The animated short "Tokyo: Competition Jury Discusses Event's 'A-List' Status, Fighting Over Favorite Films" brings Mater, the beloved rusty tow truck from the "Cars" universe, to the Japanese capital for a drift-racing showdown. Directed by John Lasseter, the six-minute film was released on November 21, 2008, and pairs high-speed competition with the franchise's trademark comedy. Larry the Cable Guy returns as the voice of Mater, while Keith Ferguson voices Lightning McQueen.

The story follows a routine tow that unexpectedly lands Mater in Tokyo. There he is challenged to a drift-style race by a scheming gang leader and his crew of ninjas. Backed by his friend "Dragon" Lightning McQueen and a set of special modifications, Mater sets out to master drifting and earn the title of Tow-ke-O Mater, King of all Drifters. The premise leans on the contrast between Mater's small-town manner and the sleek, unfamiliar world of Tokyo street racing.

The short carries the Animation, Comedy, Family, Action and Adventure labels, a combination typical of the "Cars" franchise. It runs six minutes, making it a compact piece of storytelling built around a single race and a handful of jokes. The English-language Hollywood production was made under Lasseter's direction, with a voice cast that also includes Elissa Knight as Tia, Guido Quaroni as Guido, and Lori Alan, Mickie McGowan, Danny Mann and Bob Scott as additional voice talent.

Ratings and Reception

Audience scores for the short sit in middling territory. On TMDb it holds a 6.3 out of 10, while IMDb users give it a slightly higher 6.6 out of 10. Those numbers place it below the strongest entries in the "Cars" series but suggest a modest following among viewers who seek out the franchise's shorter spinoffs. The film's brief runtime and lightweight plot likely account for some of the mixed response.

A Franchise Sidestep

The short arrived in 2008, several years before "Cars 2" took Mater to the international spy-and-racing stage. In that sense, the Tokyo drift premise reads as an early experiment with placing the character in a foreign setting and letting his rural habits collide with big-city culture. The ninja gang and the drift-racing challenge give the six-minute piece a clear villain and a clear goal, keeping the story simple enough for its length.

The "Dragon" nickname for Lightning McQueen and the "Tow-ke-O Mater" title are among the film's obvious playful touches. Casting Mater as an underdog who needs modifications to compete fits the franchise's recurring theme of unlikely heroes proving themselves. Whether the short stands as a minor curiosity or a fan favorite, it adds a chapter to Mater's screen history between the feature films.

For viewers tracking the "Cars" extended universe, the short remains a small but notable entry from the Lasseter era. It is English-language, Hollywood-produced animation with a 2008 release date, and it centers on a character whose popularity has long outlasted his first appearance.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter