Gorillaz took over New York’s Times Square and London’s Piccadilly Circus for two augmented reality (AR) shows in celebration of new single ‘Skinny Ape’ this weekend; Check out the fan-taken images below.

The animated band announced the concerts earlier this month (December 8) and fans needed to download a special app to watch the AR performance, which combined real-world and computer-generated imagery.

According to a press release, the shows would allow fans to gather to witness the Gorillaz “play in real life as Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel literally tower over them, playing amidst two of the world’s most iconic skylines.” .

The performances were directed by Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and Emmy-nominated director Fx Goby and created by Nexus Studios, using Google’s ARCore geospatial API, which uses Google Street View to create AR content in 86 countries. different.

Tune in the @gorillaz Immersive, larger-than-life performance in New York City, powered by ARCore’s Geospatial API.

Get the details. → https://t.co/iau09fBjd6 pic.twitter.com/6UVNAh0HLj

— AR and VR by Google (@GoogleARVR) December 14, 2022

Before the performance, Murdoc said: “To all our fans, get ready for the biggest Times Square takeover since that other gorilla vandalized the place. Bigger, in fact, because there are four of us. Thanks to the techies at Google, we’ve created the music video event of the century, so put on your pink robes and come see Gorillaz like you’ve never seen us before. The future is near!”

Check out the fan-taken images of the events below, which took place yesterday in New York (December 17) and today in London (December 18).

GFANS 🦍🛐 🎇Times Square
via @nexusstories pic.twitter.com/a4zsZ4RTmu

— Gorillaz BR ✰ (@gorillaz_br) December 18, 2022

I went to piccadilly circus today :)) #gorillaz #thin pic.twitter.com/jawa0Kti8p

– midnight 🙂 (@midnightmerry12) December 18, 2022

some great photos i took in gorillaz AR in piccadilly circus 😀
(more in the thread) pic.twitter.com/19Fofy27Od

— quackshay ⚔️ (@shayLVJY) December 18, 2022

bonus shots #thin performance. It should stay up for a few months, so grab the Gorillaz Presents app, if you’re in the area. There’s also a home version of the performance, if you don’t live near New York or London. #gorillaz #Gorillaz Presents #TheLastCult pic.twitter.com/OaKrirOkpx

—Jason Halter (@ereboros) December 18, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-diGjG9Ow

The @Google x @gorillaz Live AR experience in Time Square yesterday. So cool in person. Congratulations to @elevenmgmt @nexusstories @OutfrontMediaUS @OceanOutdoorES @Totemko + all teams involved. pic.twitter.com/LXpocSbfIr

—Michael Kauffman (@michaeljoel) December 18, 2022

more today @gorillaz #ARKANSAS performance in @TimesSquareNYC pic.twitter.com/xj0Xt72dkk

— Oscar 🎄🎅🏻 📲 (@OscarSalguero) December 18, 2022

Fans have until June 2023 to visit Times Square or Piccadilly Circus to see Gorillaz’s AR performance. Alternatively, people can watch the concert from the comfort of their home when Gorillaz comes to them, via the app that can be downloaded for iOS or Android.

Gorillaz are currently preparing to release their eighth studio album, with ‘Cracker Island’ on February 24, 2023.

The band have already shared four singles from the record, including ‘Baby Queen’, ‘New Gold’ and ‘Possession Island’. The record features guest appearances from Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Bootie Brown, and Beck.

However, according to Damon Albarn, the Gorillaz collaboration with Nicks was originally intended to be sung by Julian Casablancas.

Albarn went on to say that collaborative projects have gotten “kind of generic” of late, adding: “So this [song with Nicks] it is the antithesis of that. This non-generic collaboration”.