Mumbai: Disney-Pixar will premiere its first Disney Digital 3-D short film – Tokyo Mater – directed by Academy Award-winner John Lasseter, at US theaters from 12 December.

Appearing before Walt Disney Pictures’ Bolt, the animated short is the fourth in Disney-Pixar’s Cars Toons series, inspired by the hit 2006 film Cars.

The series stars Mater the tow truck, Lightning McQueen’s rusty but trusty friend. In Tokyo Mater, a routine tow lands Mater in Tokyo, where he is challenged to a drift-style race against a nefarious gang leader and his posse of ninjas. With the help of his friend, Dragon Lightning McQueen, and some special modifications, Mater attempts to drift to victory and become Tow-ke-O Mater, King of all Drifters.

All of the Cars Toons are directed by and co-directed by Victor Navone and Rob Gibbs. Kori Rae serves as producer. The previous toons in the series featured Mater as a fire truck in Rescue Squad Mater, a daredevil in Mater the Greater and as a bulldozer fighter in El Materdor. These three Cars Toons aired on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and ABC Family.

"I’m delighted to be back in the director’s chair for the Cars Toons series. Mater is one of my favorite characters from ‘Cars’ and is the definition of true friendship. The world has grown to love Mater as much as we do, and we are excited to take him on new adventures with his best friend, Lighting McQueen," said Lasseter, who serves as chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios and most recently executive produced Bolt.

2D computer versions of Tokyo Mater will also be available for theaters showing Bolt in 2-D.