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NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ American International Toy Fair
The Year’s Finest Toys and Games Unveiled at “OSCARS®” of the Toy Industry
LEGO® Friends from The LEGO Group Grabs Coveted “Toy of the Year” Title;
LeapPad2(TM) by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. Bestowed Inaugural “People’s Choice”
Award
Hundreds of toy executives and guests from around the world gathered in New York
City this evening to honor the year’s top toys and industry icons at the 13(th)
annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and Toy Industry Hall of Fame induction
ceremony.
A Toy Industry Association (TIA)-administered event in support of the Toy
Industry Foundation (TIF), the “Oscars” of the toy industry took place at the
Plaza Hotel, kicking off the 110(th) American International Toy Fair. Throughout
the evening, TOTY Awards were presented across 12 categories – from e-Connected
and Innovative to Educational and Outdoor. FULL LIST OF CATEGORY WINNERS BELOW
In addition, the overall “Toy of the Year” award was presented to LEGO Friends
(The LEGO Group), while LeapPad2 (LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.) received the
inaugural “People’s Choice” award.
Interspersed with the presentation of the TOTY Awards were two inductions into
the Toy Industry Hall of Fame: Judith (Judy) Ellis, Chair of the Toy Design
Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the late Russell (Russ)
Berrie, Founder of Russ Berrie Inc. The new inductees join a distinguished
roster of 59 other luminaries who have been inducted into the Hall since its
establishment in 1985.
“The TOTY Awards are a joyous way to kick off Toy Fair week,” said Carter
Keithley, TIA President. “This event honors the creativity and innovation of the
toy industry while supporting the philanthropic work of our very own Toy
Industry Foundation (TIF), which brings the gift of play into the lives of needy
children around the world.”
Award winners were selected with the input of consumers (on ToyAwards.org),
retailers (mass and specialty), media and members of the toy industry. The five
ballots – open from November 19, 2012, to January 13, 2013 – were weighted and
used to determine the category winners, with the exception of the “People’s
Choice” award which was selected exclusively by consumers who voted on
ToyAwards.org.
And the winners are…
— Recognizing an outstanding toy that inspires creative play through
various forms of activity, the Activity Toy of the Year was presented to
LEGO® Friends (The LEGO Group)
— Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for boys of any age, the Boy
Toy of the Year was presented to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Shellraiser (Playmates Toys)
— Recognizing an app-cessory or other physical toy that interacts with a
smartphone, tablet or gaming device the e-Connected Toy of the Year was
presented to Skylanders Giants(TM) (Activision Publishing, Inc.)
— Recognizing an outstanding toy that helps children develop special
skills and knowledge through play, the Educational Toy of the Year was
presented to LeapPad2(TM) (LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.)
— Recognizing an outstanding children’s board, card, CD-ROM or electronic
game, the Game of the Year was presented to Perplexus Epic(TM) (PlaSmart
Inc.)
— Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for girls of any age, the Girl
Toy of the Year was presented to LEGO® Friends (The LEGO Group)
— Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for infants and toddlers up to
36 months, the Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year was presented to Tranquil
Turtle(TM) (Cloud b)
— Recognizing an outstanding toy that combines innovation and play value,
the Innovative Toy of the Year was presented to Digital Light Designer
(Crayola)
— Recognizing an outstanding toy that is designed for outdoor play, the
Outdoor Toy of the Year was presented to The Original Big Wheel(TM)
(Kids Only, Inc., a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc.)
— Recognizing an outstanding toy developed for preschool-aged children
(ages 3-5) the Preschool Toy of the Year was presented to Doc McStuffins
“Time For Your Check-Up” Doll (Just Play)
— Recognizing a property that has had the greatest success spreading its
brand throughout the industry, Property of the Year was presented to
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Nickelodeon).
— Recognizing an outstanding toy that is distributed primarily through
specialty toy retailers, the Specialty Toy of the Year was presented to
LEGO® Architecture (The LEGO Group).
Descriptions of each TOTY-nominated toy and links to each manufacturer’s website
can be found online at ToyAwards.org. The finalists were selected from nearly
650 products and properties submitted for consideration. Nomination committees
comprised of academics, journalists, toy trend experts, play therapists, toy
inventors & designers, and toy retailers narrowed the field to the slate of 84
finalists.
Event sponsors for the evening were JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (diamond level), Dallas
Market Center and UL (silver level); Coyne PR, Keller & Heckman, Freeman and
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (bronze level); and Locker, Greenberg & Brainin and
Sequence Events (friends).
For more information, please visit ToyAwards.org or the Toy Industry Hall of
Fame website.
About the Toy Industry Association (TIA) (www.toyassociation.org)
TIA is the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved
in creating and bringing toys and youth entertainment products to kids of all
ages, representing more than 600 companies who account for approximately 85% of
domestic toy sales. Toy safety is the number one priority for the toy industry.
TIA has a long history of leadership in toy safety and works with government,
consumers and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.
About the Toy Industry Foundation (www.toyindustryfoundation.org)
While other organizations provide food, shelter and support services to children
and their families, the Toy Industry Foundation sees to it that these children
have toys and opportunities to play in an attempt to restore both fun and a
sense of normalcy to their lives. The Foundation currently fulfills its mission
through core programs including The Toy Bank(TM) and grants to organizations
whose missions are in line with that of the Toy Industry Foundation. The first
industry-wide program of its kind, The Toy Bank receives donations of newly
manufactured toys from members of the toy industry and distributes them through
local charities to underserved, at-risk and homeless children throughout the
United States and around the world.
SOURCE: Toy Industry Association
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