Discover how one person was responsible for inspiring the creation of the tow truck, Mater, a character from the “Cars” franchise!
In addition to Lightning McQueen, the “Cars” franchise introduced several incredible characters, who ended up winning the hearts of the public, such as the tow truck Mater. The buck-toothed friend of the famous racing car who wants to win the Piston Cup has a “hillbilly” accent and has the title — given by himself — of “greatest reverse driver” of all time.
Still, what few can imagine is that the adorable Mater had real-world inspiration to take shape in the “Cars” universe. But contrary to what is common to imagine, it was not a vehicle that gave rise to the character, but a person!
The real-life inspiration for the character Mater
According to the EW portal, the animation director, John Lasseterfound Mate’s inspiring muse, a construction superintendent named Douglas Keeverbetter known by his childhood nickname Mater (character’s name in the original version), in one of his research to create the plot during a visit to Lowe’s Speedway, located in Concord on the outskirts of Charlotte in the state of North Carolina, United States, in 2001.
On that occasion, Keeverwho does everything he can to not miss a single race on the circuit, was in his usual place: a rise in the infield of Lowe’s known to locals as “Redneck Hill”, where the most regular fans gathered in tents.
In case of Keeverhe gathered with his friends around a small red wagon where he brought drinks to his companions, and it was like that, offering a beer to Lasseter that the two met — resulting in a dialogue that would also be portrayed in the animation.
My name is Mater,” Keever introduced himself, as usual. “Mater?” asked Lasseter. “Yes, like tuh-mater, but without the tuh.”
Detail: When Mater introduces himself to Lightning McQueen in “Cars”, the exchange between the two is similar to that of Keever It is Lasseterwhere there is also a pun between the name and the word tomato.
In the Portuguese version it is: “My name is Mate”, says the tow truck. “Kill?” asks McQueen. “Yeah, like a tomato, just without the ‘To'”, concludes Mate. Remember!
The exchange between the director of “Cars” and Keever could have become just a vague memory if the film’s team hadn’t faced difficulties in naming the character who was originally thought of as a pickup truck, as it was seeing this that Lasseter decided to change the idea, transforming it into a tow truck that would be named Mater.
In English, the name makes an even bigger pun, since tow truck is translated as tow truck, in this way, Mater’s name, which is Tow Mater in the original dub, makes a joke with the vehicle he represents and the pronunciation of tomato in the English language.
With this in mind, Lasseter contacted Keever to present the idea, in addition to inviting him to make a brief appearance in the film, as Keever has your voice and that of your best running friend, Larry Benton heard in the scene where two motorhome fans shout for Lightning McQueen in the first few minutes of the film.
Source: Recreio
