What If The Last Of Us Was An Animated Series?

Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us is a widely acclaimed video game franchise that is celebrated for its immersive storyline, captivating characters, and cinematic gameplay experience. However, many fans might be surprised to learn that the game’s creators initially envisioned it as an animated television show rather than a video game.

In a recent interview, creator Neil Druckmann revealed that he and his team had initially pitched the idea for the series to HBO as an animated show with the hopes of bringing the game’s story and characters to life in a way that would be more accessible to a wider audience.

The idea was inspired by shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Avatar: The Last Airbender, which successfully blended compelling storytelling with striking animation.

However, as Druckmann and his team began to develop the series, they realized that the interactive nature of video games offered unique opportunities to tell the story in a way that would be impossible in an animated show.

They opted to pivot and transform the story into a video game, aspiring to provide players with a deeply immersive experience that would fully engross them in the game’s world and create a strong emotional connection to its story and characters.

The decision proved to be a wise one, as The Last of Us quickly became a commercial and critical success, winning multiple awards and earning praise for its emotional storytelling, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay. The series has since spawned a sequel, which has continued to push the boundaries of what video games can achieve in terms of storytelling and emotional impact.