Blackpool pupil wins BBFC’s Create the Card Competition for Toy Story 5
June 15, 2026
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has announced eight-year-old Tommy from Blackpool as the winner of its Create the Card Competition, in collaboration with Disney and Pixar for Toy Story 5.
The nationwide competition called on children aged 4 to 11 to design the official BBFC Black Card for the film, and as part of his prize, Tommy’s winning design will be seen by cinema audiences across the UK, appearing before every UK screening of Toy Story 5.
Tommy also got to travel to London for the UK Toy Story 5 fan event, where he walked the red carpet and was congratulated by the film’s stars, including Tom Hanks (Woody) and Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear) – who signed Tommy’s design – before seeing his winning Black Card appear on-screen before an exclusive preview screening.
The latest installment of the iconic film franchise lands in UK cinemas on 19 June. The film sees Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie face their biggest challenge yet — a world where, as Woody put it: ‘Toys are for play, but tech is for everything.’
The selection process
The judging panel selected 11 finalists from 1,048 entries, each demonstrating outstanding creativity and imagination. The panel included BBFC President Natasha Kaplinsky OBE; BBFC CEO David Austin OBE; BBFC Education Manager Liam Smyth; Charlotte Tudor, Vice President, Studios Marketing Disney & Animation at The Walt Disney Company; and Ben Sawyer, Senior Manager & Trade Marketing Lead at The Walt Disney Company.
Tommy, a devoted Disney fan, was also a finalist in last year’s competition. Two of the film’s stars, Joan Cusack, who voices Jessie, and Greta Lee, who voices Lilypad, revealed Tommy’s winning design in a recorded video message.
Reacting to his win, Tommy said: ‘I was really shocked to win. I felt happy, excited, amazed — so many emotions all at once! I didn’t believe it at first.’
Crafting the winning card
Using acrylic paint and a mixture of brushes and sponges to achieve different textures, Tommy created a vibrant, colourful design featuring Toy Story’s most beloved characters alongside Lilypad — a new character in the latest film.
Asked about his inspiration, Tommy said: ‘I just wanted to make something colourful, plus feet are easier to draw than faces! I can’t wait for my friends to see it in the cinema.’
The prize
Tommy’s signature will appear on the official BBFC Black Card alongside those of Natasha Kaplinsky and David Austin.
As part of his prize, Tommy and his family enjoyed an exciting winner’s day experience in London. Their day started with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the BBFC, where Tommy learned how films are classified from a BBFC Compliance Officer.
Tommy later attended the UK Toy Story 5 fan event, where he walked the red carpet and met stars of the film including Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, and Greta Lee, who all congratulated Tommy on his win.
On seeing Tommy’s design, two-time Oscar nominee Joan Cusack asked: ‘Did you draw that? That’s amazing!’ while Greta Lee told Tommy to ‘keep up’ the good work. Director Andrew Stanton was particularly impressed, telling Tommy: ‘You really did your homework… we’ll have to hire you someday!’
Tommy’s winning Black Card design was introduced by TV presenter Joel Dommett and then displayed on-screen ahead of the fan screening.
Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, BBFC President, said: ‘Every year, our Create the Card Competition shows how imaginative and creative young people are. Tommy’s design absolutely captures the spirit of Toy Story 5, and we are excited to see it on the big screen this summer. The film’s theme of toys vs tech is particularly important as young people are navigating an online world that is more complex now than ever before. That is why at the BBFC we are proud to be helping young people understand the importance of age ratings and media literacy, so they can make informed decisions about what is right for them to watch.’
Charlotte Tudor, Vice President, Studios Marketing Disney & Animation at The Walt Disney Company UK & EMEA, said: ‘Toy Story has inspired generations of young fans to imagine, play and dream big for decades – and Tommy’s design brings that magic to life in the most wonderful way. We are so excited to see his artwork in cinemas across the UK this summer. Congratulations, Tommy!’
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