In episode 9 of The Last of Us, the giraffe scene is with a real giraffe. Her name is Nabo. And, yes, it’s super cute.
The scene is cult in the video game. It is now also in the series adaptation. In episode 9 of The Last of Us, broadcast Monday March 13, 2023, we are entitled to a sweet poetic break in the intense post-apocalyptic road trip of Joel and Ellie. The two characters, climbing to the heights of a building, discover the presence of several giraffes on the balcony. One of them approaches them and they feed her.
The giraffe is not in CGI. She exists and she responds to the nickname of Nabo, as revealed in the making-of broadcast after the episode (in the United States on HBO Max).
Nabo the giraffe in The Last of Us
” It’s almost a spiritual experience to be so close to such a fantastic animal. “says Bella Ramsey in the documentary.
The scene takes place on a blue background concerning the environment around the giraffe. But Nabo was definitely present on set, and throughout the scene, the actor and actress were actually interacting with her — and really nurturing her like in the episode’s scene. Technically, moreover, this tray was designed directly in a zoo – that of Calgary, Canada.
Nabo was coached beforehand to make sure the shoot was stress-free for her. ” We wanted to see if we could get the giraffe used to being fed by strangers, with a very small film crew “, explains the production designer, John Paino, to Variety, in an article published on March 13. ” There was an indoor enclosure with a balcony and an outdoor enclosure where the keepers looked after the giraffe. The balcony was ideal, because it allowed to draw parallels with the game. »
Matt Larmer, who officiates on the series as general manager, considers in the making-of that shooting with Nabo was ” certainly one of [ses] favorite experiences “, explaining that ” you can create a giraffe through visual effects, but it’s not the same thing “.
If this scene is almost the same as in the game, other moments of the episode are completely new. The one with Ellie’s mother thus brings an explanation never approached in the game. And there is also a moving nod to The Last of Us Part IIthe sequel that will be adapted in season 2.
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