Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales
Series, 2008, The films and shorts, Set in Mater's stories
Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales is #3 of 10 in release order and #3 of 10 in chronological order in the Cars.
The story
Mater the tow truck travels from country to country as he retells his infamous but unbelievable stories.
Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales recap
Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales (2008) is a run of shorts in which Mater tells Lightning McQueen outrageous stories about his past. Eleven episodes came out from 2008 to 2012; they premiered on Toon Disney and Disney Channel, on home video, and in one case in theaters, when "Tokyo Mater" played before Bolt. Each follows a formula: something reminds Mater of an old adventure, he tells it, and when Lightning doubts him, Mater insists Lightning was there too, so Lightning gets pulled into the story. Mater is a fire truck in "Rescue Squad Mater", a daredevil in "Mater the Greater", a matador facing bulldozers in "El Materdor", a drift racer in "Tokyo Mater", a friend to a small flying saucer in "Unidentified Flying Mater", a wrestler in "Monster Truck Mater", a rock star in "Heavy Metal Mater", the first tow truck on the Moon in "Moon Mater", a detective in "Mater Private Eye" and a stunt plane in "Air Mater". Most episodes close with Lightning dismissing the tale until someone from it turns up, suggesting it really happened.
Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales ending explained
Mater's Tall Tales ends with "Time Travel Mater" (2012), in which Mater slips back to 1909, meets Stanley, the founder of Radiator Springs, and helps the town get started, including Stanley's match with Lizzie. Lightning is dragged along through time, and it is Lightning, not Mater, who ends up introducing the young Lizzie to Stanley; she thanks him for it. Unlike most of the run, the episode does not end with Lightning denying the story. Tales from Radiator Springs follows in 2013.
Where to watch Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales
Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.0/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Mater and the Ghostlight, before Cars 2.
- Chronological order: after Mater and the Ghostlight, before Cars 2.
What to watch before Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales
Cars (2006), which Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales (2008) continues. Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales itself is optional in the Cars order.
Cast
- Larry the Cable Guy as Mater (voice)
- Keith Ferguson as Lightning McQueen (voice)
- John Cygan as Additional Voices (voice)
- Lori Alan as Additional Voices (voice)
- Elissa Knight as Tia / Additional Voices (voice)
- Jan Rabson as Additional Voices (voice)
- Danny Mann as Additional Voices (voice)
- Lindsey Collins as Mia / Additional Voices (voice)
- Bob Scott as Additional Voices (voice)
- Mickie McGowan as Additional Voices (voice)
- Steve Purcell as Additional Voices (voice)
- Paul Eiding as Additional Voices (voice)
Directed by Rob Gibbs, John Lasseter, Victor Navone.