Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s Original Auditions For Joel and Ellie (The Last of Us) 

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I like Troy's anecdote on this. He was about to leave the room, because he was surrounded by actors that looked exactly like Joel, and he was this young skinny, blond guy, he thought he didn't have a chance. But it was too late to leave, so he had to walk in there and do the audition.

I don’t know where Troy found Joel right out of the gate like this, but it comes out of him like a separate being.

The shrug Ashley gave and her hands in her pocket made me believe she was meant for the role.

the difference between the first guy and troy baker is intense, troy is awesome Edit:i was talking about the guy just before troy, not the car scene

Funniest thing about troy is the fact he has this great range, and can play Joel without a hint of doubt, but he looks like the frontman of a pop punk band

Little do we know that Troy Baker just talks like Joel naturally and his other voice is specifically for media appearances.

Ashley is just the perfect ellie I'm so glad she got the role!

Troy looks nothing like the idea of Joel but his voice fits whoever he plays perfectly, it’s like another person takes place inside him to play that character, he becomes them for the time he plays them and it’s just ❤❤❤

This is great to see. The first fuy was not bad by any means, but Troy Baker had the edge that seperates a good actor from a great actor. He doesn't play a character, he is the character. He gives Joel his personal note and his Troy's personality makes the character one of a kind.

Troy went there with no script on hand and just delivered, just awesome. And this gave me chills when he started to talk.

In the scene where Ellie brought up Sarah, Joel said that she was "treading on some 'mighty' thin ice" in the final cut. Aside from reminding us that he was a Tex, it felt less threatening than Troy's audition take, where he says "treading on some 'very' thin ice." I kinda prefer the final take because of what Joel and Ellie's relationship had become by that point. But, it's neat to see how Ashley and Troy played these characters before they were more established with their roles (still boss acting, which shows how boss those two are).

Both are very talented VAs, but it's so wild to see Troy just completely change. It's not just having a wide range, but completely changing from his normal voice.

Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson are the greatest duo ever put together in a video game. I just finished the remastered version and I can definitively say without a shadow of a doubt the last of us is my favorite video game of all-time damn it had me on an emotional rollercoaster.

The moment Troy said "what?", his posture and voice change sent chills down my spine.

The transformation from Troy to Joel was unbelievable. Two different people. Two legends met that day

her voice is so perfect

Can't imagine anyone else as Joel, Troy KILLED IT

Man i got chills watching this great acting from both of them.

ouh that last line gave me goosebumps

This is up there with one of the best casting choices ever

Troy Baker is one of the best voice actors. Dude has madddd roles under his belt

Their voices give me so much serotonin

Troy Baker's always sending chills down my spine I don't know how he does it

Would love to see a version of Joel from Robin Atkin Downes, but Troy's Joel was just on another level. According to Troy it wasn't until he took an acting note from someone at the casting table did Neil decide that Troy might have a chance. They were going to turn him down before that note!

Troy: "You have no idea what loss is!"

Absolutely legendary actors! 😁👍🏻

I love how even though a lot of guys auditioned for Joel, Ashley Johnson was always Ellie

CHILLS when Troy came in!

I don’t exactly have any plans to become an actor, at the moment. But actors like Troy and Ashley certainly make me think about it from time to time. I’m a very emotional guy and appreciate a lot of the heavy scenes these guys do and love the emotions I get from watching them. It makes me think about how fun it would possibly be to do that myself. It’d probably be amateur acting at best but it’d still be a hell of a lot of fun

Where the hell does that man take this voice from. When I watch him talk about anything he sounds like a completely different person. Voice actors, man. Truly impressive. Also, younger Ashley is just peak-adorable.

There is just something about Troy

I mean.....they killed it. What wonderful performances!

Troy, the best game/anime voice actor, still goes to audition.

the great thing about these videos is that we are seeing that Video Game actors have become far more then just Voice Actors, there movements and behaviour on the "set" directly feed into how the game makers animate those scenes.

oh wow the writing definitely improved by the time they were doing final mo-cap

Ashely was made for Ellie. I mean, there’s simply no Ellie without Ashley. Ashley IS ELLIE!!!!! Ashely is exquisite in every way. What a talented artist!! I love her so much!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

How does she manage to sound so young 😶

The fact nobody recognizes Robin Atkin Downes (the first guy, who was also in the Uncharted games) is very upsetting, he could of done amazing too!

I hope they release something like this for the TV Show. I’d love to see Bella’s audition!

Chills. Troy’s delivery is just stunning.

Perfect casting 👌🏻

Dude I always forget Troy Baker did Joel, because I also know him as Joker. Truly a talented voice actor when you can switch your voice that much and nail it that well.

Troy is just 10/10 in anything he’s in

This moment led to her meeting Brian Foster lol

0:39 wow the first time Neil and Troy meet

I'm sure the SECOND he said that "thin ice" line they knew IMMEDIATLEY he was the guy

THE SHORTEST OF US!

Joel is Troy, Troy is Joel Ellie is Ashley, Ashley is Ellie.

Everybody talkin about Troy and how he switches on Joel's voice in an instant, - and he does, and it's amazing, I love it - but kudos also to Pedro Pascal who did the same thing, and who also happens to be a Texan like Mr. Baker. I love people who can just turn on the Texan just like that *snapping fingers emoji*

Robin Atkin Downes causally wearing the green Joel flannel before that was even a thing that existed lol

It’s his voice that won him the role. Just a great voice actor

*Troy walks in* *Shake hands* Directors: Okay, you're hired.

I'm pretty sure the guy at 0:20 is Paul Mercier, who did the voice for Leon S Kennedy in the original Resident Evil 4.

They were born for these roles. The show is good, but the game is still better

This gave me the goosebumps... I'm scared and excited for the series

Troy Baker was like: Imma show em how its done.

that scene always gets to me, cause to say that to a man whos lost his daufhter is bold. the fact troys voice is so raspy is perfect.

I like how she pets him on the shoulder like "don't worry. you got this!" and well he obviously did.

The first guy had no loss.. urgency.. hopelessness and above all 'concern' in his voice..

10 years later one of the greatest games ever made so Glad Ashley and Troy took this legendary video game character

goosebumps when troy baker makes the entry!

Breathtaking performances ❤ right out of the gate! These actors will go far one day!!!

Started to play this game a few days ago, and all I could hear whenever Ellie spoke at times was Ashley's Teen Titans character

I can’t believe THIS was the audition scene

Troy needs to read this quote: "Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to the unhealthy state of things." --WINSTON CHURCHILL.

It's fun seeing Robin Atkin Downes be the stand-in for Joel at the beginning there. The man has played so many amazing characters, Tenzin being my favorite. Robert is good too. Alcazar, also.

If I recall the story correctly, that first guy had pissed Ashley off (who was already cast as Ellie) for some reason and she was in a bad mood from it, and Troy came in and somehow sensed she was upset, and asked if he could give her a hug. That was a pivotal moment for her.

My coworker said Troy Baker is the second coming of Jim Cummings in the VO industry, and I think that's accurate.

Dammit Troy is just GOOD.

SO used to seeing Joel's persona with that same voice that my mind couldn't process what was seeing and hearing! I kept thinking it was doubled over when I heard Joel's voice come out of his actor's mouth, such a surreal feeling lmfao xD😅

Holy crap! he really did have a Final Fantasy haircut with the Ed Hardy shirt and bedazzled jeans! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Love this man

Damn Neil druckmann directed that

Thank God for Troy Baker !

Seeing the jarring difference between the first two and Baker is like "Oh, duh yeah this is *the* guy."

That’s pretty cool to see!

Troy's just amazing

Troy Baker is just so good...

mind blowing actor he deserves more

goosebumps on the "very thin ice" line. Troy and Ashley had such amazing chemistry

love both !!!

The first one was Robin Atkin Downes. Great VA and recurring actor for Uncharted.

Awesome video.

WOW that gave me goosebumps.

Troy baker really deserves all the credit he can get. To be able to slay the role of Joel and be able to play in a game to the caliber of metal gear and others this dude Is like the next gen David hayter.

Goosebumps OMFGG

Troy is an amazing actor.

Fucking incredible. Very fascinating hearing an early draft of this scene too.

Ashley Johnson said she wanted to hit one of the guys who auditioned before Troy Baker. I wonder who it was.

well that was amazing to see :D

All those voice actors were good, but Troy is a legend. His Joker is damn good to.

Troy baker is so good

Treading on 'mighty thin ice' is the stand out line for me in the game. It's fun to see it here as 'very thin ice'.

Love them both.

Just perfect

this is such a good example of how "game" acting is a skill in and of itself. both of these fine actors demonstrate how not only do they have to convey through tone, but also provide vital visual cues that have to be exaggerated enough to work in game, but subtle enough to not look hammy. God of war cast show this as well. its a skill all of its own, much like being in theatre is not the same as on screen. I really hope to see this method of acting gain more recognition. As the mighty Judge said, games used to be where actors went to end their careers...not the same now. The last of Us is a masterpiece of storytelling.

Dang I thought VA’s only standing still reading the script They really has to do all the movements, expressions Wow no wonder they feel so real

The way Troy says ‘because I’m a big coward’ was so layered. It had a tone of sarcasm, which means he was considering the perception that Ellie had of him. But he also knew it wasn’t true because he said it in a rushed manner as he was walking away. He doesn’t give the thought any credence.

ashley johnson beatiful voice

1:11 Everyone I have cared for has either Died or Left me. Everyone, FUCKING EXCEPT FOR YOU!