Toy Story 5 VFX Supervisor Reveals Decoy Version Was Used to Conceal Taylor Swift’s Surprise Contribution

Thomas Jordan, VFX supervisor for Toy Story 5, disclosed at a SXSW London panel that a decoy version of the film was created to conceal Taylor Swift’s participation in the project until its recent announcement.

Only a select few within the production team were aware of Swift’s involvement, which included recording the track “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the film, as stated by Jordan via Variety. He explained that unsuspecting press and Disney/Pixar staff were shown an early cut of the film devoid of Swift’s song.

“The Toy Story 5 crew didn’t learn about this until last week,” Jordan remarked. “A decoy version without ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ was utilized in early previews.”

Expressing his enthusiasm, Jordan shared, “Taylor Swift is a massive Toy Story enthusiast, much like many of us. She requested to view an unfinished version of the film and subsequently wrote the song, asking if we’d consider including it. We eagerly agreed in February, initiating a period of secrecy.”

Swift’s song, which revisits her country roots, debuted on June 1 and was officially released on June 5. Reflecting on her collaboration, Swift shared on Instagram, “I’ve always aspired to compose for characters I’ve loved since childhood, starting with the first Toy Story film. Seeing Toy Story 5 in its early stages captivated me, prompting me to compose this song immediately after the screening. Some moments are just destiny.”

Co-written and produced by Swift alongside her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff—marking their first joint effort since 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department—the track holds significant emotional resonance.

Director Andrew Stanton praised the song’s impact, noting, “It’s profoundly meaningful to have Taylor contribute this song. Her affinity for Jessie and her instinctive grasp of the character’s emotions were remarkable. The song felt intrinsically linked to Toy Story, as though it were a long-lost family member upon first listen—true kismet.”

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