Taylor Swift, a confirmed fan of “Toy Story,” announced on Monday that she will be contributing an original song titled “I Knew It, I Knew You” to the soundtrack of the upcoming fifth installment of the franchise. The song is set to be released on June 5.
In an Instagram post, Swift expressed her excitement, stating, “It’s a *Toy* Story 🤠You knew it! I’ve always dreamed of getting to write for these characters who I’ve adored since I was a 5-year-old kid.”
Swift teased her involvement in the project through a countdown on her website, featuring imagery of Jessie, the cowgirl from “Toy Story,” and a billboard with her initials in the film’s font. Speculation began to rise on social media after Pixar shared a video on Instagram showing a billboard with Swift’s initials alongside a dancing Jessie, reminiscent of Swift’s song “Shake it Off.”
Fans eagerly spotted various Easter eggs, such as the appearance of 13 clouds on the billboard, a nod to Swift’s favorite number. They also noted similarities between the updated cover of Swift’s album “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” and the cloud motifs associated with the “Toy Story” franchise.
This collaboration with “Toy Story 5” marks Swift’s return to animation, having previously voiced the character Audrey in the film “The Lorax” in 2012. The highly anticipated film is scheduled to premiere on June 19, featuring the iconic voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprising their roles as Woody and Buzz, who will face a new challenge involving technology.