Toy Industry Unveils Nominees for Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards; Launches ToyAwards.org Consumer Voting Website, and Announces Inductees into Toy Industry Hall of Fame

NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York City served as the backdrop today for the unveiling of 70 highly anticipated nominees for the 2011 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards.  Along with the announcement, the Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA) launched a new website, ToyAwards.org, that allows kids of all ages to vote for their favorite toys.  Now through January 14, 2011, families can vote, download a Holiday Gift Guide, and register to win fantastic prizes.  

"The TOTY Awards not only celebrate the creativity and innovation of the toy industry," said Carter Keithley, TIA president, "they also support the philanthropic efforts of the Toy Industry Foundation whose mission it is to give the gift of play to children in need."

The finalists were selected by Nomination Committees from a record 500+ toys, games and properties submitted for consideration across 11 TOTY categories.  The committees – one for each category – were comprised of high-stature experts such as journalists, toy trend experts, play therapists, toy inventors and designers, and toy retailers.

In addition to the consumer vote, ballots were launched for retailers, media, and members of the toy industry. Each will be weighted and used to determine the TOTY 2011 winners, including the coveted overall "Toy of the Year" award. Winners will be announced during the TOTY Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 12, 2011, as the kick-off to the 108th American International Toy Fair.

2011 Hall of Fame Inductees Join Toy Industry Icons

Also announced today were the next inductees into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame.  Al Verrecchia, chairman of the Board of Directors at Hasbro, and the late Donald Duncan, founder of Duncan Toy Company, will be recognized for their outstanding contributions and service to the toy industry during the TOTY Awards ceremony in February.

The TOTY Awards is a TIA-administered event in support of the Toy Industry Foundation.  More information about the TOTY Awards (including product images and descriptions), the Toy Industry Hall of Fame, the Toy Industry Association and the Toy Industry Foundation can be found in the online pressroom www.ToyAwards.org/Press.

Follow TOTY on Twitter at #TOTY11.

About the Toy Industry Association

www.toyassociation.org

TIA is the not-for-profit trade association for producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America, representing more than 535 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 including development of the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 30 years ago, and working with government, consumers and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe play.

NOMINEES FOR THE 2011 TOTY AWARDS

ACTIVITY TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys that inspire creative play through various forms of activity

• Crayola Color Wonder Sound Studio (Crayola, LLC)
• LEGO® Atlantis Neptune Carrier (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
• LEGO® Toy Story Western Train Chase (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
• Paper Jamz™ Guitar (WowWee)
• Play-Doh Mega Fun Factory (Hasbro, Inc.)
• Real Construction™ Deluxe Workshop (JAKKS Pacific, Inc.)

BOY TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys developed for boys of any age

• Air Hogs® Hawk Eye (Spin Master Ltd.)
• Hot Wheels® RC Stealth Rides (Mattel)
• NERF N-Strike Stampede ECS blaster (Hasbro, Inc.)
• Real Construction™ Deluxe Workshop (JAKKS Pacific, Inc.)
• Spy Net™ Video Watch (JAKKS Pacific, Inc.)
• Toy Story 3 Blast Off Buzz Lightyear (Thinkway Toys)
• TRON: Legacy Zero Gravity Light Cycle (Disney and Spin Master)

EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys that help children to develop special skills and knowledge through play

• Alphie (Hasbro/ Playskool)
• Furnished School Building (Playmobil® USA)
• iXL™ Learning System (Fisher-Price®, Inc.)
• Leapster Explorer™ Learning Experience (LeapFrog)
• Math Dice® Jr. Kid's First Mental Math Game (ThinkFun Inc.)
• MobiGo™ (VTech Electronics North America)
• V.Reader™ (VTech Electronics North America)
  

GAME OF THE YEAR

Children's board, card, CD-ROM or electronic game formats.  (NOTE:  All electronic games must have an ESRB "Early Childhood" rating)

• 5 Second Rule (Patch Products)
• LEGO® Games Creationary (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
• LEGO® Games Minotaurus (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
• LOOPZ™ (Radica)
• Rory's Story Cubes® (Gamewright)
• Scrabble Flash (Parker Bros.)
• SPOT IT! (Blue Orange Games)
  

GIRL TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys developed for girls of any age

• Barbie® Video Girl (Mattel)
• Furreal Friends GOGO, My Walkin' Pup (Hasbro, Inc.)
• Justin Bieber Music Video Collection Singing Figures (The Bridge Direct, Inc.)
• Monster High™ Doll Assortment (Mattel)
• Princess & Me 18" Dolls (JAKKS Pacific, Inc.)
• Squinkies™ Cupcake Surprize! Bake Shop (Blip® Toys)
• Zoobles™ (Spin Master Ltd.)

INFANT/TODDLER TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys developed for infant children and toddlers (ages up to 36 months)  

• Explore N' Grow Musical Gear Center (Playskool)
• Laugh & Learn™ Learn & Move Music Station™ (Fisher-Price, Inc.)
• LEGO® DUPLO® Play with Numbers (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
• Lil' Zoomers™ Spinnin' Sounds Speedway™ (Fisher-Price, Inc.)
• Mega Bloks® Pull Along Musical Pirate Ship (MEGA Brands)
• My First Disney Princess Baby dolls (Tollytots®, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc.)
• My Own Leaptop (Leapfrog)

INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys that combine innovation and play value

• iXL™ Learning System (Fisher-Price®, Inc.)
• LEGO® Games Minotaurus (LEGO Systems, Inc.)
• Paper Jamz™ Guitar (WowWee)
• Scrabble Flash (Parker Bros.)
• Spy Net™ Video Watch (JAKKS Pacific, Inc.)
• The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™ (Mattel Inc.)
• V.Reader™ (VTech Electronics North America)

OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys designed for outdoor play

• Flickin' Chicken (Haywire Group, Inc.)
• Makin' Mudpies (Little Tikes)
• Nerf Super Soaker Shot Blast (Hasbro, Inc.)
• Razor® Siege™ Caster Scooter (Razor USA, LLC)
• Sky Ball® and Bat (Maui Toys ®)
• Whiplash™ (Street Surfing)
• YBIKE (National Sporting Goods)

PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys developed for preschool-aged children (ages 3-5)

• Dance Star Mickey (Fisher-Price®, Inc.)
• iXL™ Learning System (Fisher-Price®, Inc.)
• My Take Along Puppet Theater (Playmobil® USA)
• The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™ (Mattel Inc.)
• Tonka Chuck & Friends Chuck's Stunt Park (Hasbro, Inc.)
• V.Reader™ (VTech Electronics North America)

PROPERTY OF THE YEAR

Property that had the greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry

• Ben 10 Ultimate Alien (Cartoon Network Enterprises)
• Chuggington™ (Ludorum)
• Dinosaur Train (The Jim Henson Company)
• Monster High™        (Mattel)
• Thomas & Friends™ (HIT Entertainment)
• Toy Story 3 (Disney Consumer Products)

SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR

Toys primarily distributed through specialty retailers

• Furnished School Building (Playmobil® USA)
• HEXBUG® Nano Habitat Set (Innovation First Labs, Inc.)
• My Take Along Puppet Theater (Playmobil® USA)
• Shrinky Dinks® Deluxe (Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell USA)
• Solitaire Chess™ (ThinkFun Inc.)
• UPPY™ Uglydoll® (Pretty Ugly™ LLC/Uglydoll®)

SOURCE Toy Industry Association