Taylor Swift composed and produced her No. 1 hit for Toy Story 5 in under eight hours, a feat she described as ‘one of the most fun days of my life.’ In a Good Morning America interview, the 14-time Grammy winner revealed that she watched an early screening of the film at 11 a.m. and had already written and produced the end credits song ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ by 7 p.m. the same day.

Joan Cusack’s Emotional Scene

Joan Cusack, who voices Jessie, described an emotionally powerful scene in Toy Story 5 where her character returns to a tree where she once played with her former owner, Emily. In the scene, Jessie unearths a time capsule containing a photo and a note that reveals Emily named her daughter after the beloved toy. ‘It was really emotional to read that in the script,’ Cusack said. ‘A beautiful resolution to feeling abandoned is you weren’t abandoned at all – you were loved the whole time.’

Cusack’s co-stars, including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz Lightyear, were unaware of the scene until they saw the finished film. ‘It was a head-slapping moment,’ Hanks said.

Randy Newman and the Surprise Duet

At the world premiere of Toy Story 5, Taylor Swift performed ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ for the first time live, followed by an impromptu duet with the film’s composer, Randy Newman. Newman told Variety that he was surprised when asked to perform with Swift. ‘They asked if I would mind if Taylor Swift did this thing, and I said, ‘No one’s ever going to say no to her.’ He added that they had just over an hour to rehearse the performance, and he wasn’t worried about Swift not knowing the lyrics: ‘She knew the song. There wasn’t anything to do.’

Newman, a long-time Pixar collaborator, said he was initially unsure if he would be asked to score Toy Story 5. ‘I thought maybe Tommy would get the job, but I’m glad I got it, and could round things up,’ he said, referring to his cousin and fellow composer Thomas Newman.

Jessie’s Emotional Arc and Criticisms

Jessie’s emotional arc in Toy Story 5 centers on her relationship with her former owner, Emily, who had abandoned her years earlier. In the new film, Jessie learns that Emily named her daughter after her, providing a sense of closure. The character’s emotional journey resonated with audiences, with some noting that the film explores the impact of technology on traditional play. According to a rollingstone.de review, Jessie has become the central figure in the film, with her character ‘finally in the spotlight.’

Some critics, however, expressed concerns about the franchise’s direction. El Confidencial noted that the film ‘warns against screen addiction while itself lacking ideas.’ The review also pointed out that the new film reuses the same formula as its predecessors, with a child abandoning a favorite toy, only to learn the value of empathy and friendship.