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?’”

Sockgirl of the glitter & the gleam blog has been thinking about driving Route 66. Her desire to hit the Mother Road further inflamed after receiving this e-mail from the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Ariz., about reservations.

Hello,

Yes, we have availability for those dates. We have kept the same original furniture since our father built the Wigwams in the late 1940’s. They have a full bathroom with a shower, cable TV, heat AC.

1. One Double Bed = $42.00 (With Tax $46.62) Sleeps Two Adults
2. Two Double Beds = $48.00 (With Tax $53.2 Sleeps Four Adults

We NEVER EVER run a guest’s credit card until after they have arrived in person and have picked up their key. If we did not take credit cards, some people never bother to call back to let us know they are not coming. We do require a Visa or Mastercard only and the best time is after 4:00 PM at (92 524-3048 FAX: (92 524-9335 Fax is on 24 hrs.

Please see: http://www.wigwamgazette.info
http://www.galerie-kokopelli.com/wigwam

Also, Lycos recently put us in the top 10 places to visit:
http://travel.lycos.com/rtpromo_cover.asp

Thank you

Kind Regards,

John Lewis

Wigwam Motel

P.S. In the area there is the Petrified Forest 25 miles away. Also, there is Hubble’s Trading Post (90 Miles) and Canyon De Chelly (120 Miles) drive from here at Ganado, Ariz., and Chinle, Ariz.., both are located on Hwy. 191 North on the Navajo Reservation. This is just north of Chambers, Arizona on I-40 fifty miles east of Holbrook on I-40.

The Grand Canyon is a three hour drive to or from the south rim of the Grand Canyon (180 Miles).

Wow. Not only does the Wigwam have the original furniture (which I did not know), but they’re pretty darned helpful with tourists.

Sockgirl then wrote: “For a girl fascinated with Route 66 and All Things Road Trip Culture Kitsch, that letter is incentive of the first order to hit the road. So I’ll be back on Route 66 soon enough. It’ll just take a few more weeks to get there.”