Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us, has explained how the famous giraffe scene was filmed. The Last of Us is one of the top-rated TV shows in 2023, and it is expected to maintain this status for most of the year unless a new surprise hit emerges in the coming months.
The show is full of iconic moments that have captured the hearts of fans, many of which originated from the critically acclaimed 2013 video game with the same name. These moments, such as Sarah’s death and Ellie’s confrontation with David, contribute to the development of the characters and the world they inhabit. One such moment is Joel and Ellie’s encounter with some wild giraffes, which is memorable as it allows Ellie to find beauty in nature during a time of despair.
Some fans criticized a scene in the HBO series because they thought the giraffe was computer-generated. However, it turns out that the giraffe was real. In a podcast with Kinda Funny, Neil Druckmann explained how they managed to use a real giraffe in The Last of Us series. He mentioned that adding a giraffe into a game is much easier, but for the show, they had to overcome logistical obstacles.
They decided to create a blue screen environment at the Calgary zoo where the giraffe could be filmed. This way, they brought the show to the giraffe instead of getting the giraffe to the set. Although some visual effects were involved in the scene, they did indeed work with a real giraffe.
A significant portion of The Last of Us was created using practical effects. Despite adding visual effects for monsters, scenery, and locations, the team responsible for the show managed to recreate this post-apocalyptic environment with a substantial budget. Given Seattle’s intricate and detailed portrayal in the second game, it is probable that Season 2 will feature numerous sizable practical sets, though we will have to wait and see.
