The Last Of Us Almost Got An Animated Follow-Up

The Last of Us Part 2 will finally be arriving May 29, 2020, and takes place years after the ending of the first game. This has led many fans to wonder what may have happened between Ellie and Joel in the intervening years. We apparently almost got an answer in the form of an animated short from Oddfellows studio.

In a blog post that has since been deleted (but was saved and shared by GamesRadar), it was revealed that Oddfellows had been tasked with making a film that bridged the gap between the first and second games. For some unknown reason, the project didn't get past the early stages of development.

As explained by Oddfellows, "In anticipation of The Last of Us 2, we were asked to create a compelling short film depicting the main characters Joel and Ellie as they retell their dramatic story chronicled in the original game." This would have apparently involved recreations of significant moments in the story. More interestingly, this short film would have shown us Joel and Ellie after the first game's tense final moments. Just how much we would have seen of their time after escaping the Fireflies is uncertain. 

The very idea of seeing what they got up to immediately afterwards is tantalizing, so one has to wonder why this was scrapped. Perhaps Oddfellows' concept got too close to what Naughty Dog already has planned for the story of Part 2? Naughty Dog has been very tight-lipped with details, with even the trailer for Part 2 seeming to have moments that are purposefully obtuse or misleading.

Whatever the case, it's a shame that this didn't see completion. The new artistic takes on the characters are interesting, with almost something of a storybook feel to them. Maybe Oddfellows will get another chance to tell Joel and Ellie's story once The Last of Us Part 2 reveals all of its secrets in a few months.