Cars 2 was the first Pixar Cars feature released in stereoscopic 3D.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 expanded the series from a small-town racing story into an international adventure. Lightning McQueen and Mater travel to Japan, Italy, and England for the World Grand Prix, while a spy plot develops around the race and its fuel technology.
The stereoscopic 3D presentation added depth to the film’s racing circuits, city streets, aircraft sequences, and action set pieces. Cars, the 2006 original, was released theatrically in standard 2D formats. Cars 3 returned to the series’ racing-centered emotional story but was also presented in 3D in selected cinemas.
Cars 2 is also notable as the first Pixar feature directed by Brad Lewis. John Lasseter, director of the original Cars, co-directed the sequel with Lewis, while the story gave Mater a much larger role.