The Toy Association has revealed the finalists for the Toy of the Year (TOTY) 2021 Awards, with Star Wars being nomiated in four different categories. Between now and January 5th, 2020, visit ToyAwards.org to vote for your favourite in each of the 16 categories. Star Wars products have been nominated in the categories for Construction – LEGO The Razor Crest, Plush – The Child Plush (11″) from Mattel, Innovation – Hasbro’s Animatronic The Child and for License of the Year – Star Wars: The Mandalorian.
“Throughout history, the toy community has demonstrated a remarkable ability to inspire generations of play, in both good times and bad. During the pandemic, we have witnessed firsthand just how important toys are in bringing fun, laughter, and learning into the home,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Toy Association.
“This year’s TOTY finalists, carefully reviewed by a panel of expert judges, truly represent the creative spirit of the North American toy industry and our members, as well as the critical role toys play in bringing joy to kids and adults alike. It is a great honor to unveil the incredible slate of finalists today.”
CONSTRUCTION TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that include building as the primary play pattern• BRIO Motor Set (BRIO)
• LEGO Friends Rescue Mission Boat (LEGO)
• LEGO Star Wars The Razor Crest (LEGO)
• MEGA Construx Halo – Pelican Inbound (Mattel)
• Plus-Plus GO! Street Racing Super Set (Plus-Plus)
• Snap Ships Sabre XF-23 Interceptor (PlayMonster)
• SolarBots: 8-in-1 Solar Robot Kit (Thames & Kosmos)INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that utilize innovative design, technology, or manufacturing processes to enhance play value• Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market (KidKraft)
• Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad with Eye-Soft-Technology (Crayola LLC)
• Go Go Bird (Zing)
• KidiZoom Creator Cam (VTech)
• LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course (LEGO)
• L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Super Surprise (MGA Entertainment)
• Squeakee (Moose Toys)
• Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition Toy (Hasbro)LICENSE OF THE YEAR
Character or property that has had success spreading its brand through the development and merchandising of products developed from the intellectual property• Baby Shark (Pingfong)
• Blue’s Clues & You (Nickelodeon)
• L.O.L. Surprise! (MGA Entertainment)
• Marvel (Marvel)
• PAW Patrol: Dino Rescue (Spin Master and Nickelodeon)
• Pokémon (The Pokémon Company International)
• Ryan’s World (pocket.watch)
• Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Disney)PLUSH TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that are made of fabric and stuffed with cotton or similar filling, including toys with interactive or electronic features• Dolce Primo Kangaroo (Magformers)
• Eco Nation (Aurora World, Inc.)
• Little Rebels Dolls (Little Rebels Inc.)
• Shore Buddies (Shore Buddies)
• Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Child 11” Plush (Mattel)
• Story Magic Unicorn Dream Dollhouse (Horizon Group USA)
• Whatsitsface (Whatsitsface)The finalists were selected from 557 nominees submitted by 205 companies. 18 judges, including toy and play experts, retailers, academics, and journalists, reviewed and ranked the products in categories relevant to their areas of expertise. The judges then participated in a discussion to determine the finalists in each category. They considered each product’s creativity, design, play value, and marketing.
All proceeds from the TOTY program are donated to The Toy Foundation, which delivers the magic of play to millions of children in vulnerable situations through industry-wide toy donations and cash contributions.
Winners in each category, as well as the coveted overall Toy of the Year winner and People’s Choice honoree (based solely on consumer votes), will be announced at the virtual TOTY Awards gala on Friday, February 12th, 2021.
Congratulations to all of the finalists including products from Hasbro, LEGO and Mattel. The TOTY Awards are often referred as the Oscars for the toy industry, so take the link below and get voting!
