Monday, November 6, 2017

Vote For the Toy of the Year!

Are you ready to doll up your hair, get out a tiny red carpet, and start the imaginary Paparazzi's camera bulbs popping?

The Toy Industry Association has recently announced the finalists for the 2018 Toy of the Year Awards. There are a number of categories, including categories new for this year, including Action Figure of the Year, Doll of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Vehicle of the Year.

Toys are nominated by companies, and there is big business to be had in winning one of these awards, so the companies are duking it out. This year’s finalists were selected from 700 nominees submitted by more than 250 companies of all sizes. They introduced a more rigorous and transparent judging method this year, with 25 judges, including toy and play experts, retailers, academics, and journalists, reviewing and ranking products in specific categories relevant to their areas of expertise. The judges then participated in a live discussion to debate any categories that did not draw an undisputed roster of finalists during the judging period. They considered each product’s creativity, originality and innovation; design and promotion; excellence; and marketplace acceptance before narrowing the field to the slate of finalists.

We have one of the toys nominated! 
Still working on building our Disney Castle!
The winners in each of the 14 categories and the coveted “Toy of the Year” will be selected based on votes from mass and specialty toy retailers, media, TIA members, and consumers. The “People’s Choice” award winner will be selected solely by consumer votes.

That's right, you have a vote in this! to vote, go to http://www.toyawards.org and cast your vote by January 15, 2018. The winners will be announced in February at a live gala kicking off Toy Week in New York.

More information about the TOTY voting and selection process can be found in the “About the Awards” section of www.ToyAwards.org.

Here's the full list of categories and the nominees!

I've linked each one to their Amazon Page.  Please note that the links are affiliate links, so if you end up buying one of these toys from this link, I will make a small commission-- usually a few pennies on the dollar.  It helps keep the lights on and me in lattes.  But please, feel no obligation to purchase, unless your kid is dying for that particular toy, in which, Be My Guest!


ACTION FIGURE OF THE YEAR
Toys that include action figures and their play sets/accessories

DC Super Hero Girls™ Action Figure Assortment by Mattel, Inc.
Fossil Hunter Lottie by Arklu, Ltd.
IAmElemental Series 1/Courage Lunch Box Carrying Case With Complete Set of Action Figures by IAmElemental
PJ Masks Headquarters Playset by Just Play
Pokémon Throw 'n' Pop Poké Ball Duel Set by TOMY
Stikbot by ZING
Transformers Generations Titans Return Fortress Maximus Action Figure by Hasbro, Inc.


ACTIVE/OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that are designed for active/outdoor play

3-in-1 EZ Fold Wagon by Radio Flyer
Air Hogs Helix Sentinel Drone by Spin Master Ltd.
Bunch O Balloons by Zuru
Hot Wheels® Sky Shock™ RC Vehicle by Mattel, Inc.
Nerf N-Strike Modulus Tri-Strike Blaster by Hasbro, Inc.
Sky Viper v2400FPV HD Streaming Drone with FPV Headset by SkyRocket Toys
VEX Robotics Zip Flyer by HEXBUG
Xtreme Cycle Moto-Cam by WickedCoolToys


ACTIVITY TOY OF THE YEAR
Arts and crafts, construction and other indoor toys that inspire creative play through various forms of activity

Circuit Scribe Maker Kit by CircuitScribe
Crayola Air Maker Sprayer by Crayola, LLC
K’NEX 3-in-1 Classic Amusement Park Building Set by K’NEX Brands
Lionel Mega Tracks Corkscrew Chaos Master Set by Lionel
Mighty Makers Directors Cut Building Set by K’NEX Brands
Mover Kit by Tech Will Save Us
My Fairy Garden Magical Cottage by Play Monster


COLLECTIBLE OF THE YEAR
Toys that compose a set; can include novelty playthings, miniature versions of existing lines, licensed collectibles, etc.

Dorbz by Funko, LLC
Gift 'ems™ by JAKKS Pacific
LEGO Minifigures - The Disney Edition by LEGO Systems, Inc.
Num Noms by MGA Entertainment
Pop! By Funko, LLC
Shopkins Season 6: Chef Club by Moose Toys Pty Ltd
Tonka Tinys by Funrise


CONSTRUCTION TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that include building and engineering sets

Arckit Go Colours by ARCKIT
Grippies® Builders by Guidecraft USA Inc.
LEGO Friends Amusement Park Roller Coaster by LEGO Systems, Inc.
Marine Rescue Center by Build & Imagine
Meccano Micronoid by Spin Master Ltd.
Tinkerbots by Tinkerbots
Walking Robot 45PC Set by Magformers, LLC


DOLL OF THE YEAR
Toys that include plush, baby, toddler, and fashion dolls, and their play sets/accessories

Barbie® Fashionista™ Doll by Mattel, Inc.
Disney Frozen Northern Lights Elsa by JAKKS Pacific
Elena of Avalor Adventure Dress Doll by Hasbro, Inc.
Project Mc2 Experiments with Doll Sets by MGA Entertainment
Shopkins Core Shoppies by Moose Toys Pty Ltd
Stargazer Lottie Doll by Arklu, Ltd
American Girl® WellieWishers™ by Mattel, Inc.


GAME OF THE YEAR
Children’s board, card, electronic, or other physical game formats or puzzles (does not include video games or apps)

Bloxels™ by Mattel, Inc.
Circuit Maze by ThinkFun Inc.
Escape Room the Game by Spin Master Ltd.
Imhotep by Thames & Kosmos
Maze Racers by FoxMind Games
Simon Air Game by Hasbro, Inc.
Speak Out by Hasbro, Inc.
Yeti in My Spaghetti by PlayMonster!


INFANT/PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that are developed for infants/preschoolers (up to 5 years)

Doc McStuffins Toy Hospital Care Cart by Just Play
Go! Go! Smart Friends ® Enchanted Princess Palace™ by Vtech
IO Blocks® Vehicles by Guidecraft USA Inc.
Razor Jr. T3 Scooter by Razor USA LLC
Robot Engineer by Thames & Kosmos
Wash 'N Go Wooden Car Garage by KidKraft
Zoomer Marshall by Spin Master Ltd.


INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that utilize innovative design, technology, or manufacturing processes to enhance play value

CHiP by WowWee USA, Inc.
Cozmo by Anki
Fisher Price® Think & Learn Code-a-pillar™ by Mattel, Inc.
Hatchimals by Spin Master Ltd.
Mebo by SkyRocket Toys
Project Mc2 H2O Car by MGA Entertainment
Special Edition Battle-Worn BB-8 with Force Band™ by Sphero


LICENSE OF THE YEAR
Character or property that has had success spreading its brand throughout the industry

DC Super Hero Girls
Disney's Elena of Avalor
Paw Patrol™
Pokémon
Shopkins
Star Wars
Trolls


ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
A new company (created within the last 2 years) that has brought to market an outstanding toy

3DoodlerStart Essentials Pen Set by WobbleWorks
Acids, Bases and pH Chemistry Kit by Yellow Scope
CogniToys Dino by CogniToys
Geometry Strategy by Games by Bright of Sweden
IAmElemental Series 1/Courage by IAmElemental
Malia's House by Build & Imagine
Superhero Will by Wonder Crew


SPECIALTY OF THE YEAR
Toys primarily distributed through specialty retailers

Automoblox C9 Sportscar by PlayMonster!
Design & Drill® BrightWorks™ by Educational Insights
Flappy Animated Elephants by Gund a Division of Enesco LLC
LEGO Disney Castle by LEGO Systems, Inc.
American Girl® Melody™ Doll and Book by Mattel, Inc.
Nano Nitro Slingshot by HEXBUG
Perplexus Q-bot by PlayMonster!


TECH TOY OF THE YEAR
Physical toys that are electronic or interact with a smart-phone, tablet or gaming device

Air Hogs Connect: Mission Drone by Spin Master Ltd.
CodeGamer by Thames & Kosmos
LUMI by WowWee USA, Inc.
MOTA JETJAT Ultra Streaming Nano Drone by MOTA
Sky Viper Hover Racer by SkyRocket Toys
Wonder Workshop’s Dash & Dot by Wonder Workshop
Zoomer Chimp by Spin Master Ltd.


VEHICLE OF THE YEAR
Toys that are powered or non-powered vehicles, and their play sets/accessories

Air Hogs – Star Wars X-wing vs. Death Star, Rebel Assault - RC Drones by Spin Master Ltd.
Disney Princess Carriage by Dynacraft
Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Treasure Mountain Train Adventure™ by Vtech
Hot Wheels® A.I. Intelligent Race System by Mattel, Inc.
LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3RS by LEGO Systems, Inc.
Telsa Model S for Kids by Radio Flyer
XPV® RC Skateboarding Mikey by JAKKS Pacific

2 comments:

Kerry Schultz said...

if i ask my nephew and nieces then they are going to give me better answers for this. but if you ask me, any toy is a good toy as long as it keeps them occupied

Kerry Schultz said...

this would definitely be an awesome event to attend I had no idea such events actually existed thanks for the heads looking forward to this years event adam