Pixar Animation Studios has announced a new series of short films featuring the beloved characters from the Cars franchise. The series, titled Cars Tooned-Up Tales, will premiere on Disney+ in 2023 and will explore the adventures and mishaps of Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sally, and the rest of the Radiator Springs gang.

The series is inspired by the Cars Toons shorts that aired on Disney Channel and Disney XD from 2008 to 2014. Each episode will have a different theme and genre, ranging from comedy to action to horror. Some of the episodes will also introduce new characters and locations to the Cars universe.

“We are thrilled to bring back the Cars Toons in a new format and with new stories,” said Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar. “The Cars characters are so fun and colorful, and we can’t wait to see what kind of crazy situations they will get into.”

Cars Tooned-Up Tales is produced by Pixar in collaboration with Disney Television Animation. The series is executive produced by John Lasseter, who directed the first two Cars films, and co-executive produced by Rob Gibbs and Bobby Podesta, who directed and wrote some of the Cars Toons episodes. The series will feature the original voice cast from the films, including Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Bonnie Hunt as Sally, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, and more.

Cars Tooned-Up Tales is one of the many Pixar projects coming to Disney+ in the next few years. The streaming service will also host original series such as Monsters at Work, Win or Lose, Doug Days, and Turning Red, as well as feature films such as Luca and Lightyear.

Fans of the Cars franchise can expect to see some familiar faces and some surprises in Cars Tooned-Up Tales. According to Podesta, the series will feature some guest stars from other Pixar films, such as Woody and Buzz from Toy Story, Dory from Finding Nemo, and Wall-E from Wall-E. “We wanted to have some fun and show how the Cars world connects with other Pixar worlds,” he said. “It’s a way of paying homage to our Pixar family and also creating some hilarious and unexpected scenarios.”

Gibbs added that the series will also explore some of the unanswered questions and mysteries from the Cars films, such as how Mater became a spy, how Lightning McQueen met Doc Hudson, and how Radiator Springs was founded. “We have a lot of backstory and lore that we never got to show in the movies,” he said. “The series gives us a chance to dive deeper into the history and mythology of the Cars world and reveal some secrets that fans have been wondering about.”

Cars Tooned-Up Tales is set to debut on Disney+ in 2023. The series will consist of 12 episodes, each about 10 minutes long. Pixar has released a teaser trailer for the series, which can be viewed on their official YouTube channel.

Cars Tooned-Up Tales is the latest addition to the Cars franchise, which began with the first film in 2006. The franchise has grossed over $10 billion worldwide and has spawned two sequels, a spin-off series called Planes, several video games, books, comics, toys, and merchandise. The franchise is known for its colorful animation, catchy songs, and heartwarming messages about friendship, family, and racing.

The series is also a testament to the enduring popularity and appeal of the Cars characters, especially Mater, the lovable tow truck who often steals the show with his antics and stories. “Mater is one of our favorite characters to write for,” said Gibbs. “He has such a unique personality and voice, and he always makes us laugh. He’s also very versatile and can fit into any genre or situation. He’s the perfect star for a series like this.”

Cars Tooned-Up Tales is a series that will delight fans of all ages and introduce new generations to the Cars world. It is a series that celebrates the joy of storytelling, imagination, and creativity. As Lasseter said, “Cars Tooned-Up Tales is a love letter to our fans and to the art of animation. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.”