TITLE
A child in a dangerous world: Inside the creation of Ellie
AUTHOR
Elise Favis
PUBLICATION
The Washington Post’s Launcher
YEAR
2020
ARTICLE TYPE
Article
FROM THE ARTICLE
Neil Druckmann was awaiting the birth of his first child. Like many parents, he compiled a list of names. One, in particular, stood out. But instead of giving the name to his daughter, he bestowed it upon a fictional girl. Little did he know she would blossom into one of the most iconic video game characters in PlayStation history.“I like to find things that I have emotional attachment to and then put them in a story,” Druckmann, co-director and writer for “The Last of Us,” said in a recent interview with The Post. “I got myself more invested because of it. So that’s one of the reasons why we picked Ellie.”
Ellie debuted in “The Last of Us” alongside protagonist Joel in 2013. The two set off on a trek across post-apocalyptic America, facing not just the perils of a zombie-infested world, but their own personal traumas. Ellie’s tough exterior is juxtaposed with an ignorance and awe of a world that no longer exists outside of torn movie posters and abandoned suburban homes. Her sense of curiosity and wonder makes her the perfect foil to Joel, a jaded man focused on survival who initially sees Ellie as a liability to that pursuit.
COMPANIES MENTIONED
Naughty Dog
GAMES MENTIONED
The Last of Us
PEOPLE MENTIONED
Neil Druckmann
TOPICS MENTIONED
LGBTQ