What is Mater’s short-film series called in the Cars franchise?

Mater’s short-film series in the Cars franchise is called Mater’s Tall Tales. The series is also known as Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales and follows Mater as he recounts exaggerated stories about his supposed adventures.

The shorts use a framing device in which Mater tells Lightning McQueen about an unusual past event. The story may involve espionage, stunt driving, or encounters with famous characters, but the final moments often suggest that Mater’s version is not entirely reliable.

The first three shorts premiered in 2008, and additional episodes followed. The series expanded the Cars world beyond the theatrical films while keeping Mater and Lightning at its center. It is distinct from Cars on the Road, a later Disney+ series released in 2022 that follows the pair on a road trip across the United States.