In Pixar’s Cars, who directed the 2006 animated film?

John Lasseter directed Pixar’s Cars, released in 2006.

Lasseter was Pixar’s chief creative officer and had already directed Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, and Toy Story 2. Cars became his fourth feature as director and combined Pixar’s computer animation with his long-standing interest in automobiles and American road culture.

The film follows Lightning McQueen, a rookie race car who becomes stranded in Radiator Springs while traveling to the Piston Cup finale. Its production drew inspiration from Route 66, classic car design, and the changing character of small roadside towns.

Cars is sometimes confused with the later Cars 2 and Cars 3, but Lasseter directed the original film and co-directed Cars 2 with Brad Lewis. Cars 3 was directed by Brian Fee. The original film was also Lasseter’s last solo Pixar directing credit before he moved into broader creative leadership roles.