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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
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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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ACTION FIGURE ««
BAKUGAN DRAGONOID MAXIMUS TRANSFORMING FIGURE (SPIN MASTER)
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DISNEY•PIXAR TOY STORY BASIC FIGURES (MATTEL)
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HEROES OF GOO JIT ZU (MOOSE TOYS)
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JURASSIC WORLD DESTROY 'N DEVOUR INDOMINUS REX (MATTEL)
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MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES (HASBRO)
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MY HERO ACADEMIA KATSUKI BAKUGO ACTION FIGURE (MCFARLANE TOYS)
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POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS BEAST-X ULTRAZORD FIGURE (HASBRO)
VEHICLE
Bakugan Dragonoid Maximus Transforming Figure
Heroes of Goo Jit Zu
OF THE YEAR
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GRRRUMBALL (ALPHA GROUP U.S.)
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HOT WHEELS MARIO KART DIE-CAST VEHICLE ASSORTMENT (MATTEL)
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L.O.L. SURPRISE! 2-IN-1 GLAMPER (MGA ENTERTAINMENT)
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MONSTER JAM MEGA GRAVE DIGGER REMOTE CONTROL VEHICLE (SPIN MASTER)
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PJ MASKS PJ SEEKER (JUST PLAY)
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STAR WARS D-O INTERACTIVE DROID (HASBRO)
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OF THE YEAR
PJ Masks PJ Seeker
X-Power Dozer
X-POWER DOZER (JAKKS PACIFIC)
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GAME
OF THE YEAR
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FUNKOVERSE STRATEGY GAME (FUNKO)
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HEIST (MEGABLEU USA)
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MS. MONOPOLY BOARD GAME (HASBRO)
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ORANGUTWANG (PLAYMONSTER)
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PICTIONARY AIR (MATTEL)
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DISNEY VILLAINOUS: EVIL COMES PREPARED (RAVENSBURGER)
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THROW THROW BURRITO (EXPLODING KITTENS)
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UNO BRAILLE (MATTEL)
INFANT/TODDLER ««
TOY OF THE YEAR
FISHER-PRICE LINKIMALS (MATTEL)
INNYBIN «« (FAT BRAIN TOY CO.) ««
WORLD OF ERIC CARLE SHAPE ACTIVITY CUBE (KIDKRAFT)
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LEAPBUILDERS 123 FIX-IT TRUCK (LEAPFROG)
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MIX & MATCH-A-SAURUS (VTECH)
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MUSICAL LILI LLAMA (THE MANHATTAN TOY CO.)
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TINKER TRUCK (RADIO FLYER)
World of Eric Carle Shape Activity Cube
Mix & Match-a-Saurus
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PRESCHOOL «
DEMO DUKE (SPIN MASTER)
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CODING CRITTERS (LEARNING RESOURCES)
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KID TRAX RIDEAMALS UNICORN (KID TRAX)
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KINDI KIDS (MOOSE TOYS)
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MYLA THE MAGICAL UNICORN (VTECH)
Peppa Pig’s Magical Parade Floats
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PEPPA PIG’S MAGICAL PARADE FLOATS (JAZWARES)
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WILD ONES (RAZOR USA)
DOLL «
TOY OF THE YEAR
Kid Trax Rideamals Unicorn
OF THE YEAR
BALLERINA DREAMER DANCING BALLERINA (HUNTER PRODUCTS) Ballerina Dreamer Dancing Ballerina
CANDYLOCKS BASIC DOLL « (SPIN MASTER) «
CREATABLE WORLD (MATTEL)
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CRY BABIES – KRISTAL GETS SICK & FEELS BETTER (IMC TOYS)
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DISNEY FROZEN 2: “INTO THE UNKNOWN” ELSA DOLL (JAKKS PACIFIC)
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DISNEY PRINCESS RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET — COMFY PRINCESS ASSORTMENT (HASBRO)
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L.O.L. SURPRISE! O.M.G. FASHION DOLLS (MGA ENTERTAINMENT)
Cry Babies – Kristal Gets Sick & Feels Better
24 THE TOY BOOK | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2020 | toybook.com
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STEM/STEAM
TOY OF THE YEAR
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AMAZING RESCUE 50PC SET (MAGFORMERS)
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ARTIE 3000 (EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS)
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BEAKER CREATURES ALIEN EXPERIMENT LAB (LEARNING RESOURCES)
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CRAYOLA COLOR CHEMISTRY ARCTIC LAB (CRAYOLA)
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GUMBALL MACHINE MAKER (THAMES & KOSMOS)
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LEGO BOOST STAR WARS DROID COMMANDER (LEGO)
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MECH-5 MECHANICAL CODING ROBOT (ELENCO)
CREATIVE
TOY OF THE YEAR
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BLINGER (WICKED COOL TOYS)
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COOL MAKER GO GLAM NAIL STAMPER (SPIN MASTER)
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CRAYOLA GLITTER DOTS (CRAYOLA)
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LITTLEBITS ELECTRONIC MUSIC INVENTOR KIT (SPHERO)
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SMART PIXELATOR (FLYCATCHER)
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STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE DROID DEPOT CUSTOM ASTROMECH UNITS (DISNEY PARKS)
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Y’ART CRAFT KIT (KAHOOTZ)
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Gumball Machine Maker
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INNOVATIVE ««
COMICAM THE INSTANT COMIC CAMERA (HANGZHOU RULEI TECHNOLOGY)
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HARRY POTTER INVISIBILITY CLOAK (WOW! STUFF)
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HOT WHEELS ID SMART TRACK KIT (MATTEL)
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HOT WHEELS TECHMODS (MATTEL)
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ROCKIT TWIST (LEAPFROG)
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SHASHIBO (THE SHAPE SHIFTING BOX) (FUN IN MOTION)
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TORI EXPLORER PACK (BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT)
TOY OF THE YEAR
Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak
OUTDOOR
TOY OF THE YEAR
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CRAZY CART SHIFT (RAZOR USA)
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CREATE A CASTLE (CREATE A CASTLE)
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EZYROLLER DRIFTER X (EZYROLLER)
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GLOBBER GOUP COMFORT (INCREDIBLE NOVELTIES)
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MY BUDDY WHEELS (YVOLUTION USA)
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TOILET PAPER BLASTERS SHEET STORM (JAKKS PACIFIC)
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X-SHOT FAST-FILL (ZURU)
X-Shot Fast-Fill
My Buddy Wheels
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PLUSH
TOY OF THE YEAR
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CUTETITOS (BASIC FUN!)
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DOLCE SAFARI ADVENTURE (MAGFORMERS)
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LITTLE LIVE SCRUFF-A-LUVS REAL RESCUE ELECTRONIC PET (MOOSE TOYS)
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PINKFONG BABY SHARK SONG PUPPETS WITH TEMPO CONTROL (WOWWEE)
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POMSIES LUMIES (SKYROCKET)
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SHIMMER STARS (KD GROUP)
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RAINBOCORNS ULTIMATE SEQUIN SURPRISE SERIES 2 (ZURU)
COLLECTIBLE ««
BLUME (SKYROCKET)
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HAIRDORABLES DOLLS SERIES 3 (JUST PLAY)
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L.O.L. SURPRISE! WINTER DISCO SERIES (MGA ENTERTAINMENT)
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LUCKY FORTUNE (WOWWEE)
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MY SINGING MONSTERS COLLECTIBLE MUSICAL FIGURES (PLAYMONSTER)
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PULP HEROES SNAP BOTS (FAR OUT TOYS)
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SHOPKINS REAL LITTLES LIL’ SHOPPER PACK (MOOSE TOYS)
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Dolce Safari Adventure
OF THE YEAR
Pulp Heroes Snap Bots
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SPECIALTY
TOY OF THE YEAR
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AIRFORT (AIRFORT)
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HAPE EMERGENCY SERVICES HEADQUARTERS (HAPE)
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LEGO IDEAS CENTRAL PERK (LEGO)
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LEGO STRANGER THINGS THE UPSIDE DOWN (LEGO)
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LITTLEBITS SPACE ROVER INVENTOR KIT (SPHERO)
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OOMBEEBALL (FAT BRAIN TOY CO.)
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THINKING PUTTY PUZZLE (THINKFUN)
PLAYSET
OombeeBall
OF THE YEAR Playmobil Mars Space Station
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BEYBLADE BURST TURBO SLINGSHOCK CROSS COLLISION BATTLE SET (HASBRO)
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DISNEY FROZEN ULTIMATE ARENDELLE CASTLE PLAYSET (HASBRO)
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HAPE FIRE STATION (HAPE)
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HOT WHEELS COLOSSAL CRASH TRACK SET (MATTEL)
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L.O.L. SURPRISE! WINTER DISCO CHALET (MGA ENTERTAINMENT)
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PLAYMOBIL MARS SPACE STATION (PLAYMOBIL)
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TIMBER TOTS (FAT BRAIN TOY CO.) Beyblade Burst Turbo Slingshock Cross Collision Battle Set
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CONSTRUCTION ««
ERECTOR BY MECCANO, INVENTOR SET, INTRO TO ROBOTICS (SPIN MASTER)
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FISHER-PRICE WONDER MAKERS DESIGN SYSTEM BUILD AROUND TOWN STARTER KIT (MATTEL)
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LEAPBUILDERS ABC SMART HOUSE (LEAPFROG)
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LEGO CITY DEEP SPACE ROCKET AND LAUNCH CONTROL (LEGO)
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LEGO MARVEL IRON MAN HALL OF ARMOR (LEGO)
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MY ROBOTIC PET — TUMBLING HEDGEHOG (THAMES & KOSMOS)
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VEX CATAPULT 2.0 (HEXBUG)
LICENSE
LeapBuilders ABC Smart House
VEX Catapult 2.0
OF THE YEAR
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BABY SHARK (PINKFONG)
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BARBIE 60TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM (MATTEL)
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JOJO SIWA (NICKELODEON)
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MARVEL AVENGERS: ENDGAME (DISNEY/MARVEL LICENSING)
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PAW PATROL MIGHTY PUPS SUPER PAWS (SPIN MASTER)
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POKÉMON (THE POKÉMON CO. INTERNATIONAL)
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RYAN’S WORLD (POCKET.WATCH)
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TOY STORY 4 (THE WALT DISNEY CO.)
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TOY OF THE YEAR
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