1 CARS PRODUCTION INFORMATION After taking ... - Disney

Commenting on the characters themselves, Bonnie Hunt (the voice of
Sally) says, “When they write these movies at Pixar, they start with the heart of
the character first. And once the heart is there, it doesn’t matter what’s on the
outside. Even a car becomes a character and a personality. The heart and soul is
what turns a steel car into a character and a person. It’s not only the script that
makes these films special. John Lasseter and the artists at Pixar provide the
imagination that is the gold mine of their storytelling process. Their
imaginations go to the fantasies of the heart, and of life, and of our values.
Anything that you can possibly visualize in your mind, they bring to life.”
The driving force behind “CARS” is John Lasseter, who returns to
directing for the first time since “Toy Story 2” in 1999. During the past seven
years, in addition to guiding “CARS” through the production process, Lasseter
has executive produced and overseen all of Pixar’s creative endeavors
(“Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo,” and “The Incredibles”), and supervised the
building of a new state-of-the-art Studio in Emeryville, California. This latest film
tapped into Lasseter’s personal love of cars and racing, as well as a variety of
issues that were near and dear to him.
“CARS” was co-directed by Joe Ranft, who also served as story
supervisor for the film, and voiced several incidental characters. One of the most
gifted and respected story artists in modern day animation, and the congenial
voice behind such favorite Pixar characters as Heimlich the ravenous caterpillar
(“A Bug’s Life”), Wheezy the penguin (“Toy Story 2”), and Jacques the shrimp
(“Finding Nemo”), Ranft passed away in August, 2005. He had collaborated
with Lasseter on all three of his previous directing efforts, and had been a key
creative force at Pixar for over a decade.
Serving as the film’s producer was Darla K. Anderson, a Pixar veteran
whose previous producing credits include “A Bug’s Life” and “Monsters, Inc.”
Combining her technical expertise with her tremendous respect and knowledge
of the creative process, Anderson guided all aspects of the production and helped
support Lasseter’s vision from the start. The film’s associate producer was Tom
Porter, a technical pioneer in the world of computer animation who has been
part of the Pixar inner circle since its inception. Eben Ostby, another original
member of the Pixar team, was the supervising technical director.
The original story for “CARS” was conceived by John Lasseter, Joe Ranft,
and Jorgen Klubien. The screenplay for the film was written by Dan Fogelman,
Lasseter, Ranft, Kiel Murray and Phil Lorin, and Klubien.
Central to the plot and themes of “CARS” is the iconic Route 66, along
which much of the story takes place. Lasseter and his team headed out on the
historic highway on several occasions to research and observe the importance
and impact of this cultural phenomenon.
Route 66 expert Wallis, who has been exploring the “Mother Road” for
over 60 years and who served as guide/pathfinder for the research trips,
explains, “Route 66 is a mirror held up to the nation. It reflects what’s going on
in the nation at any given time. For most people, this highway is the most
famous in the world, and it represents the great American road trip. It’s a chance
to drive from Chicago, (the city of big shoulders) through the heartland, and the
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