A Pixar Classic: “Cars” Turns 20 This Year

With the latest original Pixar film “Hoppers” now showing in theaters and at the Dietrich Theater, I wanted to revisit a couple other Pixar releases that I haven’t seen in some time. For this Pixar classic revisit, I took a look at the 2006 Pixar family favorite “Cars,” which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! Quick side note: starting in May, I will also be checking out some films that will also be celebrating special anniversaries!

While traveling to California to race The King and Chick Hicks in the Piston Cup Championship, Lightning McQueen falls out of his trailer and winds up in a run down town called Radiator Springs.

He slowly befriends the town’s odd residents, including Sally, Doc Hudson and Mater. When it comes time to leave, the championship is no longer his top priority as he slowly finds living in a community oddly endearing, making true friends and beginning to realize there’s more to life than winning.

Even after two decades (I still can’t believe this is turning 20) the 2006 Pixar feature “Cars” is still a beloved, nostalgic favorite that is still heartwarming and the animation is really incredible. While some critics and audiences said during its initial release that this movie is a “step down” in storytelling compared to some other beloved Pixar classics, it’s still a great watch for the whole family.

The movie’s animation is incredibly stunning and also really detailed, especially where we see some of the desert landscape around Route 66. The awe-inspiring visuals create nearly real-looking environments, from the shiny paint jobs on the cars, to the detailed, dusty, and rustic Radiator Springs setting. Even years later, the animation has aged quite well.

“Cars” is also known for the character arcs that helps make the movie truly heartwarming, particularly the journey of Lightning McQueen from an arrogant, self-centered rookie to a humble, community-oriented racer. Mater is a fan favorite character that can easily steal the show with numerous hilarious moments and Doc Hudson (voiced by the late great Paul Newman) is the wise, tough mentor who adds depth to the overall story and a sense of history to the old town.

The town itself, Radiator Springs, is almost like a collective character in a way, with its own arc from a forgotten town to a thriving community towards the end.

“Cars” also features several iconic, heartwarming and humorous moments that will still keep all families having a great time. Some of these key moments include the opening Dinoco 400 race, the nostalgic Route 66 flashback and McQueen sacrificing a win to help The King during the big race.

There’s also a very hilarious moment where Mater teaches McQueen how to “tractor tip” by sneaking up on sleeping tractors.

“Cars” is a celebrated Pixar film that balances high-octane racing visuals with a nostalgic, sentimental story about slowing down, friendship, and community. Even though the runtime is nearly two hours, this is a film that the whole family would still enjoy - even after two decades.

MPA: Rated G   (runtime 116 minutes)

Initial release date: 6/9/2006

Streaming service: Disney Plus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_H7_tDHFE8

• This was Paul Newman's last American feature film before his death of lung cancer in 2008. It turned out to be the highest-grossing movie of his career. George Carlin died of heart failure three months earlier. This was the highest-grossing film of his career as well.

• Paul Newman considered his performance as Doc to be the best he'd done since The Verdict (1982). Newman was known as a skilled racecar driver, owner, and enthusiast.

• The Doc Hudson character is based on real-life NASCAR pioneer Herb Thomas, who drove Hudson Hornets to Grand National championships in 1951 and 1953. He was beaten out for the title in 1954 by Lee Petty, father of Richard Petty ("The King"). Crashes in 1955 and 1956 effectively ended Thomas' career.

• The final Pixar film to be released on VHS, and the first to be released on Blu-ray.

• When the film was released on DVD, five million copies sold in two days.

• Instead of making the cars' headlights the eyes, as is done in most cartoons, the Pixar animators decided to put the eyes up on the windshield, because that made the characters more expressive. This idea was largely influenced by the Disney cartoon Susie the Little Blue Coupe (1952), one of writer and director John Lasseter's favorites.

• The last movie produced by Pixar before Disney officially bought the company.