The Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. The band consists of four animated characters - 2D, Noodle, Russell Hobbs, and Murdoc Niccals - who appear in the band's music videos. Jamie Hewlett, known for co-creating the Gorillaz, attended school in Horsham before studying animation. He and Damon Albarn created the Gorillaz as an animated band, a first for the music industry. Their videos use techniques like cel shading and lip syncing to bring the animated characters to life.