The Kalamazoo Gazette spoke with Pixar Animation‘s John Lasseter, who is directing the Route 66-themed movie “Cars,” set for release in June. Lasseter was in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show.
Lasseter briefly talks about the film’s plot, and his remarks about casting reveal one reason why Pixar films are so successful:
… His screenplay is set in a world where cars drive themselves with no human help. In this environment, Lasseter said, “race cars are like athletes. We start with this young rookie sports car: Success has gone to his head and his values are skewed. He’s in the wrong place, and on the way to a big race, his self-centeredness gets him lost.”
The cocky car, known as Lightning McQueen, ends up stranded in the dusty hamlet of Radiator Springs. “The interstate has bypassed it, so there are no new cars coming there,” Lasseter said. “So it’s inhabited by cars from the ’50s and ’60s.”
Radiator Springs is a fictional place, but Lasseter said it was inspired by the Pixar team’s research. “We made up this town that’s a collection of all our favorite people and places on Route 66,” he said.
The voices in “Cars” include Owen Wilson as Lightning; Bonnie Hunt as a Porsche named Sally; Paul Newman as Doc Hudson, a 1951 Hudson Hornet; Larry the Cable Guy as the tow truck Mater; and even Click and Clack (Tom and Ray Magliozzi) of National Public Radio’s “Car Talk.”
Doing voice work on animated films — particularly Pixar projects — is now considered a major credit for many stars, but Lasseter said Pixar has particular qualities they’re looking for in their casting.
“How big the star is doesn’t matter to us,” he said. “We always choose our voices based on how good an actor they are, and how their voice fits with character.”
The ability to ad-lib is also essential. “We want our audience to get swept away into a story. I don’t want audiences to go, ‘Isn’t that such and such’s voice?'”