When Gorillaz first emerged on the music scene, the idea of a virtual band composed of edgy cartoon personas that existed only on screen seemed both strange and brilliant. It may have been a gimmick, tailor-made for MTV back when it still regularly played videos, but it was an inventive one. And with huge breakthrough hits like “Clint Eastwood,” “Tomorrow Comes Today” and “Feel Good Inc.,” it was hard not to get caught up in the contagious combination of dub, hip-hop, Brit-pop and electronic music.

Gorillaz is essentially the brainchild of Blur frontman Damon Albarn and comic-book artist Jamie Hewlett — best known for his work on Tank Girl — who dreamed up the project back in 1998. Albarn would handle the music while Hewlett would design the characters (2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel), which serve as the visual element in Gorillaz’s stylishly animated music videos.

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