One Of Pixar’s Most Iconic Films Is Based On This Arizona Town

One of the formative pieces of fiction in my childhood was Disney-Pixar's 2006 hit film Cars. The film follows a superstar rookie racing car who finds himself in a desolate town just off of Route 66, and learns the true meaning of friendship.

The town of Radiator Springs is one of cinema's most iconic locations, but did you know that it's actually based on a town right here in Arizona?

The Great Pixar Road Trip

In 2001, Pixar knew what they wanted to focus on for their next film, and that was Historic Route 66. So, in 2001, former Chief Creative Officer John Lassiter and his team embarked on a road trip across the route to accurately portray the long desert highway.

On their journey, they began to fixate on the small towns along the route that had grown desolate due to the newly built interstate system. Sound familiar? Well, their travels eventually led them to one town, that would begin to build the foundation for Historic Radiator Springs.

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Building Radiator Springs, Arizona Style

One of the small towns that Lassiter and company passed through was Seligman, Arizona. There, they met a man named Angel Delgadillo, who was so passionate about his experiences in the town that he was interviewed for hours on end. He described the excitement for the new interstate, hoping it would bring more visitors, to the eventual disappointment as their town became erased.

While the look of Radiator Springs is composed of small parts of different towns across Route 66, its story is specifically based on Seligman and their legacy.

[Route 66 Gift Shop][DisneyJr. via YouTube]