What was the title of Pixar’s first Cars short-film series, released before Cars 2?

Pixar’s first Cars short-film series was titled Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales.

The series centers on Mater recounting exaggerated stories about his supposed past adventures. Each short uses a familiar Cars setting and supporting cast while allowing the storytelling to become deliberately larger than life. The format is built around Mater’s comic personality and unreliable narration.

Cars Toons began in 2008, between the theatrical releases of Cars and Cars 2. Its shorts were initially made for television and later collected in home-video releases. The series expanded the franchise without presenting another full-length feature story.

Cars on the Road is a different Cars television series, released much later in 2022. It follows Lightning McQueen and Mater on a road trip. The two titles are therefore related but refer to separate productions and different release periods.