Hideo Kojima, the acclaimed creator of Death Stranding, has made a surprise cameo appearance in the latest animated short from rock band My Chemical Romance. Titled "Prelude to The End," the project is a stop-motion, dark fairytale created by Lauren Tsai and serves as a music video for the 20th anniversary of My Chemical Romance's song "The End."
The seven-and-a-half-minute short arrived as a surprise release and features Kojima in a voice role. He is credited as "The Teacher" and can be heard admonishing the main character, Astrid, about late Japanese homework in a voicemail.
Kojima is no stranger to cameos, having included himself in his own Metal Gear Solid series and appearing in CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077, a role he later reprised in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. His involvement with My Chemical Romance is particularly notable, as the game creator has publicly expressed his fondness for the band's music. He previously shared his appreciation for their merchandise and attended one of their concerts, noting the youthful audience.
Kojima also hinted at his collaboration prior to the short's release, mentioning he had acquired the vinyl for The Black Parade's 20th Anniversary Edition. He celebrated his appearance in the video with a post on X.
Notable figures Phoebe Bridgers and Billie Eilish are also featured in the short's credits, lending their voices to missed voicemails received by the main character.
Kojima continues to be involved in various projects, including his upcoming games OD and Physint. The trailer for the anime spinoff series Death Stranding Isolations also recently debuted. Additionally, Kojima has stated he will appear in a live-action cameo, though details remain unconfirmed.