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NEW YORK, February 12, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Gaming professionals and toy enthusiasts from around the world came together virtually today to honor the year’s most notable toys and inspiring people at The Toy Association’s 21st Annual Toy of the Year Award (TOTY) and Toy Industry Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Proceeds from the TOTY Awards program support the charitable work of The Toy Foundation.
This year’s online event lifted the curtain on what is normally an industry exclusive ceremony held at New York City, so that game lovers around the world can witness the history of toys at the toy industry’s “Oscars”.
During the live broadcast, viewers saw the prestigious Toy of the Year award given to Star Wars: The Child Animatronic Edition Toy (Hasbro) – the lovable character who has captured the hearts of franchise fans around the world. The toy also won the “Innovative Toy of the Year” award.
In a surprise announcement, two winners were chosen for the “People’s Choice” Award – both Storytime Chess (Storytime Chess), a classic game redesigned for younger players, and The Original Remastered Spawn (2020) Action Figure and Comic (McFarlane Toys), a fan favorite who has his roots on Kickstarter, took home the honor.
TOTY Prizes were also awarded in 16 categories and awarded to the following:
- Action Figure of the Year: Fisher-Price #ThankYouHeroes Line (Mattel)
- Collector’s item of the year: LEGO Super Mario Character Packs (LEGO)
- Construction toy of the year: LEGO Star Wars The Razor Crest (LEGO)
- Creative toy of the year: Crayola Colors of the World Crayons (Crayola LLC)
- Doll of the Year: Barbie Color Reveal (Mattel)
- Game of the Year: Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy (The Pokémon Company International)
- Infant / Toddler Toy of the Year: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Grow the Kitchen Garden Fun (Mattel)
- Innovative toy of the year: Star Wars: The Child Animatronic Edition Toy (Hasbro)
- License of the year: Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Disney)
- Outdoor toy of the year: Ultimate Go-Kart (Radio Flyer)
- Play Set of the Year: LEGO Super Mario Bowser Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set (LEGO)
- Plush Toy of the Year: Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Child 11 “Plush (Mattel)
- Preschool Toy of the Year: Paw Patrol Dino Patroller (Spin Master)
- Specialty Toy of the Year: LEGO Ideas Grand Piano (LEGO)
- STEAM Toy of the Year: Mega Cyborg Hand (Thames and Kosmos)
- Vehicle of the year: PLAYMOBIL Back to the Future DeLorean (PLAYMOBIL)
“From 117 outstanding finalists to this year’s TOTY winners, to Hasbro’s Toy of the Year Award and two unique People’s Choice winners, each underscores the joy of playing in uncertain times, the friendliness of game night in family, as well as the ever-changing retail and e-commerce landscape, ”said Steve pasierb, President and CEO of The Toy Association. “TOTYs continue to reflect the passion and perseverance of the toy and play community, while honoring the richly deserving Hall of Fame inductees. It also helps raise vital funds for the Toy Foundation as it grows. launches in impactful new programs supporting children’s hospitals and promoting diversity and equity., inclusion and access in the toy industry. We thank the independent expert juries and the tens of thousands who voted this year! “
During the event, four toy industry visionaries were officially inducted into the prestigious Toy Industry Hall of Fame – Philip bloom, founder and former publisher of The Bloom Report; William C. Killgallon, chairman of the board of directors of the Ohio Art Company; Pleasant T. Rowland, founder of American Girl, a division of Mattel, Inc .; and the end Margarete steiff, founder and creator of Steiff. Learn more about Hall of Fame inductees here.
More than 500 TOTY Award nominees turned out at the end of last summer. Among these, 117 finalists were selected by a panel of expert judges. Category winners were then determined based on votes from toy retailers (mass and specialty), media, Toy Association members, and consumers. The “Toy of the Year” winner was determined by a panel of experts who discussed all of the finalists before making a decision based on TOTY votes, holiday sales, and media buzz (traditional, online and social). The “People’s Choice” award winners were selected solely through online consumer votes. All results have been verified for accuracy, including the judging and voting process, and the NPD Group has validated market acceptance. Descriptions of all TOTY finalists are available at ToyAwards.org.
About the Toy Foundation www.toyfoundation.org
The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c) 3 children’s charitable organization whose mission is to provide philanthropic support and the lifeblood of play to children and families under stress and in dire circumstances, through the country and the world. TTF donations represent the charities of TTF and the toy industry. Last year, TTF provided $ 360,000 in cash grants to nearly 4 million children severely affected by the pandemic. Since its inception in 2003, TTF’s signature Toy Bank has provided $ 225 million in toys to more than 26 million underserved children facing serious illness, in temporary foster care, living with domestic violence and / or facing natural disasters. . TTF is also expanding its mission to provide grants to children’s hospitals to encourage healing through play and foster a diverse and inclusive culture and talent pool for the toy industry.
About the Toy Association www.toyassociation.org / www.thegeniusofplay.org / www.playsafe.org
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association ™, Inc. is the non-profit trade association representing all companies involved in the creation and delivery of toys and entertainment products for young people of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual economic impact of $ 98.2 billion, and its approximately 1000 members lead the $ 32 billion US domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry voice for the developmental benefits of play and promotes the positive impact of play on childhood development to consumers and the media. The organization has a long history of toy safety leadership, helping to develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard over 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts. , government, consumers and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safety and fun. to play.
As a world leader, The Toy Association produces the world famous Toy Fair New York and Toy Fair Dallas; defends the interests of members around the world; supports the Canadian Toy Association; serves as the secretariat of the round table of CEOs of the International Council of Toy Industries and the International Toy Industry; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises the widely emulated American toy safety standard ASTM F963.
Media resources: www.toyawards.org/press
SOURCE The toy association
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