Natsuki Arts! 🎨

-

The Visuals & Music

To start, the visuals of this movie still hold up very well to this day. It’s more updated and polished compared to the 90s, but it’s also not so hyper-realistic like their films today. The cars are shiny in places but it’s not all super distracting, so they hit a perfect balance of cartoony and believable for this world to work.

And oh my is this soundtrack one of the best in Pixar’s musical library. The lyrical songs range from the rocking, catchy ear-worm of ‘Real Gone’ - which describes Lightning’s personality in the beginning perfectly - to the more calmer, slow acoustic tune of ‘Find Yourself’ to wrap up his story which I’ll get into. Then there’s my personal favorite ‘Our Town’ which some described as the ‘When She Loved Me of Cars’ and for understandable reasons, but what can I say, it’s a lovely melancholic song which gets me in the feels almost every time.

But it’s not only those but Randy Newman’s score deserves some praise too. The very intense and triumphing music which plays during both races in the movie really gets you in the mood and hooked to the screen for if Lightning will win or not, but I think the best ones are the country pieces for Radiator Springs. I still remember the music plays during McQueen and Sally’s drive through the forest and listening to it solo sounds even better.

I do wish that Randy would get recognise for this soundtrack on the same level as Toy Story; both are equally unforgettable to me.

-

The Characters

If there’s one thing I really like about Pixar movies is how diverse the main cast of characters can be; Cars is a strong contender to that. Starting off with the mostly lovable tow truck Mater; I said mostly because he does tend to get dunked on but I adore this guy. He’s pretty much the opposite of Lightning, very cheerful and laidback, and always thinking about helping others due to his type of vehicle - all of this is thanks to Larry the Cable Guy bringing him to life.

Speaking of which, all the actors did spectacular with the cast; from Bonnie Hunt’s sassy yet sweet Sally, to Tony Shalhoub’s flamboyant Luigi, and to the hilarious back and forward between Paul Dooley’s Sarge and George Carlin’s Fillmore. Having a bunch of likeable characters like this for Radiator Springs really works for the main theme of the story which I’ll be getting into soon enough.

(Oh! But Micheal Keaton as Chick Hicks is super high up for making the antagonist likeable yet hatable at the same time)

But of course the main focus are Doc (Paul Newman) and Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson). I wanna save them for the next section as it’s a bit part of the story, but I will say they’re both great examples of protagonists with some bad traits but are still likeable in the end. With that, let’s move to the main course.

-

The Story

Here’s some trivia some of you might not know: Lasseter went on a summer road trip with his family after working really hard at Pixar studios, and had realised a lot of what he was missing which is enjoying the slower life with people you love - that’s basically what inspired the plot of this film.

We have Lightning McQueen, a rookie race car reaching for the top to be the first rookie to win a piston cup and to also earn a place in Dinoco. Off the bat we see how cocky and show off-y he is by jumping over a car wreckage and refusing to change tires, leading him to nearly blowing the race, but by pure chance it was a tie in the end. One fantasy sequence later, he sets up to go to the final race and not being appreciative of his rusty car sponsor.

An incident happened and then Lightning found himself lost in a town called Radiator Springs (inspired by the small towns on Route 66) and he’s forced to stay and repair the damage he caused to the road. That’s where he met Doc Hudson, AKA the legendary Hudson Hornet who disappeared for 50 years, showing clear bitterness towards him and racing which McQueen doesn’t understand yet.

After tractor tipping with Mater, Lightning takes a drive with Sally and enjoys the scenery of the route along the way. He learns the history on how Route 66 got bypass just to save a few minutes of driving; this relates to how he’s been living life in the fast lane and only focussing on his own goals for himself. He soon realises what a jerk he’s been and decides to finish the road and help out the rest of the cars of the town and make them happy like in the heyday.

Doc on the other hand (or tire) still hasn’t change his perspective on racers due to his past within the racing world, the ones who turned their backs on him after a dreadful crash, and so called his crew to pick him up and take him away. Until he noticed how upset his residents are and how much they really needed Lightning is when he realised he was being as selfish to stay far from that works entirely; Doc makes up for it by becoming McQueen’s crew chief and he alongside the others aid him with winning the race.

However, in the end, McQueen gives up his first ever victory in order to help out The King after the latter crashed no thanks to Chick Hicks. Allowing to put another car before himself really demonstrates what Radiator Springs taught him, there’s more to life than just winning. It’s also thanks to him that the town gets back on the map, now he gets to have a new home, his friends and really enjoy the simpleness of life with those around him. It really is a inserting message - and is kinda the predecessor to Pixar’s Soul years later - and really one to look back on especially with how the world is today.

-

It may not be on the same high note as the other Pixar films at the time, but Cars 1 really is a solid contender nonetheless - no matter that they kid-ify it now.

So yeah. Happy anniversary to an underrated movie!

His southern drawl barely reaches her ears; all of her attention is magnified on the bowl full of beans, sauce and other vegetables. Sasha Braus doesn’t reach the table before taking the first spoonful and swallow it whole. A single tear nearly seeps through just from the flavour alone. From then on does she devour the rest at a snail pace to really savour every drop of the meal she dearly missed, it almost feels not enough.

About halfway done and her keen-as-ever nose picks up on a new smell approaching, one more like it’s freshly baked, and Sasha knew that it will go well with her stew. She opens her eyes and reaches for the loaf being handed to her… only for her eyes to follow who exactly that hand and arm belong to.

One look nearly has her choking on her mouthful.

Two teens with blissful smiles attempt to hold in their laughter as Sasha’s realisation kicks her in the stuffed face, the younger brunette letting a snicker through in the end.

“Now you see us, huh?”

One good and harmless gulp later and Sasha launches out of her seat with an even more enthusiastic beam. “Gabi?! Falco?!” Her reaction is a mixture of delight and confusion. “What are ya doing here?!”

“To see you of course; what other reason would there be after hearing you came back?” Gabi answers.

The blonde teen Falco watches on as the two brunettes embrace each other tightly. “Uh, we were originally going to wait until noon to come here, but Gabi insisted to surprise you like this.”

“Well, this is far better.” Sasha replies with her arms still wrapped around the younger girl.

Gabi winks over at her boyfriend after being free as a way to tell him ‘told ya so’. A brief little bit of catching up occurs between the trio as Sasha’s family either watches or contribute to certain topics; despite them only meeting their visitors once about three years ago, they treat them like they’re really family. One sentence later mentions something about how the ocean has been getting cleaner recently, flipping the reminder switch in Mrs. Braus’ head and so she fetches a basket from beside the kitchen cupboards.

“Speakin' of water, aah need ya to go down to the riv-ah 'n fetch some fresh fish fer meh, dear; they-yur are plenty of 'em down they-yur these days.” She kindly informs her daughter, handing over said basket.

“Uh… really, Ma? Now?” Sasha wonders.

“It’ll help ya to spend more free time with yer friends he-yah.” Her mother adds.

Looking back at the two teens - with Gabi displaying obvious excitement upon her face - Sasha smiles back at them and nods her head in agreement. “That’s fair.”

They cannot run off into the forest just yet, however, for Sasha needs her main necessities. She quickly retreats to her bedroom and searches through the closet, there she finds old hunting boots her dad use to wear and a wooden, sturdy bow alongside a quiver with arrows left in it. She glances at every small scar within the wood, caressing her fingers over it as memories of her trainee days flood back to her bittersweetly. How time seems to keep flying by.

A few more minutes fly while Sasha puts up her hair in a short ponytail and takes a good proud look in the mirror - maybe or maybe not winking at her own style. Now she goes rocketing back down the steps and swinging open the front door but allows the visitors to exit first.

“Have a good time out they-yur, kiddos.” Mr. Braus grins before they step out.

“Not a kid anymore, Dad, but thank ya.”

“Wait- does this mean I get to use that this time?”

Sasha harmlessly hushes Gabi as the latter gestures towards the bow in her hands. Doing as she was silently told, all three make their way out of the house and off down the pathway through the farm. The rest of the family stay behind and say farewells for now.

—

When was the last time she ever saw such a calming, nostalgic atmosphere? She doesn’t know but it already feels like yesterday.

Sasha spends the next few minutes soaking up every sense of the scenery like a sponge; the sounds of the morning birds, the sight of colorful wildflowers scattered across the grass, the feel of the whispering wind upon her cheeks along with the rocky dirt under her feet - the forest hums with life all around her.

As for the two teens, they simply stay and follow behind the engrossed Sasha in silence, like fawns following the doe, because why would either of them know the route like the back of their hands? But they are enjoying the little stroll; it still beats dreaded, blood-covered trenches any day.

Whilst getting minorly distracted by the sunlight breaking through the leaves above, they almost get so caught off guard to not notice Sasha suddenly sprinting a few more metres ahead - good thing they’re on a rocky pathway in that case.

“H-Hey! Sasha! Where are you going?!” A concerned Falco yells out to her.

“Duh!” Gabi bumps his shoulder. “It’s obvious she’s found some game up ahead! Let’s go!”

Before the boy knows it, he’s being pulled along the path by his girlfriend in order to catch up, feeling like his arm’s gonna be ripped off, but secretly admires her enthusiasm anyway. Because of the girl’s energy, it doesn’t take too long for them to catch up with the older brunette, who’s now kneeled down staring at something. Water sounds confirm it to be the river.

“Ah, so here we are.” Falco sighs, rubbing his shoulder to ease the pain in it.

“Yes! I bet ya smelled a rare fish from a mile away, right?!” Gabi guesses enthusiastically.

Sasha doesn’t respond to her surprise. They cannot see it from their angle, but the older brunette is even more engrossed than before; her eyes are closed, her nose is held high and is keeping two keen ears out for something. It’s starting to grow a little awkward for the teens behind her, but before muttering anything, Sasha slowly standing back up grabs their attention.

The next minute is used of Sasha bringing up her bow in one hand and taking out an arrow with the other. Carefully positioning them together, watching the water like a hawk, she pulls back the arrow and launches it right in the river. Falco and Gabi gaze in amusement as Sasha walks over to the stuck arrow, picks it up, and presents them with about two fish perfectly skewered.

“Wow! Impressive, Sasha.” Falco compliments.

“Thanks.” She responds, placing the two fish inside the basket. “I… honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to pull it off like I used to.”

“Well I’m glad you do.”

“Yes, yes that was great.” Gabi buts in. “Now when can I do it?!”

Falco can’t help but roll his eyes at her, but he keeps up his smile politely. Sasha on the other hand just laughs it off and kindly stands beside her and positioning the bow in Gabi’s hands.

“As a friendly reminder, you don’t use a bow the same way as using a rifle.” Sasha explains.

“Pffft, I know that by now.” Gabi retorts.

“Think you can learn fast enough to catch more fish than I can?”

“Maybe or maybe not; we shall see.”

An arrow is already prepared, the younger brunette attempts her best to listen carefully as Sasha did minutes prior - closed eyes and everything. Sasha herself keeps her hold on her and smiles away, happy to teach her like an older sister would with their younger one. In fact, she gets a little too intrigued in Gabi’s desperation that she can’t help but request a friendly competition.

“Once ya get the hang of this, wanna bet who’ll hunt the most for our visits later?”

The last little part nearly catches Gabi off guard; she questions her without looking away. “W-What?”

“Oh yeah, forgot to tell ya. Since we’re out here, I wanna take some fish over Eren and Mikasa’s and then to Mrs Springer at the care home.”

Instantly and unexpectedly does Gabi let go of the arrow with eyes full of shock. Thankfully it never landed on another animal or any other person, just striking a tree on the other side.

Out of curiosity, Sasha looks over to see the brunette’s reaction; she meets a nearly pale face as if she saw a ghost. Her bow shakes within rhythm of her hands and meets Sasha’s glance with her own anxious eyes. Funny how seconds ago - and every minute since they reunited - she expressed the most excitement she had ever shown in her life, and now it’s all been flushed out of her in an instant. Falco already starts getting noxious so he runs towards her side and gently replaces the bow with his own hand.

“Gabi… a-are you okay?” He asks with a stutter.

She worriedly doesn’t answer; instead she waits for her own mind to come together again and for Sasha’s eyebrows to droop in worry to gain enough composure to speak again.

“D-D-Did you just said… Mrs Springer?”

“Y-Yes. I did.” Sasha responds, almost hesitantly due to Gabi’s own stuttering.

“And you said we are going to visit her?… together?”

A pause occurs. Gabi spends this brief time looking down at her fidgeting fingers; this doesn’t help with Sasha’s or Falco’s anxiety. it doesn’t take long for both of them to put all the pieces into place for what’s causing her stress.

“Gabi…” Falco speaks up first. “I’m sure it’ll be okay-”

“N-No! It won’t be.” She interrupts.

Instead of just standing these shocked, the blonde teen keeps ahold on her hand and uses his other one to rub her shoulder gently. Gabi embraces it, giving into his gesture to calm her at least a little bit.

“Because… doesn’t she know already?”

There was a harsh pin inside Sasha’s heart, a familiar one she used to feel anytime a certain memory flows back to her; it’s not as strong as it used to be but it still stings, like a tiny splinter. Braus droops her head slightly with a nose sigh before answering.

“I’m… honestly not sure. This will be my first time visiting her after being human again. My folks did say that they were the first ones to find her and got her to the care home in the first place; that’s how I learned.”

“O-Oh…”

“And they also told me she’s been having the best treatment she can get to help her through such rough times, which is why I must cooperate as well.”

“And you want to bring me there too?” Gabi asks, her voice slightly breaking.

Sasha sighs a second time. “Yes. At first I thought nothing of it except a simple trip with friends, but now… I think it might help you more than her.”

The younger brunette shakes her head in disagreement, small tears breaking through the corner of her eyes and has the need to step away from her comforting boyfriend, whom can read her inner turmoil without any of these things.

“I-I can’t!” Gabi quavers. “She’s clearly broken-hearted because her home and family are gone. You brought us there three years ago so we could talk about it… right in front of her. What if despite being a titan, she heard all of that? What if she could recognise my face and look back at how I yelled at you and called her family devils? What if she heard you saying I was responsible for shooting her-”

She suddenly goes quiet; all of them do.

———————————————————————————