The Enduring Popularity of Cars 2: A Look at the Japanese Dub
Released in 2011, Disney-Pixar's Cars 2 was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $560 million worldwide. The film's blend of high-octane action, stunning animation, and lovable characters resonated with audiences of all ages. For fans in Japan, the movie was especially exciting, as it featured a star-studded voice cast, including some of the country's most beloved celebrities. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Japanese dub of Cars 2 and explore its enduring popularity.
The Japanese Dub: A Star-Studded Cast
The Japanese dub of Cars 2 boasted an impressive voice cast, featuring some of the country's most renowned actors and comedians. Takashi Nagasako, a veteran voice actor known for his roles in Dragon Ball Z and One Piece, voiced Lightning McQueen, the film's protagonist. Joining Nagasako were other notable voice actors, including Keiji Fujiwara as Mater, the lovable but rusty tow truck, and Tesshō Genda as Doc Hudson's replacement, a new character named Finn McMissile.
One of the standout aspects of the Japanese dub was the casting of Koichi Yamadera as Francesco Bernoulli, a sleek and arrogant Italian racing car. Yamadera, known for his versatility and range, brought the character to life with his signature charm and wit. The rest of the cast, including Yūji Horikata as Holley Shiftwell and Masashi Ebara as Luigi, delivered equally impressive performances, bringing depth and nuance to their respective characters.
A Faithful Adaptation
The Japanese dub of Cars 2 was praised for its faithfulness to the original film. The voice actors did an excellent job of capturing the spirit and personality of their characters, ensuring that the dub felt authentic and engaging. The translation of the script was also well-handled, with jokes and humor translated effectively to resonate with Japanese audiences.
The film's director, John Lasseter, was closely involved in the dubbing process, ensuring that the Japanese voice cast stayed true to the original characters and their emotions. This attention to detail paid off, as the Japanese dub of Cars 2 felt remarkably similar to the original English version, with only minor adjustments made to accommodate cultural differences.
Cultural Significance
The Japanese dub of Cars 2 holds significant cultural importance, as it marked a rare instance of a Disney-Pixar film being dubbed with a predominantly Japanese voice cast. The film's success in Japan demonstrated the country's appetite for high-quality animation and voice acting, paving the way for future Disney-Pixar titles to be dubbed in Japan.
Furthermore, the Japanese dub of Cars 2 helped to introduce the Cars franchise to a new generation of Japanese fans. The film's themes of friendship, perseverance, and innovation resonated with Japanese audiences, who appreciated the movie's lighthearted yet engaging storyline.
Enduring Popularity
The Japanese dub of Cars 2 continues to be celebrated by fans in Japan, with many regarding it as one of the best dubs of the year. The film's memorable characters, exciting action sequences, and stunning animation have made it a beloved classic, with fans of all ages quoting lines and singing songs from the movie.
The enduring popularity of Cars 2 can be attributed, in part, to its well-crafted storytelling and lovable characters. The film's themes of friendship and perseverance are timeless, making it a movie that can be enjoyed by families and individuals alike.
Legacy and Impact
The Japanese dub of Cars 2 has had a lasting impact on the world of anime and voice acting. The film's success demonstrated the importance of high-quality voice acting and faithful adaptations, influencing the way that future anime and dubbing projects are approached.
The film's influence can be seen in subsequent Disney-Pixar titles, which have also been dubbed in Japan with predominantly Japanese voice casts. The Cars franchise, in particular, has become a beloved brand in Japan, with Cars 3 and Cars on the Road both receiving Japanese dubs.
Conclusion
The Japanese dub of Cars 2 is a testament to the power of voice acting and faithful adaptations. With its star-studded cast, engaging storyline, and stunning animation, the film has become a beloved classic in Japan. As a cultural phenomenon, Cars 2 continues to inspire and entertain fans of all ages, cementing its place as one of the most popular and enduring Disney-Pixar titles in Japan.
For fans of the Cars franchise, the Japanese dub of Cars 2 offers a unique and exciting viewing experience, with a talented voice cast bringing the characters to life in a way that feels both authentic and engaging. Whether you're a seasoned fan or just discovering the world of Cars, the Japanese dub of Cars 2 is definitely worth checking out.
Key Takeaways
The Japanese dub of (released as カーズ 2) is a notable example of Pixar's commitment to cultural localization, particularly because a significant portion of the film's first act takes place in Tokyo. The Japanese Voice Cast
The dubbing was handled by Tohokushinsha Film Corporation and features a cast of prominent Japanese voice actors (Seiyuu) and celebrities. Lightning McQueen: Voiced by Hiroshi Tsuchida , who replaced Miki Shinichiro from the first film. Mater: Voiced by Tomomitsu Yamaguchi
, a comedian and actor who brings a distinct Japanese comedic flair to the character. Finn McMissile: Voiced by Hochu Otsuka , a veteran actor known for his deep, authoritative voice. Holley Shiftwell: Voiced by
, a famous actress frequently cast in high-profile anime and dubbed roles. Cultural Localization and "Carification" cars 2 japanese dub
Pixar’s localization team went beyond simple translation to ensure the film felt authentic to a Japanese audience.
Visual Adaptations: The production team designed hundreds of custom signs for the Tokyo scenes, translating them into Japanese and often "carifying" them (e.g., adding car parts like air filters to building architecture).
Audio Details: Common sound effects were localized; for instance, "honk" and "beep" were replaced with the Japanese equivalents "poo" and "peep".
Musical Inclusion: The Japanese pop group Perfume contributed the song "Polyrhythm" to the soundtrack, which plays during the World Grand Prix welcome party in Tokyo. Regional Character Variations
While many international versions of Cars 2 replaced the character Jeff Gorvette with a regional racing celebrity, the Japanese theatrical release surprisingly kept Jeff Gorvette in the Tokyo party scene. However, the Japanese-inspired racer Shu Todoroki (inspired by the Mazda 787B) is a major character in the World Grand Prix, though he notably does not have a speaking role in the film itself. Reception in Japan
The film was released in Japanese cinemas on July 30, 2011. While the visuals of Tokyo—including references to capsule hotels, vending machines, and high-tech toilets—were praised for their detail, some Japanese critics felt the spy-centric plot was overly complex for a children's film. Shu Todoroki | Pixar Cars Wiki | Fandom
The Japanese dub of Cars 2, titled カーズ2 (Kāzu 2), was released in Japanese cinemas on July 30, 2011. Produced by the Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, the dub is celebrated for its high-profile voice cast and its deep connection to the film's significant Tokyo-based sequences. Core Voice Cast
The Japanese version features a mix of returning veterans from the first film and famous guest stars:
Lightning McQueen: Voiced by Hiroshi Tsuchida, who returns to provide the voice for the series protagonist.
Tow Mater: Voiced by Tomomitsu Yamaguchi (popularly known as Gussan), a well-known Japanese comedian and actor.
Finn McMissile: Voiced by Hōchū Ōtsuka, a legendary voice actor known for his versatile roles in anime and dubbing.
Holley Shiftwell: Voiced by Romi Park, famous for her role as Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist.
Sally Carrera: Voiced by Keiko Toda, an iconic actress and singer who also voices Anpanman.
Luigi: Voiced by Girolamo Panzetta, a famous Italian-Japanese media personality. Localization and Cultural Context
Because a major portion of Cars 2 takes place in Tokyo, the Japanese dub carries a unique level of cultural authenticity:
Shu Todoroki: The Japanese World Grand Prix racer, Shu Todoroki, is a key local hero. His design incorporates traditional Japanese elements, such as a Ka-Ryu Dragon paint job and kanji graphics on his hood.
The Tokyo Welcome Party: This sequence features the Japanese pop group Perfume and their song "Polyrhythm," which is kept in its original Japanese lyrics even in the English version to maintain the Tokyo vibe.
"Carification" of Tokyo: The filmmakers spent significant time in Japan to ensure authentic details. They "carified" the Tokyo skyline with air filters and spark plugs and even localized signage to include Japanese puns like "Go-Go Burger". Notable Dubbing Differences
In Cars 2, Pixar utilized "international replacements" for certain characters to make them more relatable to local audiences: Cars 2 (2011 Movie) - Behind The Voice Actors
The Cars 2 Japanese dub is a significant localization project that brings Pixar’s international racing adventure to life with a star-studded voice cast and culturally specific modifications. Since Japan serves as the setting for the first leg of the film's World Grand Prix, the Japanese version features unique elements that differentiate it from the standard international release. Iconic Voice Cast
The Japanese dub features a mix of veteran voice actors and celebrities to ground the characters for a local audience.
Lightning McQueen: Voiced by Hiroshi Tsuchida , who replaced the original English voice of Owen Wilson.
Mater: Voiced by Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, a popular Japanese comedian and actor whose energetic style matches Larry the Cable Guy’s performance.
Finn McMissile: Voiced by the prolific Hōchū Ōtsuka, known for his distinctive gravelly tone. The Enduring Popularity of Cars 2: A Look
Holley Shiftwell: Voiced by Romi Park, a famous voice actress often known for her roles in major anime series.
Luigi: Notably voiced by Girolamo Panzetta, an Italian-born TV personality who is a staple of Japanese media. Musical Highlights and J-Pop Integration
One of the most celebrated aspects of the Japanese localization is the inclusion of the J-pop group Perfume.
"Polyrhythm": This techno-pop hit by Perfume is featured during the Tokyo party scene.
Director's Approval: Director John Lasseter , a noted fan of Japanese culture, personally selected the track because he felt its futuristic sound perfectly complemented the neon-lit Tokyo cityscape.
Commercial Tie-ins: The group also appeared in commercials for the movie's Japanese release on July 30, 2011. Localization and Exclusive Characters Cars 2 (2011 Movie) Japanese Cast - Behind The Voice Actors
The Japanese dub of (カーズ2) is often cited by fans as one of the most immersive international versions of the film, particularly because a significant portion of the movie is set in Tokyo. Notable Voice Cast
The Japanese version features a mix of veteran voice actors (Seiyu) and celebrities: Lightning McQueen: Voiced by Hiroshi Tsuchida
, who has voiced the character across the entire franchise and is known for dubbing Lee Byung-hun Joseph Gordon-Levitt Mater: Voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi
, a legendary Seiyu famous for roles like Usopp (One Piece), L (Death Note), and Inuyasha. His energetic style fits Mater’s persona perfectly. Finn McMissile: Voiced by Akira Terao
, a prestigious Japanese actor and musician, giving the British spy a sophisticated, "cool elder" tone. Holley Shiftwell: Voiced by **
**, known for Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist), bringing a sharp, capable energy to the rookie agent. Localization Highlights
The "Polite" Mater: In the Japanese dub, Mater’s dialogue is adjusted to reflect his "fish out of water" status in Tokyo. While he remains boisterous, the contrast between his Southern-style mannerisms and the formal Japanese setting is played up for comedic effect.
Cultural Context: Because the film features Japanese culture (the World Grand Prix party, the high-tech bathrooms, and Neon lights), watching it in Japanese makes the Tokyo sequence feel like an authentic local production rather than a foreign perspective.
Theme Song: The Japanese release famously features the song "Polyrhythm" by the J-pop group Perfume. While the song appears in the English version during the Tokyo party scene, it was a major marketing point in Japan and is synonymous with the film there. Where to Watch
Disney+: If you are in a region that supports multiple audio tracks (like Japan, or sometimes the US/UK depending on licensing), you can toggle the audio to "Japanese" in the settings.
Physical Media: The Japanese Blu-ray/DVD releases include the dub and are popular collectors' items due to the unique cover art featuring the Japanese racer character, Shu Todoroki.
The Japanese release of is famous for a "love story" between the Pixar production team and the Japanese techno-pop group Perfume.
When director John Lasseter and his team were designing the Tokyo sequence, they were looking for the perfect song to capture the vibrant, high-tech energy of the city. A member of the Pixar crew, who was a fan of the Hiroshima-based trio, recommended their 2007 hit "Polyrhythm." Lasseter reportedly said that the moment he heard the track, "it was like falling in love."
The song was so perfectly suited to the neon-lit, futuristic aesthetic of the Tokyo scenes that Pixar didn't just use it in the Japanese dub—they included it in the international theatrical cut and the official soundtrack. This gave Perfume their global debut and led to a unique cross-promotion where the Cars 2 characters, including Mater, were featured dancing to "Polyrhythm" in Japanese commercials. Unique Features of the Japanese Version
Beyond the music, the Japanese localization included several specific touches:
Regional Racer Cameos: In the U.S. version, Lightning McQueen meets the Corvette racer Jeff Gorvette (voiced by Jeff Gordon). However, in international versions, this character was often swapped for a driver famous in that specific country. For Japan, while Jeff Gorvette
still appears in the race, local focus remained on the Japanese character Shu Todoroki .
The "Toilet" Connection: The Japanese news reporter Chuki, voiced by Sonoko Konishi The Japanese dub of Cars 2 features a
, also provided the voice for the "Toilet Assistant" character that helps Mater navigate the high-tech Japanese bathroom.
Authentic Cast: The Japanese dub featured prominent voice actors, including Hiroshi Tsuchida as Lightning McQueen and Tomomitsu Yamaguchi as Mater.
Voiced internationally by Michael Caine, the British spy Finn McMissile required a Japanese actor with equal gravitas. They cast Kōichi Yamadera—a legend known as the "Japanese voice of Donald Duck" and Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop. Yamadera brings a jazzy, cool, and slightly anime-infused cadence to the role that arguably makes Finn McMissile cooler than his English counterpart.
Most Pixar dubs fly under the radar—but the Cars 2 Japanese version? It’s a fascinating anomaly. Not just because of star power, but because the film’s plot (international spy adventure, Tokyo race sequence) actually makes more cultural sense in Japanese.
As with many Pixar releases in Japan, the script was adapted not just for language, but for cultural readability. Jokes involving American automotive culture or specific geography were tweaked to ensure Japanese audiences understood the punchlines without losing the story's context.
Furthermore, Pixar has a tradition of animating specific localized assets for different regions. While Cars 2 focuses on an international race, the Japanese version ensures that the "home team" sensibility is present during the race scenes, making the World Grand Prix feel genuinely global.
In the world of anime and Western animation, the "dub vs. sub" debate is eternal. However, when it comes to Pixar’s Cars 2, the Japanese dubbed version holds a special place in the hearts of fans. While the original English cast is iconic, the Japanese adaptation—titled Cars 2: World Grand Prix—offers a performance texture that is arguably richer, particularly regarding the film’s central new character, Finn McMissile.
Released in 2011, Cars 2 took the franchise out of the sleepy town of Radiator Springs and onto the global stage of espionage and racing. This shift required a voice cast capable of handling high-octane action, and the Japanese production team at Walt Disney Studios Japan delivered a lineup of heavy hitters.
Here is a deep dive into what makes the Japanese dub of Cars 2 a must-watch experience.
The Japanese dub of Cars 2 preserves the film’s global-spy adventure while adapting humor, phrasing, and character voices to fit Japanese tastes. Casting popular seiyū and comedians, reworking jokes, and adjusting speech registers keeps the story accessible and entertaining for Japanese audiences while maintaining the core plot and emotional beats.
If you want, I can:
The Japanese dub of カーズ2 in Japan) was released in theaters on July 30, 2011. The dub was recorded at Tohokushinsha Film Corporation
and features a cast of prominent Japanese voice actors and celebrities. The Dubbing Database Voice Cast & Characters
The Japanese version features several well-known voice actors, though fan reception has been mixed regarding certain performances: Lightning McQueen : Voiced by Hiroshi Tsuchida
. Tsuchida is well-known for voicing characters like Grisha Yeager in Attack on Titan : Voiced by comedian Tomomitsu Yamaguchi (also known as "Gussan"). Finn McMissile : Voiced by Akira Emoto , a veteran Japanese actor. Francesco Bernoulli : Voiced by Tadao Maekawa DeviantArt Cultural Adaptations & Music
Because a significant portion of the film is set in Tokyo, the Japanese dub and soundtrack feature specific cultural elements: Polyrhythm : The song "Polyrhythm" by the Japanese girl group
is featured prominently during the World Grand Prix welcome party in Tokyo. It is sung entirely in Japanese even in the international versions of the film. Shu Todoroki : The film features a Japanese racer, Shu Todoroki , who represents Japan in the World Grand Prix with the #7
: A pink Japanese car who makes a cameo on a television screen in Tokyo; she is identified as a "toilet assistant" in related media, reflecting Japanese restroom technology. Disney Wiki Release Platforms The Japanese dub is accessible through several platforms: : It is available on Video Game : A separate dub was created specifically for the Nintendo DS version video game. Television : The film has been broadcast on the Disney Channel The Dubbing Database specific changes made to the script for the Japanese audience? Status by Pixargirl on DeviantArt
I did it! I found the Japanese dub of Cars 2! https://archive.org/details/cars2-movie2011-dubcollection/Cars+2+(Japanese+Dub).mp3. DeviantArt
The most striking difference between the English and Japanese versions is the voice cast. While the English film relied on established actors (Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy) and racing personalities (Michael Schumacher), the Japanese dub pulled in an all-star lineup of A-list film actors, not voice-acting specialists.
Lightning McQueen (voiced by Takuya Kimura): In a masterstroke, Disney Japan cast Takuya Kimura, a member of the legendary boy band SMAP and one of Japan’s most beloved dramatic actors. Kimura doesn’t impersonate Wilson’s laid-back drawl; instead, he delivers McQueen with a youthful, earnest, and slightly hot-headed shonen energy. His performance makes McQueen feel less like a veteran celebrity and more like an underdog hero, which resonated strongly with Japanese audiences.
Mater (voiced by Osamu Mukai): The biggest challenge was Mater. Larry the Cable Guy’s rural Southern drawl is untranslatable. Rather than a “hillbilly,” Osamu Mukai (a handsome, clean-cut actor from the drama Otomen) plays Mater as a simple, kind-hearted, and eccentric country bumpkin. The jokes are entirely rewritten. Instead of puns on American tow-truck jargon, Mukai’s Mater uses slow, deliberate, and oddly philosophical Japanese, creating a charm that is more “lovable oddball” than “backwoods hick.”
Francesco Bernoulli (voiced by Shosuke Tanihara): The Italian Formula 1 racer is a scene-stealer in any language. But Tanihara dials the narcissism up to eleven. He delivers Francesco’s lines in flamboyant, katakana-laden Italian-Japanese, making every boast sound like a kabuki actor ad-libbing a fashion show. His exaggerated “Ciao, amici!” became a minor catchphrase in Japan.
Finn McMissile (voiced by Koichi Yamadera): This is the secret weapon. Koichi Yamadera is a legend in Japanese voice acting (the Japanese voice of Donald Duck, Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop, and Genie in Aladdin). His Finn McMissile is effortlessly cool, blending Sean Connery’s suave menace with a dry, jazz-inflected wit. Yamadera’s performance single-handedly elevates the spy subplot to the level of a classic 007 parody.