THE TOY ASSOCIATION UNVEILED 114 toy and game finalists for the prestigious 2020 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. Known as the Oscars of the toy industry, the TOTY Awards program recognizes the top playthings on the market — from STEM/STEAM and innovative toys to dolls, action figures, creative toys, and more. The program is also a vital fundraiser for The Toy Foundation, which annually delivers toys to millions of kids in need. Finalists were announced by a group of well-known online influencers who serve as TOTY ambassadors. Play-lovers of all ages can vote for their favorite playthings in each of the 16 categories through Jan. 5 at toyawards.org. They can also browse toys, download shopping lists for the holidays, and enter for a chance to win one of 16 prize packages. Voters can also visit the homepage of toybook.com
to browse through each category and to scroll through each nominated toy. Each page also includes a link to vote for that category. “From an extraordinary field of nominees carefully reviewed by expert judges, this year’s TOTY finalists truly represent our members’ ability to bring fun, laughter, discovery, and learning to kids across America and around the world,” says Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Toy Association. “We are proud to unveil these playthings in advance of the holiday season and celebrate the toy community’s enduring ability to inspire generations of play. Everyone is encouraged to cast their votes at toyawards.org and help decide the winners!” The finalists were selected from 633 nominees submitted by 236 companies. Eighteen judges, including toy and play experts, retailers, academics, and journal-
ists, 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. Winners in each category, as well as the coveted overall Toy of the Year winner and the People’s Choice winner (based solely on consumer votes), will be announced at the TOTY Awards gala on Friday, Feb. 21 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. The celebration will kick off Toy Fair New York and include the induction of three trailblazers — Thomas Chan, founder and CEO of Playmates Toys Inc.; Thomas G. Murdough Jr., founder of Little Tikes, Step 2, and Simplay3; and the late Harry Kislevitz, founder of Colorforms Corp. — into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame. »
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