Disney and Pixar steer 'Cars' to summer 2006 release

BURBANK, CA. (Walt Disney Pictures/ Pixar Animation Studios/ www.pixar.com) - Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios today announced that they are moving the release date of Pixar's upcoming animated feature film, Cars, to June 9, 2006.
Release dates for major international territories have also been set for summer 2006 - France on July 12, Germany and Switzerland on July 13, the UK and Spain on July 14, Japan on July 15 and Italy on September 1.

Commenting on the announcement, Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios said, "The move from November 2005 to June 2006 makes perfect sense. Cars is the quintessential summer film for audiences of all ages.
It has a fantastic story full of action, adventure, comedy, heartfelt emotion with cutting edge animation and incredible voice talent." Cook continued, "In the vein of Finding Nemo, we feel the movie will have legs throughout summer and beyond."

"Cars longs to be a summer movie, said Pixar CEO Steve Jobs. "We plan to finish Cars on its original schedule, and look forward to Cars and our future films benefiting by summer theatrical releases and holiday DVD releases."

Cars, the seventh animated feature film to be created by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures, is directed by Pixar's two-time Academy Award-winner John Lasseter, who directed Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and Toy Story 2.
A high-octane adventure comedy, Cars features the voice talents of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and Bonnie Hunt, and has a wide assortment of cars as characters who get their kicks on Route 66. Cars is produced by Darla K. Anderson (A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc.).
Cars will be the final original film produced under Disney and Pixar's highly successful partnership.