Honestly, it’s kinda weird to think that a group of cartoon characters has been more consistent in our lives than most actual human celebrities.
We’ve watched them age, get beaten up, join cults, and even turn into giants. If you’re asking what do the Gorillaz look like, the answer isn't just "monkeys" or "cartoons." It’s a messy, twenty-five-year evolution of ink, blood, and pixelated fashion.
They started as a sarcastic middle finger to MTV pop culture back in 1998. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett—the artist who basically birthed the Tank Girl aesthetic—were sitting in their flat watching the telly and realized everything was soulless. So, they made characters who looked like they had a lot of soul, mostly because they looked like they’d been through a blender.
The band consists of four members: 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs. While they were originally drawn with flat, geometric shapes that felt like a grittier version of The Powerpuff Girls, they’ve since morphed into high-definition 3D models that look like they’re actually standing in the room with you.
2-D: The blue-haired, hollow-eyed frontman
Stuart Pot, better known as 2-D, is the tall, lanky singer who always looks like he’s just woken up from a very confusing dream.
He’s roughly 6’2” and famously thin. If you look at his face, the first thing you notice are his eyes. Or rather, the lack of them. They look like two black pits. This isn't a stylistic choice—it's trauma. According to the lore, Murdoc Niccals (the bassist) accidentally crashed his car into the music shop where 2-D worked, giving him an "8-ball fracture" (a hyphema) in his right eye. Then, in a second car accident involving Murdoc, 2-D’s left eye got the same treatment.
The result? Two "dents" in his head. Hence the name 2-D.
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The eye-color mystery
Fans often argue about why 2-D's eyes change. In the early days, they were pitch black. In some phases, like The Now Now, they turned a ghostly, glowing white. There’s a lot of debate here—some say it’s his mood, others say it’s just how the light hits the blood in his fractured eyes. Either way, it’s eerie.
And then there's the hair. It’s a vibrant, azure blue. No, he doesn't dye it. He fell out of a tree when he was eleven, lost all his hair from the shock, and when it grew back, it was naturally blue. Don't ask for the science; it's Gorillaz logic.
Murdoc Niccals: The green, pickled bassist
Murdoc is the self-appointed leader and the resident "bad boy." He looks like a guy who hasn't showered since the late nineties, and that’s probably because he hasn't.
What's most striking about Murdoc is his skin. He started out with a sallow, brownish-tan complexion in Phase 1, but as the years went on, he turned progressively greener. It’s often joked that his body is literally pickling because of his lifestyle choices. He has a crooked nose that has been broken countless times—allegedly eight times, mostly by his brother or in bar fights.
Key Murdoc features:
- The Tongue: It’s unnaturally long. Like, Gene Simmons long.
- The Inverted Cross: Usually worn around his neck, a nod to his "Satanist" persona.
- The Eyes: One is usually a different color or bloodshot.
- The Teeth: Sharp, yellowed, and often missing a few.
He’s the only member who looks like he’s rotting in real-time. By the time we got to Cracker Island (Phase 7), he’d cleaned up a bit, but he still carries that "shady uncle who lives in a van" energy.
Noodle: The girl who grew up in front of us
Noodle is the heart of the band. When she first arrived at Kong Studios in a FedEx crate, she was a 10-year-old Japanese girl who could only say the word "Noodle."
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She’s the only character who truly ages in a traditional sense. In the beginning, she wore a radio helmet and looked like a tiny, badass anime character. By the time Demon Days hit, she was a teenager with a more refined, cool-girl vibe. By Plastic Beach, things got weird—we had a Cyborg Noodle (built by Murdoc) wearing a creepy mask because the real Noodle was missing.
Today, Noodle is a grown woman in her early thirties. She’s become a fashion icon in the virtual world, often seen in high-end streetwear and bold makeup. Her eyes are dark and almond-shaped, and she usually has a sharp, bob-style haircut that changes color slightly between phases, from dark purple to black.
Russel Hobbs: The haunted drummer
Russel is the backbone. He’s a big guy, usually seen in a cap or a hat, and he’s the only one who seems to have his head on straight—mostly.
His most defining feature is his solid white eyes. Unlike 2-D’s "dents," Russel’s eyes are white because he’s possessed by the ghosts of his dead friends. His entire crew was killed in a drive-by shooting back in New York, and their spirits settled in his body. This gave him his incredible drumming skills, but it also means he’s literally a vessel for the supernatural.
The "Giant" Phase
During the Plastic Beach era, Russel became a literal giant. After swimming across the ocean to find the band, he ate a bunch of radioactive waste and grew to the size of a kaiju. He spent most of that phase as a massive, brooding island-dweller. He’s back to normal size now, but the trauma of his past (and his size) still shows in his weary, stoic expression.
Why their look keeps changing
Jamie Hewlett is a restless artist. He hates repeating himself.
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Each album is a new "Phase."
- Phase 1 (2001): Very "street," graffiti-inspired, flat colors.
- Phase 2 (2005): Darker, more shadows, influenced by Demon Days' grim themes.
- Phase 3 (2010): A mix of CGI and hand-drawn art; very nautical and messy.
- Phase 4-7: The transition into the "Modern Gorillaz" look—sleek, vibrant, and often blending into real-world photography.
They don't just change clothes; their facial structures evolve. They get wrinkles. They get scars. They get taller (except maybe Murdoc, who seems to be shrinking). It’s this commitment to aging that makes them feel real. They aren't The Simpsons, frozen in time. They’re a band that’s been on the road for decades.
How to spot them today
If you’re looking at the most recent art from Cracker Island or the Song Machine era, you’ll notice they look "cleaner."
The lines are sharper. The lighting is more realistic. They look less like doodles on a notebook and more like high-budget animation characters. 2-D often wears short-shorts and bright colors now, looking surprisingly happy. Noodle is the trendsetter. Russel is the calm observer. And Murdoc... well, Murdoc is still Murdoc, just slightly more "cult leader" than "pub dweller."
Basically, they look like a group of people who have survived the end of the world several times and decided to make some tunes about it.
Actionable steps to explore the Gorillaz aesthetic:
- Watch the evolution: Go to YouTube and watch "Clint Eastwood" followed by "Humility" and then "Cracker Island." It’s the fastest way to see the 25-year jump in art style.
- Check out the Gorillaz Almanac: If you want to see the behind-the-scenes sketches by Jamie Hewlett, this book is the holy grail of their visual history.
- Follow Jamie Hewlett’s Instagram: He often posts raw sketches that show how the characters’ looks are being refined for whatever is coming next.
- Look for the "Phases": When buying merch or posters, identify which "Phase" you like best. Most fans have a favorite era—whether it’s the gritty Demon Days look or the neon-soaked Now Now vibe.