Classic Auto Mall Show #180 Jay Ward of Pixar Animation with host Stewart Howden

Show #180 airdate 02-12-25 Stewart welcomes Jay Ward, Creative Director of Franchise at Pixar Studios and Concours Judge. They do a deep dive into the animated "Cars" movie franchise, car bucket lists and "Automotive 101". #PaulNewman, #RichardPetty, #MarioAndretti, #JeffGordon, #DaleEarnhardtJr, #BillElliott, #ChaseElliott, #BobCostas 

Imagine working for Pixar and getting to name the cars in the ‘Cars’ movies AND getting to help cast the incredible voice over talent. Jay Ward started working for Pixar in 1998 right as they were releasing their second film ‘Monsters Inc’ and became the ‘Carsultant’ on the first ‘Cars’ movie since he was such a car guy and had so much knowledge about the classic vehicles depicted in the movies. 

Creative Director of Franchise at Pixar Animation Studios Jay Ward talks about how he got started at Pixar in the 1990s as a production assistant and ended up working on the Cars movies. He tells why the eyes on the cars are in the windshield rather than appearing as the headlights in most animation.  They based it on the 1952 cartoon Susie The Little Blue Coupe where the cars had the eyes in the windshield and how that allows for more animation and makes the car appear more human because they can do more animation on the front of the car and grill.

Jay and Stewart also talk about how Pixar wanted to make cartoons for everyone, not just kids and how their philosophy on hiring voice over actors. Most production studios in the past would cast an actor and then draw the character to resemble the actor. Pixar decided to draw the cartoon characters and then find voice over talent to match the cartoon’s personality. 
Jay also goes into stories about researching Formula One Racing for the Cars movies and also building life size versions of the cars from the movies. 

Jay has also been a judge at the amazing Pebble Beach Concours Show as well as Audrain. He tells us how the judging works at those shows and what he like to see and the cost of building an award winning car to compete for the Ridler or America’s Most Beautiful Roadster.

Jay tells Stewart about hiring famous actors and comedians to voice the characters. He has worked with Mario Andretti who voiced the 1967 Ford Fairlane Marco , Larry The Cable Guy who was Tow Mater, Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Michael Caine as Finn McMissile, Eddie Izzard as Sir Miles Axelrod, Brent Musburger as Brent Mustangburger, David Hobbs as David Hobbscarp, Tony Shalhoub of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as Luigi, Cheech Marin as the lowrider Ramone, Jeff Gordon as Jeff Gorvette, Paul Newman as Doc Hudson, Richard Petty as The King, Dale Earnhardt Jr as Junior,  and Bob Costas as Bob Cutlass.

They also talk about the first Cars movie being the last film that P

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Recorded in our Showcase Studio just inside the entrance of the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, PA, Host Stewart Howden, Classic Auto Mall President and Classic Car Specialist Steve Saffier talk about this unique and amazing place often with amazing guests.

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