The Last of Us fan base has proven to be incredibly passionate over the years, sharing all forms of fan art and scouring the games for hidden details. However, the story that plays out for all to see is a big reason that The Last of Us is beloved, and a fan has paid homage to one of the original game’s best moments through a gorgeous tattoo.
Usually, when a tattoo based on The Last of Us is discussed, the focus is on Ellie’s tattoo from the second game. Many fans have gotten their own version of Ellie’s moth tattooed on their arm, showing their love for the second entry in the critically acclaimed Naughty Dog franchise. Others have turned Ellie’s tattoo design into an embroidery project, a sign of how iconic the artwork has become. However, instead of just pulling this design straight from the game, Reddit user samanthagray98 got something more unique.
The Last of Us fan and Reddit user’s tattoo design pays homage to the giraffe sequence from the original game, a moment that is still being talked about to this day. Silhouettes of Joel and Ellie can be seen, with the latter petting the giraffe and the moment being a clear example that even the post-apocalyptic world can be beautiful. An orange sky can be seen in the background, with some skyscrapers and foliage filling out the area that surrounds Joel and Ellie.
While the giraffe scene from the original The Last of Us is the focus of the tattoo, it is not the only thing the artist paid homage to. The giraffe is actually the visor of an astronaut helmet, with the rest of the helmet surrounding the giraffe imagery. This is an excellent nod to Ellie’s love for outer space, with the helmet worn by the character during The Last of Us 2’s beloved museum flashback. The colors contrast brilliantly, and there is even an extra detail on the bottom of the image.
Alongside the giraffe-filled helmet, the moth from Ellie’s tattoo in The Last of Us 2 is visible. The plant is positioned differently, as it wraps around the helmet, but the same overall look is maintained. Unsurprisingly, The Last of Us fans have responded well to the design, with the post bringing in over 1,500 upvotes since it was shared. In the comments, many viewers can be seen praising the cleverness of the tattoo and the way in which it shows some love for both games.
With The Last of Us HBO series set to bring the franchise to a whole new audience, more people could soon be getting tattoos based on Joel and Ellie. However, it will be tough to top the uniqueness of this particular tattoo.
The Last of Us is available now on PS3 and PS4.