In the upcoming book "The Art of Cars," Pixar Animation Studios chief John Lasseter — who also is director of the "Cars" movie that's coming out June 9 — says in the foreword:
"Doing research on the subjects of our films has become a matter of principle for us … We ended up doing more research for 'Cars' than we'd done for any other project at Pixar."
This statement speaks volumes on why Pixar is one of the most successful studios on the planet. Pixar does indeed hire creative and talented people. But it's the research that's key. Pixar's research unearths facts; those facts inspire more ideas to enrich the story. Research begets creativity.
That's why the lavishly illustrated "The Art of Cars," by Michael Wallis and his wife Suzanne, is such an eye-opener. (The Wallises generously gave a copy of the book to us weeks before its release.) The 160-page volume brims with hundreds of sketches, storyboards, photographs and paintings. It's gorgeous to look at. Some of the paintings, such as Tia Kratter's (shown below), of an interstate highway cutting through a mesa, wouldn't look out of place in a prestigious art gallery.
But "The Art of Cars" is also special because it shows how Pixar turned motor vehicles into characters and brought the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs to life. The book explains the genesis of the film.
The Pixar crew hung around NASCAR racetracks. It toured automotive manufacturing plants and design rooms in Detroit. It gazed at Don Sommer's extensive collection of hood ornaments. It walked through an abandoned Packard factory. It invited longtime automotive illustrator Dave Deal to preside over a workshop on drawing cars.
The attention to detail is awe-inspiring. There are eight pages of drawings of the interior and exterior of the Cozy Cone Motel (one is shown above). Check out the fictional bumper stickers on the VW hippie van, Fillmore (above). There are two pages of drawings of trees, weeds and cacti. Bud Luckey's aerial map (below) of Radiator Springs is so intricate that one can almost believe it's a real town, not a fictional one. Ditto for the fake tourism postcards (also below) of the Radiator Springs area.
As for Route 66, Pixar's people were led down the Mother Road by Wallis not once, but twice. The book contains photos from the Blue Swallow Motel, the U-Drop Inn, the ghost town of Glenrio, a red-dirt road in Oklahoma, and a rusty tow truck that became the inspiration for Mater. Pixar's people ate in local diners, slept in vintage motels and met the memorable characters of the road.
The Wallises' text also tells of scenes that didn't make the final cut, including one of the sheriff car (voiced by Wallis) singing the Commander Cody hit "Hot Rod Lincoln" during "caraoke night." Maybe those scenes will make it onto the DVD.
Lasseter says the 1952 Disney short "The Little Blue Coupe" was an early inspiration. He also had been thinking about making a cars film since the early 1980s.
But "Cars" was jump-started to life during a long vacation Lasseter took with his family in 1999.
"… The true epiphany came in North Carolina one afternoon when I was about halfway through a rather bland taco at some chain restaurant. I suddenly realized that I could be anywhere in America and here I am eating a taco in North Carolina, when there's plenty of genuine barbecue around us! Why eat Mexican food in barbecue country? We left immediately in search of a hometown eatery were folks go to feast on a local staple — great barbecue."
It was a turning point for John. He had experienced firsthand how America had become overrun with predictable, homogenous franchises. Now, after enjoying regional cuisine, he found himself searching for those special places that still offered the real thing.
…
All the way back to California, John thought about the movie he wanted to make. This time, when he walked into the studio, instead of saying, "One of these days …" John smiled and simply said, "Let's make our car movie."
I’d give my left boob to see that footage of the sheriff singing “Hot Rod Lincoln.”
I assume Mr. Wallis realizes that he *will* be expected to reprise this performance at some point in ABQ. I’m sure our favorite party DJ from Mesa will make sure “Hot Rod Lincoln” is on the stereo for the occasion….
WOW! This book looks amazing! I have only seen one other Art Of… books and that was the Art of Finding Nemo. If these pictures and the Art Of Finding Nemo are any indication of what to expect, than I am definitly getting this book.
The amount of detail and research that went into creating Cars, which btw I must add looks like it is going to rock, is phenomenal!
I love the stickers on the back of Fillmore, ‘Save 2D Animation’ and ‘Save Mother Road’.
Classic!
Great article too btw!
Thanks, Thomas. I like your Upcoming Pixar site a lot, by the way. Click on the link on his name, folks, and check it out.
Thanks for the sneak peek into the book, Ron…I had (have?) a similar book on Disney’s Aladdin, though it wasn’t digital, of course.
Emily, here’s hoping you don’t need to go through major reconstructive surgery to hear that song – perhaps the DVD will have that in the deleted scenes. And better yet, there’s always the chance for a private performance for you!
Sorry we’ll miss you in Albuquerque…hope to see you both sometime soon!
Emily,
If you can talk “the sheriff” into performing Hot Rod Lincoln sometime during the Albuquerque weekend I will have my “mini karaoke machine” that I used at the Wigwam last year with me, along with a CD-G with Hot Rod Lincoln on it.
It sounds to me like a challenge is in order — what do you think???
Mike
Listen. Do you hear that? That was the sound of Mr. Ward throwing down a gauntlet. Will the sheriff pick it up? Stay tuned …
Wow that’s amazing. To be honest the movie doesn’t look quite as uh, compelling as Finding Nemo but I guess we will have to wait and see. With the art looking that good and the production and planning gone into it – it does look interesting.
Blaze, one fellow I know saw the completed film.
Read this:
https://www.route66news.com/2006/03/26/route-66-author-sees-final-cut-of-cars-movie/
Thanks for the sneek! I buy all the “art of” books. This one looks very well done. Lately they have been very bland. I will be going to the premiere at Lowes to meet the stars so I am thrilled! Thanks again
Let us know how it goes, Sue. I’ll likely be attending an early premiere, but not until after the Lowes’ date.
Thanks for posting this! Can’t wait for “Cars”!
great site! I have a question though: what kind of car is Lightning McQueen based off of? he looks like a 1993-95 Mazda RX-7, but it doesn’t say anywhere what he is. do you know? thanks!
Chris
According to a recent Detroit News article about Pixar that I found, Lightning McQueen is an original with inspiration from a number of models:
The main character, Lightning McQueen, is generic, too.
“It’s a Pixar design,” Sorena said.
Asked why, she said: “I think they wanted to make him ‘the best’ ” and thus not peg him to any one model.”
You can read the whole article here:
https://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060417/ENT02/604170357/1032/ENT
Lightening Mcqueen remidns me of a two door red pontiac Sunfire!
Everytime I look at mine it reminds me of Mcqueen
Lightning McQueen DOES remind me of a Pontiac Sunfire. (But a ‘lil more pumped up)
Jennifer
Thanks, Thomas. I am enjoy by reading the blog!
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i just loved the way the cars were animated..brilliant work
My hubby and I thought Lightening McQueen looked like a Cobalt. Then with the paintjob he looked like an old Stingray. My daughter has watched this movie about 10 times since Christmas. LOL
Minus the tail lights, Lightning looks like a Monte Carlo.
My son and I have a bet. I think McQueen looks like a Camaro , he thinks he looks like a Corvette. Someone needs to get an answer to the question ,WHAT KIND OF CAR IS MCQUEEN?
I do hope Cars recieves an Oscar in the forthcoming academy awards!
It was easily the best animation movie of the year! A new generation of youngsters over here in europe are learning about Route 66 (In my opinion is the greatest highway in the world) I would love to travel down this road one day! Does anyone know if pixar are to make a Cars 2?
i really love this animated movie!!!!
i think lightning looks kinda like a dodge viper…..
wish we knew what lightning was.. i think maybe a corvette since he gets painted up like the classic one in the movie, my son thinks he looks like a dodge viper….
in the song at the begining of the movie it said that he was a chevrolet.
Viper coupe, especially from the front.
A cross between a Ford GT40 and a ’68 Ford Mustang GT Fastback.
Front end inspired by the GT40, the rest fastback.
This is based purely on speculation.
Remember the name: McQueen, as in Steve McQueen and his Fastback from Bullitt.
I also remember reading an interview with some of the illustrators and they mentioned their love of the original Ford GT40, and their favourite “car movie” being Bullitt.
Definetely not a Corvette, as McQueen asked if it was a Corvette that Sally fell in love with, although I do see the resemblance post-Ramone-Paintjob.
The name McQueen had nothing to do with Steve McQueen. Lightning McQueen was named after Glen McQueen, the Supervising Animator for Pixar movies “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2” and “Monsters, Inc.” He passed away in 2002. In 2003, when “Finding Nemo” was released, it was dedicated to him. In the movie “Cars,” they decided to name the main character, Lightning McQueen, after him.
cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
Loved Mike Wallaces book – the Mother Road…and then the Art of Cars. My brother, Dave Deal, is highlighted in that book. We got a little Roadtrek and took the trip. From the Santa Monica Pier to Chicago,,,17 days. We stopped everywhere and met up with the wonderful people along the way. We visited many places the Pixar gang had visited and I had fun passing out my brothers business cards to little kids who liked the movie CARS. Davids cards have wonderful drawings of his favorite cars. I also visited Disneyland last week and am happy to report that Radiator Springs will have its neon lights on for a long time….looks like a great theme coming up. I am sorry to report that my brother Dave Deal passed away October 14,2008. He had a great run and enjoyed it all.
diane Tollefson
Diane, hi! My name is Melisa Lunsetter and I live in Wahpeton, North Dakota. I ran into Wayne Wickoran yesterday in the grocery store and got to visiting with him (I know him through some mutual friends) he said that you and your brother, Dave, have the sir name of Helgeson in your family tree. I’m just curious about that as my maiden name is Helgeson. I’d love to hear from you! Sorry about your brother’s passing. If the information I received is correct and you’d like to “visit” you can email me at the email address listed below. Thanks!!
Lightning mc queen is a chevrolet monte carlo it looks exactly like the one I have parked outside in my garage.
Lightning McQueen is a Saturn Sky minus the convertible top!
how do I order the art of cars book by pixar for my little boy?
It’s available at Amazon.com here:
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Cars-Suzanne-Fitzgerald-Wallis/dp/0811849007