Behind the Design | 2025 Topps Chrome® Disney

Behind the Design of 2025 Topps Chrome® Disney

The wonder of Disney meets the shine of Chrome in the all-new 2025 Topps Chrome® Disney set. All your favorites are here on stunning Chrome tech—and for the first time, collectors can chase rare, authentic autograph cards of some of the greatest live action and voice talent from Disney and Pixar history. But how do you bring so many characters, stories, and styles together in one product?

We sat down with Topps Art Director Ryan Lee to find out what went into designing one of the most ambitious Disney card sets yet.

2025 Topps Chrome® Disney combines Disney magic with Chrome technology, offering refractor-style base cards, milestone inserts, and authentic Disney autographs. Collectors can chase dynamic designs that blend classic characters, anniversaries, and creative crossover concepts in one of the year’s most ambitious Disney sets.

Designing Disney Autographs

Among all the inserts, one stood out as Lee’s favorite to bring to life.

“My favorite insert to design for was the Chrome Authentic Autographs,” he said. “Introducing autographs from Disney talent to our Disney products is the next step in elevating what we deliver to our consumers. To highlight such star talent is a dream come true, and to present them with their autograph for all to chase builds the excitement.”

These autographs represent a major leap forward for Topps Disney products, letting collectors connect not just with characters, but with the talent behind them.

Honoring Disney’s Milestone Moments

Several inserts in the set commemorate significant anniversaries for beloved Disney films, including Lady and the Tramp, Pocahontas, and The Emperor’s New Groove. Designing these tribute cards was about more than just good looks.

“We try and honor every narrative that we get to design for,” Lee said. “We want to present our consumers with dynamically creative cards, while doing the film justice in the eyes of Disney. All of the 2025 Disney Chrome anniversary subsets we designed hit us with nostalgia that we hope translates when our consumers pull them.”

That nostalgia is what turns a good insert into a great one, and for Lee’s team, each design was an opportunity to convey that emotion.

Challenges of the Disney Universe

Unlike sports cards, which often focus on athletes in action, designing for Disney means working across species, settings, and even physics.

“The biggest challenge is being able to accommodate a multitude of characters within a single design — humans, animals, vehicles — you name it,” he explained. “It presents us with a challenge unlike designing for any sports license.”

One standout challenge? Designing the all-new MLB crossover insert.

“Our newest insert, Mickey and Friends MLB Home Jerseys Set, was a challenging subset to manage, having to see it through all the way to the very end as we worked collaboratively with Disney and MLB/MLBPA to create the unique art of putting Disney characters in MLB jerseys,” Lee said.

Making Chrome Work for Disney

Beyond the characters and inserts, one of the biggest storytelling tools in the set is the Chrome technology itself. According to Ryan, how Chrome is applied can dramatically shape the visual experience.

“Printing classic Disney films, characters, and art on Chrome gives us this chance to create a physical, shining moment for these subjects,” he explained. “The way we’re able to play with revealing and hiding Chrome allows us to push or pull importance and attention to any given element. When a character is hit with an opaque white ink, that character naturally ‘comes forward’ in the composition. We can finesse this action to establish dimension and really place subjects in a three-dimensional plane — we’re able to breathe new life into Disney classics.”

Lee also revealed a new change to the Base Set that collectors might notice.

“New to this year is an optional, horizontal orientation for the Base Set,” he said. “Given the variety of characters to be included in the Base Set, it’s clear that not every character can crop well to a portrait layout. Providing the characters with a landscape canvas, we can show off their dynamic poses that much more effectively.”

From base card orientation to once-in-a-lifetime autograph pulls, every card in 2025 Topps Chrome® Disney is the product of careful creative planning and a lot of love for the characters we’ve all grown up with.

FAQs

• What makes 2025 Topps Chrome® Disney stand out?
  • The set introduces Disney autographs, celebrates milestone anniversaries with special inserts, and uses Chrome effects to bring characters and stories to life.
• Are autographs part of the release?
  • Yes. For the first time, refractor-style autographs from Disney and Pixar talent are included, connecting collectors with the creators behind classic characters.
• Which milestone films are highlighted?
  • Inserts honor anniversaries for Lady and the Tramp, Pocahontas, and The Emperor’s New Groove, each with unique Chrome card designs.
• Is there a crossover insert with sports?
  • Yes. A special insert features Mickey and Friends in MLB® jerseys, blending Disney storytelling with baseball card tradition.
• What’s new in the base card layout?
  • A horizontal orientation option debuts in 2025, giving designers more room for dynamic group scenes and wide action moments.
• What printing effects are used?
  • Chrome technology adds shine and depth with refractors, opaque inks, and layered visuals that make Disney artwork appear dimensional.

Key Facts

• Disney autographs debut in a Topps Chrome® set
• Inserts honor milestone film anniversaries (Lady and the Tramp, Pocahontas, The Emperor’s New Groove)
• Creative crossover insert: Disney characters in MLB® jerseys
• Horizontal base card option added for 2025 design flexibility
• Chrome technology used to enhance storytelling with refractors, opaque inks, and layered effects

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