A Legendary Piece of Pokémon History

The 2004 Kids’ WB! Poké Card Creator Contest and Its $64,500 Pikachu

In the early 2000s, Pokémon was more than just a global phenomenon, it was a cultural revolution. From Game Boy screens to schoolyard trades, kids around the world were fully immersed in the world of Pikachu, Mudkip, and Torchic. Then in 2004, something extraordinary happened when Nintendo of America and the Kids’ WB! Network gave young fans a chance to actually become Pokémon Trading Card Game illustrators. The result became one of the most exclusive and sought-after Pokémon cards in modern history, the 2004 Kids’ WB! Poké Card Creator Pikachu #5, which recently sold for an astounding $64,500.

The Birth of the Poké Card Creator Contest

In the spring of 2004, approximately 35,000 children across the United States entered the Kids’ WB! Poké Card Creator Contest. The rules were simple but magical. Entrants, ages 5 to 15, had to draw one of five iconic Pokémon, Pikachu, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, or Wurmple. Using pencils, markers, crayons, or paints, each participant submitted their own interpretation of these beloved characters.

Out of tens of thousands of entries, judges from Nintendo of America selected five Grand Prize winners, one for each Pokémon. The winners were:

• Mark Kraus, age 6, California – Treecko
• May Do, South Carolina – Torchic
• Katie Gross, Iowa – Wurmple
• Sylvia Forrest, Massachusetts – Pikachu
• Rowan Laidlaw, New Jersey – Mudkip

Each of these young artists earned an honor unlike any other in the Pokémon community because their artwork appeared on official Pokémon Trading Cards included in special Kids’ WB! Pokémon TCG booster packs. Their names appeared on the cards themselves, forever immortalizing their place in Pokémon history.

The winners also received 50 sets of the exclusive booster packs and a $500 Target gift card, while an additional 5,000 First Prize winners earned a set of the same limited-edition packs.

Why This Pikachu Became a Modern Grail

Among the five designs, the Pikachu #5 card illustrated by six-year-old Sylvia Forrest quickly became a legendary collectible. Nintendo produced these cards only for contest winners and never released them in stores, which created an extremely limited supply. As a result, collectors now consider these cards some of the rarest Pokémon promos ever made.

Over time, the market for Pokémon collectibles exploded, and high-end collectors began paying jaw-dropping sums for historically significant cards. The 2004 Kids’ WB! Pikachu rose to the top of this surge.

A PSA 10 GEM MINT copy, one of just 12 known examples in existence, recently sold for a record-breaking $64,500. Considering that the card once came as a free prize in a children’s contest, that represents a return on investment (ROI) of nearly 9,823%. Even ungraded versions of this card now sell for around $650, depending on condition.

The Legacy of a Childhood Dream

The contest was far more than a marketing campaign, it became a celebration of creativity, imagination, and the bond between young fans and the Pokémon world. Gail Tilden, Nintendo’s Vice President of Brand Management at the time, praised the submissions, saying, “There were so many entries that were clever and imaginative… it was great to get an insight into what kids find fun and interesting about their favorite Pokémon characters.”

These cards now represent more than simple collectibles. They embody a unique chapter in Pokémon’s legacy, a time when children’s creativity shaped official Pokémon history.

For today’s collectors, owning a Poké Card Creator Pikachu feels like holding a piece of that childhood magic. It stands as a rare artifact that connects the innocence of young imagination with the prestige of modern collecting.

Final Thoughts

The 2004 Kids’ WB! Poké Card Creator Contest remains one of the most memorable collaborations in Pokémon’s long history. Nearly two decades later, the artwork of five talented children continues to capture the hearts of collectors worldwide, commanding prices that rival even the most famous vintage Pokémon cards.

The recent $64,500 sale of the Pikachu #5 PSA 10 GEM MINT proves something powerful. Nostalgia, rarity, and history combine to create true collector’s treasures. For enthusiasts, this isn’t just a card, it’s a story, a symbol of creativity, and a timeless piece of Pokémon history.

👉 Explore more high-end Pokémon sales, market insights, and collection spotlights at cardsandcollectors.com.