Agreed. I don’t think they are totally in it for the merchandise profit but there is no denying that it is a positive factor in creating a sequel.
To be perfectly honest, when I first heard they were announcing a Cars sequel back in 2008 I was really disappointed. I wasn’t a huge fan of the original and, just, to make a sequel to a film that hasn’t even been out for that long while there’s plenty of other brilliant PIXAR films that actually could’ve flourished with a sequel really made me question their motives. I was probably on the same boat as many who thought they were only making the sequel to cash in.
But after a few years went by and I started getting really attached to the Cars Toons, I started thinking that perhaps Cars isn’t such a bad film to get a sequel. PIXAR always stressed on only making sequels if they can be as good as or better than the original, and in that since Cars is the perfect candidate for one. I’m hoping that by releasing Cars 2 it’s sort of their way of saying “We know the first one was a bit weak, but believe us when we say there’s still a lot more potential for these characters”.
And after seeing the international trailer, I’m immediately hooked 
That’s what I like to see. 
i would prefer a new story than cars 2…
Don’t worry, there are a few in the works!
Yeah, i would much rather have Pixar look onto some new projects, other than being forced to do sequel’s by Disney. That’s the one thing that wears something down, even if the story is good. Make one and stay with one, and only go to two on some occasions.
This sums up exactly how I feel about the series. If the sequel wasn’t coming out, I probably wouldn’t have given the first a second chance. Now I definitely appreciate the first one for what it is, and can’t wait for the sequel.
I love sequels. I love seeing where characters are after the original. If a sequel can’t be done, I wish there were shorts to go with those movies to see how the characters are doing. 
I’m a bit iffy when it comes to sequels. It’s gotta be good or else I won’t be too happy. I know I will like Cars 2 though, since it’s the sequel to my favourite movie but probably not as much as the first one. The only movie I’ve seen where I liked the sequel better was Shrek 2 (-gasp- 
) That was because of Puss N Boots 
I feel the exact same way! One of the only things I like about the Shrek series is Puss N Boots. Seriously.
I agree with both of you, Puss was the best addition in the Shrek series, he is so charismatic, and I found him as my favorite character of the whole entire franchise
He was the saving grace of Shrek 2 for me, personally.
I’m liking all this Puss in Boots love! I wonder if there will be a new character in Cars 2 that will completely steal the show.
Finn McMissile will kick butts, I can tell already! Can’t say the same about any new characters in TS2 or TS3 because the original gang is soooooo awesome already! Whereas now we have a bumbling rusty truck and a old-cliched hot rod. It doesn’t really take much to steal the show from these guys 
Gosh! I’m thrilled that so many people are loving Puss too! As for a Cars 2 show stealer, I can’t say. I think it is very possible but since most of the film seems to focus on Mater and he is such a classic character I’m not sure. I wouldn’t mind if a new character drew tons of attention, I just don’t want the old ones to be totally cut out.
I loved all of the Shrek movies except for the last one.
the last chapter from the shrek series is one of the worst (DWA movies) and one of the most boring films I’ve ever seen, I don’t know how some people found an improvement in this sequel, if we compare it to shrek the third, an atrocious final chapter…imo
I hear a lot of criticisms about Shrek Forever After, and while it might be a pretty lousy movie even by Dreamworks’ standards, I thought it at least had its heart in the right place and was a huge improvement over the dismal ‘Shrek the T***d’. 
I feel bad speaking ill of other movies because their someone’s favorite somewhere out there and I know how bad it feels to hear negative things about a movie I love. It bothers me that so many hardcore Pixar fans would refuse to walk any other animated movie from any other company. What bothers me even more is that a movie that is very great made by a different company can’t be recognized by those people just because of the fact it isn’t Pixar.
Personally, I think they could have wrapped Shrek up in a much nicer way.
What I like about Dreamworks is that they revisit their old characters often; that’s something I like a lot.
I agree. I really hate when people say mean things about an animated movie just because it isn’t by Pixar. I’m not saying anyone here does, but there are people who are like that for sure. People should just judge a movie based on the movie itself, not where it’s coming from. I enjoyed the Shrek films, personally I think they should have stopped after the third. The ones after that weren’t necessarily bad, I just didn’t really enjoy them.
I couldn’t agree more with this, I feel this is very essential when creating a sequel or additional movies after that.