Gerard Way's Animated Short Prelude to The End Unveils Paper Academy
The short, featuring My Chemical Romance and Lauren Tsai, follows a Paper Academy student named Astrid and includes cameos by Billie Eilish and Hideo Kojima.
An animated short film titled Prelude to The End introduces a school called the Paper Academy, according to screenrant.com. The short was made with My Chemical Romance and Lauren Tsai.
Prelude to The End centers on a Paper Academy student named Astrid. In the film, Astrid is questioned by the Principal about her delusions and her notebook. After her notebook is thrown away, she sees a black hole forming in her hand and journeys to meet a crow.
The short includes cameos by Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers and Hideo Kojima. The Paper Academy has no official connection to The Umbrella Academy.
Separate from The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy comic series was created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. Netflix's The Umbrella Academy ran for four seasons and ended in 2024; the fourth and final season was significantly shorter and its finale was divisive.
In 2025, the comic The Umbrella Academy: Plan B was released. Season 3 of the Netflix series introduced the Sparrow Academy, a team formed by Reginald in another timeline, drawing on the Plan B storyline.
Quick answers
What is Prelude to The End about?
It is an animated short centered on a Paper Academy student named Astrid, who is questioned by the Principal about her delusions and her notebook before seeing a black hole form in her hand and journeying to meet a crow.
Is the Paper Academy connected to The Umbrella Academy?
No. The Paper Academy has no official connection to The Umbrella Academy.
Who appears in Prelude to The End?
The short was made with My Chemical Romance and Lauren Tsai, and includes cameos by Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers and Hideo Kojima.