Disney Cars
“Cars” is an animated movie created by Disney and Pixar. The feature film is actually the seventh animated feature that Pixar created through the use of non-traditional animation techniques.
Disney Cars is set in a world where people are portrayed by anthromorphic cars and various vehicles. The cars talk and act much like how humans interact, while the settings are based on real-life locations, all the while maintaining the possible traits and features of each type of car. The following are the cars (characters) that lead in the film:
• Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) – Lightning is the main protagonist of the movie, and is named after a Pixar Animator who died due to melanoma, Glenn McQueen. However, the common traits of Lightning are similar to that of Steve McQueen. The car is inspired by various stock cars combined with a Le Mans endurance racer.
• Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) – Mater was based on a 1951 International Harvester tow truck, but it has similarities with a 1955-57 Chevy. He speaks with a rather thick Southern accent using incorrect syntax, and is one of the cars who have become close friends with Lightning.
• Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman in the first film) – Dr. Hudson or simply “Doc” is a “doctor of internal combustion” in Radiator Springs, who used to race as the “Fabulous Hudson Hornet”. As his name implies, Doc is a Hudson Hornet car which references a time during 1952 where Hornets dominated the NASCAR races.
• Sally Carrera (voiced by Bonnie Hunt) – Sally is Lightning’s love interest in the movie, and she is a 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera with royal blue paint. She bears a California license plate, but she is shown running the Cozy Cone Motel in Radiator Springs.
• Sheriff (voiced by Michael Wallis) – The Sheriff is based on a 1949 Mercury Club Coupe police car with a license plate from Carburetor County. His paint is in the typical black and white with one red light dome. It has been said that the Sheriff was the first resident of Radiator Springs.
• Chick Hicks (voiced by Michael Keaton) – Chick is the movie’s main antagonist, who is also the Lightning’s biggest competition for the spot at Dinoco. Chick is a Buick Grand National car that was one of the popular models during the 1980s.
These are just a few of the main characters in the movie. The other characters include Luigi (1959 Fiat 500 ragtop), Guido (forklift), Ramone (1959 Chevrolet Impala lowrider), and Fillmore (Volkswagen Type 2).
Disney Cars was supposed to be called “The Yellow Car,” which was about an electric car existing in a world of gas-guzzlers. However, the movie was later improved to the current version of Disney Cars after John Lasseter, together with his wife and sons, took a road trip.
Much of the story in Disney Cars revolves around Radiator Springs, which is based on the area on Route 66. The characters and places in the area are in fact based on actual people and places found on Route 66. One example is Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel, which was based on the Wigwam Motels along the said route.
It has been a number of years since the movie was released, and since then, it has been one of the highest grossing films of Disney/Pixar. Due to its popularity, a large number of Disney Cars merchandise has been distributed all over the world, and it has reportedly raked in over five million DVD copies within 2 days of its release. In addition, Disney Cars has a number of awards to its name, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, Annie Award for Best Animated Feature, Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Animated Feature, People’s Choice Awards for Favorite song from a Movie, People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Family Movie, Saturn Awards for Best Animated Film, and the Central Ohio Film Critics Association for Best Animated Feature.
