A fan of The Last of Us shared a gorgeous astronaut Ellie tattoo. Ellie’s infatuation with the world prior to the infection represents one of the more wholesome characteristics of The Last of Us, which includes her love of outer space.
The Last of Us has inspired all kinds of fan creations, such as a life-like Clicker mask from one fan, and illustrations that celebrate moments from the game’s story. Even so, nothing is as permanent as a tattoo to showcase one's adoration, especially one that is as breathtaking as this one.
Fans getting tattoos inspired by this series is not new, such as an incredible The Last of Us Clicker tattoo, or one that pays homage to the giraffe scene. This specific tattoo is more like the latter, in the sense that it reflects the wholesome elements of the series and characters in a way that fans can appreciate. Crossikki shared a photo of their Last of Us tattoo of Ellie wearing an astronaut helmet on Reddit. The tattoo is in a black and white minimalist illustrative style, shaded with stippling to highlight details like Ellie's backpack and wrinkles in her jeans. Fans can also spot a Firefly symbol on Ellie's astronaut helmet, which can be interpreted in different ways considering Ellie's relationship with the Fireflies in the first and second games.
The great thing about tattoos like this one is that they’re mostly only recognizable to the fan-base. Because of that, it is presented as both a meaningful moment to connect players to the game and a breathtaking piece of art that newcomers can enjoy, and potentially even entice them to play. Ellie herself sports a tattoo in The Last of Us 2 that could inspire players in the same way, and the Last of Us tattoo was used for a PS5.
In The Last of Us 2, there is a flashback chapter of Joel leading Ellie to an abandoned museum on her birthday, showcasing Ellie's excitement and child-like innocence when interacting with different exhibits on dinosaurs, history, and space. The tattoo is inspired by a specific moment where Joel surprises Ellie with a replica spaceship, an astronaut helmet, and a cassette tape that Ellie used to imagine herself as an astronaut taking off for space. This iconic moment has inspired not only tattoos but also beautiful The Last of Us illustrations that reflect what is so great about the seriES, and why it has touched so many.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available on PS5 and coming to PC.