound. Hip-hop, dub, electronic, Britpop, world music — everything became part of their palette. The film highlights how collaboration became their superpower, turning each album into a global exchange of voices and styles.One of the most compelling aspects of PHASES is how it examines anonymity. By hiding behind animated avatars, the creators were free to experiment without being boxed in by industry expectations. The film questions what it means to be “real” in a digital world, especially as virtual influencers and AI-generated personalities dominate modern culture. In many ways, Gorillaz predicted this moment.The documentary also explores the darker undertones of the band’s lore. Murdoc’s chaos, Russel’s haunted mythology, Noodle’s mysterious origins, and 2D’s fragile detachment were never just gimmicks. They reflected themes of isolation, manipulation, war, fame, and media overload. Beneath the vibrant colors lies a critique of modern society that feels more relevant than ever.Concert footage adds another emotional layer. Watching holographic visuals tower over live audiences while real musicians perform behind the scenes captures the strange magic of Gorillaz in motion. The crowd sings to animated faces projected across massive screens, and yet the connection feels authentic. It’s a reminder that emotion doesn’t depend on physical presence.The title PHASES feels intentional and symbolic. It speaks not only to the band’s structured album eras but also to evolution itself. Gorillaz have never stayed still. They dissolve, reappear, reimagine. The documentary frames their journey as a constant metamorphosis — a refusal to become predictable in an industry that thrives on repetition.There is also a quiet intimacy within the film. Interviews and reflective narration peel back the curtain just enough to reveal the human vulnerability behind the animation. Creative burnout, industry pressure, and reinvention become recurring themes. The documentary doesn’t mythologize success without acknowledging the cost of sustaining it.Stylistically, the Netflix production leans into a premium, award-season tone. Moody lighting, cinematic pacing, and a haunting original score give the film a sense of gravity. It doesn’t feel like a nostalgic recap; it feels like a cultural autopsy and celebration at the same time. The storytelling respects the intelligence of its audience.Ultimately, PHASES: The Untold Story of Gorillaz is about innovation. It’s about what happens when art refuses boundaries. It captures how four fictional characters became a global phenomenon and how that illusion changed the way we think about bands, identity, and multimedia storytelling. More than a documentary, it’s a testament to the power of imagination in a world that is increasingly virtual — and increasingly hungry for something real.