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Ellie’s Stunning Transformation in The Last of Us Season 2: The Secrets Behind Her Look!

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Mild spoilers below for those who haven’t caught up on The Last of Us via Max subscription.

HBO’s show “The Last of Us” has shown its ability to serve as a model for future video game adaptations. The creative team led by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin know when to stay true to the original content and when to alter crucial scenes or delve into areas that the games didn’t cover. While Bella Ramsey may not perfectly resemble every detail of pixelated Ellie, she does embody many wardrobe elements designed with great attention to detail, with costume designer Ann Foley taking the lead in this area during Season 2.

I looked forward to discussing with Ann Foley how we could develop Ellie’s appearance as she grew older following Season 1’s unfortunate incidents. In our conversation, she mentioned that Ramsey’s input would give Ellie’s iconic Converse sneakers a distinctive new style, and also highlighted the opportunity to reveal Ellie’s tattoo that covers her scars.

Bella Ramsey’s Converses Are More Special Than Audiences Might Realize

In the captivating world of “The Last of Us” games, I found myself chuckling at Ellie’s persistent reliance on her Converse sneakers in an apocalyptic landscape. It was hard not to wonder how she managed to last so long without donning something more robust for protection and support. However, costume designer Ann Foley wisely addressed this point in Season 2, ensuring that the footwear we saw on-screen this season was a thoughtful departure from the bare-bones reference of her previous sneakers.

Speaking of which, when I inquired about what Foley took the most pride in during her work on the seven episodes, she immediately mentioned these specific points, stating:

To put it simply, among all the things you could choose, it’s consistently Ellie’s Converse shoes from Episodes 1 and 2 that stand out for me. I gifted a pair of those to Bella, encouraging her to emulate Ellie’s style in her doodles, much like how I admired Ellie’s sketches in the game. To be truthful, I was captivated by Ellie’s drawings and would often pause the playthrough just to try to decipher them myself.

As a movie enthusiast, delving into Ellie’s journal isn’t your typical action-packed thrill, but it offers a unique perspective on the world she inhabits and the beauty she sees around her. For me, reading her entries was another layer to understanding her character and how she interacts with her environment. It also allowed for a deeper connection between characters.

In the process of assembling the boards for Ellie, I found myself repeatedly drawn to the sketches, desiring a place for these doodles on her clothing, similar to how teenagers might express themselves. I felt the Converse shoes were an ideal spot for this. Craig Mazin wholeheartedly agreed with this concept and appreciated it, as did Bella. Interestingly enough, I never inquired about the meaning or origin of the doodles; instead, I saw them as a private communication between Bella and Ellie.

Since these intriguing doodles weren’t often highlighted in close-ups prior to Dina persuading Ellie to discard her shoes, Foley ensured there was a spot where viewers could have a more detailed look at the sketches, even though their origins may remain unknown. In her own words:

Although they might not be directly visible to the spectators, I believe those doodles significantly enhanced Ellie’s costume and truly made it stand out. That’s why I shared them on Instagram, hoping to provide a closer look at these intricate details for the audience to appreciate.

Since she significantly contributed to the distinctive look of those sneakers on the TV series, I wondered if Foley could possibly retain a pair, but regrettably, her response indicated otherwise.

It turns out, those sketches weren’t mine; they were stored in our archives instead. Fortunately, my exceptional design team – each one a talented artist in their own realm – successfully transferred those drawings onto numerous pairs of shoes. We ended up with nearly 20 pairs, I believe.

If there are so many pairs available, it is reasonable to assume that at least one set would be suitable for display in a museum, while another could find a place in Ann Foley’s wardrobe.

Ann Foley On Using Silhouettes To Show Ellie’s Aging And Showing Off Her Tattoo

In “Episode 6,” titled “The Price,” we experienced a deeply moving journey, not only due to Joe Pantoliano’s exceptional guest performance, but also because it showcased the poignant development of Joel and Ellie’s bond over the years following the Salt Lake City massacre up until Joel’s tragic end. Viewers had the opportunity to witness Ellie maturing, so to speak, as Ann Foley’s crew skillfully portrayed the realistic progression of their relationship from year to year.

When I inquired about Ellie’s appearance alteration and her frequent preference for wearing short sleeves once more, the costume designer discussed the difficulties involved in portraying those critical growth periods in a person’s life, explaining:

One fascinating aspect of developing Ellie for Season 2 was highlighting the distinction between a typical 14-year-old girl and a more mature 19-year-old woman, while subtly refining her appearance. Episode 6 serves as an excellent illustration of depicting Ellie’s growth, from her birthday at age 15 to her transformation into a 19-year-old. We achieved this by using silhouettes and minor alterations.

Just as the creatures in The Last of Us, such as Stalkers and Clickers, can be recognized by their silhouettes, Foley ensured that each phase of Ellie’s adolescence in the series could be distinguished effortlessly, much like identifying them based on their shapes. She stated:

As a teenager, her clothes tend to be looser, with baggier jeans, T-shirts, and so on. However, as she matures into adulthood, her jeans become slightly more fitted, less baggy than before. The length of her T-shirts also shortens somewhat, along with a slight reduction in the sleeve hem length. Additionally, the overall volume of her clothes is adjusted to fit closer to her body, highlighting her new silhouette.

It’s clear that everyone is unique, yet Foley’s statement resonated strongly with a large portion of my high school friends. To this day, I continue to admire baggy jeans, but I find it hard to envision them being particularly useful when you’re trying to escape pursuing monsters in the rain.

In the flashbacks and crucial scenes set in the current timeline, Ann Foley discussed opting for shorter sleeves, as seen with Ellie, particularly where the design of her tattoo wasn’t an issue.

As the second season progressed, it was delightful to see Ellie regularly sporting short-sleeve attire, showcasing her striking tattoo skillfully crafted by our talented makeup artist, Rebecca Lee. This tattoo is such a defining aspect of her character, and its visibility is crucial. While she does don a jacket in the rainy scenes, there are numerous instances where we get to appreciate that tattoo without the jacket, particularly in some truly memorable moments.

Foley discussed in greater detail on her Instagram page another terrific outfit that Ellie wore during her birthday trip to the natural history museum, which was modeled after her in-game appearance and specifically handcrafted with a striped shirt. Although that entire scene was impressive overall, featuring the dinosaur statue and the blast-off, I believe it wouldn’t have had as much impact on me if Ellie wore a band T-shirt or something uniform in color instead.

The second season of “The Last of Us” concludes on HBO on May 25 at 9:00 p.m. So, what outfit do you plan to wear while watching this exciting finale? I apologize if my previous phrasing seemed unclear…

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2025-05-25 23:39

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