Tag Archives: Cars Toons

October 8, 2010 – The Cars Toon Heavy Metal Mater Premieres on Television

“Nah, I don’t want to steal the show.”

On October 8, 2010, the seventh Cars Toon Heavy Metal Mater premiered on the Disney Channel. The short was written by John Lasseter, Rob Gibbs, Matthew Luhn, Scott Morse, Kevin O’Brien, and Derek Thompson, and was directed by Lasseter and Gibbs.

The video begins with karaoke night at Flo’s, and Mater proceeds to tell Lightning McQueen about his time as a famous rock star. He started out in a band called Mater and the Gas-Caps, which began in a garage. They get their first gig at a truck stop, and when the waitresses fawn over them and ask if they have a record, they quickly rush to the studio to record one. The drummer swats at a fly during the session, hitting random drums and percussion instruments, and the band plays along, with the band soon becoming a heavy metal band called Heavy Metal Mater. Mater then changes the story to include McQueen, though McQueen isn’t convinced that it happened.

December 12, 2008 – The Cars Toons Short Film Tokyo Mater Premieres in Theaters

“Hahaha, can I!…hey, can I?”

On December 12, 2008, the short film Tokyo Mater was released to theaters alongside the Disney animated feature Bolt. The short is part of the Cars Toons series from Pixar, and includes a special cameo of Sully and Mike from Monsters, Inc. and the Harryhausen restaurant. It was directed by John Lasseter, Rob Gibbs, and Victor Navone, with story by Lasseter, Gibbs, Bobby Alcio Rubio, and Scott Morse. It stars Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Keith Ferguson as Lightning McQueen, Michael Wallis as Sheriff, Mach Tony Kobayashi as Kabuto, and Robert Ito as Ito-San.

The short begins with some drag racers flying through Radiator Springs, and as the sheriff chases after them, Mater admits to McQueen that he used to be a drag racer, and reveals the story. A car is on the side of the road and needs a tow to a place very far away, but Mater insists on taking him anyway. He ends up in Tokyo, and Mater is shocked by what he sees. After he accidentally bumps into the Drag King Kabuto, Mater is challenged to a drift race at midnight. The only way Mater can win is through a serious modification upgrade, which he accepts. Mater and Kabuto have to race to the top of Tokyo Tower, and the winner will be the new Drag King. The loser will be stripped of all of their modifications and reduced to a stop car. The two take off, but Mater is losing horribly. He ends up going the wrong way through traffic and is nearly stopped by police. He manages to escape the police, but is soon surrounded by ninjas. He is rescued by Lightning Dragon McQueen, who then takes him through a special shortcut to reach the tower. It’s a close finish, by Mater manages to win, and Kabuto becomes nothing more than a stock car. However, no one believes Mater’s story, and they watch in silence as Mater runs off, pretending he’s been upgraded.