They’re often considered to be the Oscars of the toy industry, and on Friday, Feb. 21, the next Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards will be distributed at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City as Toy Fair New York gets underway. After carefully examining 633 nominees submitted by 236 companies, a panel of 18 industry experts determined this year’s finalists in 16 categories. One winner in each category, along with the consumer-chosen People’s Choice Award and the overall Toy of the Year Award, will be presented in February. Now it’s your chance to vote for your favorites.
“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!”
Here are the finalists for the 2020 TOTY Awards:
Action Figure of the Year
Toys that represent a person or fictional character intended for active, imaginative and narrative-based play.
- Bakugan Dragonoid Maximus Transforming Figure (Spin Master)
- Disney•Pixar Toy Story Basic Figures (Mattel)
- Heroes of Goo Jit Zu (Moose Toys)
- Jurassic World Destroy ‘N Devour Indominus Rex (Mattel)
- Marvel Legends Series (Hasbro)
- My Hero Academia Katsuki Bakugo Action Figure (McFarlane Toys)
- Power Rangers Beast Morphers Beast-X Ultrazord Figure (Hasbro)
Collectible of the Year
Toys that compose a set and can be collected in multiples, can include novelty playthings, miniature versions of existing lines, licensed collectibles, etc.
- Blume (Skyrocket Toys)
- Hairdorables Dolls Series 3 (Just Play)
- L.O.L. Surprise! Winter Disco Series (MGA Entertainment)
- Lucky Fortune (WowWee)
- My Singing Monsters Collectible Musical Figures (PlayMonster)
- Pulp Heroes Snap Bots (Far Out Toys)
- Shopkins Real Littles Lil’ Shopper Pack (Moose Toys)
Construction Toy of the Year
Toys that include building as the primary play pattern.
- Erector by Meccano, Inventor Set, Intro to Robotics (Spin Master)
- Fisher-Price Wonder Makers design system Build Around Town Starter Kit (Mattel)
- LeapBuilders ABC Smart House (LeapFrog)
- LEGO City Deep Space Rocket and Launch Control (LEGO Systems)
- LEGO Marvel Iron Man Hall of Armor (LEGO Systems)
- My Robotic Pet – Tumbling Hedgehog (Thames & Kosmos)
- Vex Catapult 2.0 (HEXBUG)
Creative Toy of the Year
Toys that allow kids to build and/or make items that are unique to them.
- Blinger (Wicked Cool Toys)
- Cool Maker Go Glam Nail Stamper (Spin Master)
- Crayola Glitter Dots (Crayola)
- littleBits Electronic Music Inventor Kit (Sphero)
- smART Pixelator (Flycatcher)
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Droid Depot Custom Astromech Units (Disney Parks)
- Y’Art Craft Kit (Kahootz)
Doll of the Year
Toys that include baby, toddler, and fashion dolls.
- Ballerina Dreamer Dancing Ballerina (Hunter Products)
- Candylocks Basic Doll (Spin Master)
- Creatable World (Mattel)
- Cry Babies – Kristal Gets Sick & Feels Better (IMC Toys)
- Disney Frozen 2: “Into the Unknown” Elsa Doll (Jakks Pacific)
- Disney Princess Ralph Breaks the Internet – Comfy Princess Assortment (Hasbro)
- L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Fashion Dolls (MGA Entertainment)
Game of the Year
Kids and family games, including board, card, electronic, or other physical game formats and puzzles, exclusive of video or app games.
- Funkoverse Strategy Game (Funko)
- Heist (Megableu USA)
- Ms. Monopoly Board Game (Hasbro Games)
- Orangutwang (PlayMonster)
- Pictionary Air (Mattel)
- Disney Villainous: Evil Comes Prepared (Ravensburger)
- Throw Throw Burrito (Exploding Kittens)
- UNO Braille (Mattel)
Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year
Toys that are developed for kids ages 0-3.
- Fisher-Price Linkimals (Mattel)
- InnyBin (Fat Brain Toys)
- World of Eric Carle Shape Activity Cube (KidKraft)
- LeapBuilders 123 Fix-It Truck (LeapFrog)
- Mix & Match-a-Saurus (VTech)
- Musical Lili Llama (The Manhattan Toy Co.)
- Tinker Truck (Radio Flyer)
Innovative Toy of the Year
Toys that utilize innovative design, technology, or manufacturing processes to enhance play value.
- comicam the Instant Comic Camera (Hangzhou Rulei Technology)
- Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak (Wow! Stuff)
- Hot Wheels id Smart Track Kit (Mattel)
- Hot Wheels TechMods (Mattel)
- RockIt Twist (LeapFrog)
- Shashibo (The Shape Shifting Box) (Fun in Motion)
- tori Explorer Pack (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
License of the Year
The character or property that has had success spreading its brand through the development and merchandising of products developed from the intellectual property.
- Baby Shark (Pinkfong)
- Barbie 60th Anniversary Program (Mattel)
- JoJo Siwa (Nickelodeon)
- Marvel Avengers: Endgame (Disney/Marvel Licensing)
- PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Super PAWs (Spin Master)
- Pokémon (The Pokémon Company International)
- Ryan’s World (pocket.watch)
- Toy Story 4 (The Walt Disney Co.)
Outdoor Toy of the Year
Toys that are designed for outdoor play, including ride-ons.
- Crazy Cart Shift (Razor USA)
- Create A Castle (Create A Castle)
- EzyRoller Drifter X (EzyRoller)
- Globber GoUp Comfort (Incredible Novelties)
- My Buddy Wheels (Yvolution USA)
- Toilet Paper Blasters Sheet Storm (Jakks Pacific)
- X-Shot Fast-Fill (ZURU)
Playset of the Year
Toys that are designed to work together to enact some action or event, including characters and role play.
- Beyblade Burst Turbo Slingshock Cross Collision Battle Set (Hasbro)
- Disney Frozen Ultimate Arendelle Castle Playset (Hasbro)
- Hape Fire Station (Hape)
- Hot Wheels Colossal Crash Track Set (Mattel)
- L.O.L. Surprise! Winter Disco Chalet (MGA Entertainment)
- Playmobil Mars Space Station (Playmobil)
- Timber Tots (Fat Brain Toys)
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.
- Cutetitos (Basic Fun!)
- Dolce Safari Adventure (Magformers)
- Little Live Scruff-A-Luvs Real Rescue Electronic Pet (Moose Toys)
- Pinkfong Baby Shark Song Puppets with Tempo Control (WowWee)
- Pomsies Lumies (Skyrocket)
- Shimmer Stars (KD Group)
- Rainbocorns Ultimate Sequin Surprise Series 2 (ZURU)
Preschool Toy of the Year
Toys that are developed for kids ages 3-5.
- Demo Duke (Spin Master)
- Coding Critters (Learning Resources)
- Kid Trax Rideamals Unicorn (Pacific Cycle)
- Kindi Kids (Moose Toys)
- Myla the Magical Unicorn (VTech)
- Peppa Pig’s Magical Parade (Jazwares)
- Wild Ones (Razor USA)
Specialty Toy of the Year
Toys that are distributed through independent retailers (i.e., neighborhood toy stores) and not sold at mass brick-and-mortar stores. Toys that are sold only online do not qualify.
- AirFort (AirFort)
- Hape Emergency Services Headquarters (Hape)
- LEGO Ideas Central Perk (LEGO Systems)
- LEGO Stranger Things The Upside Down (LEGO Systems)
- littleBits Space Rover Inventor Kit (Sphero)
- OombeeBall (Fat Brain Toys)
- Thinking Putty Puzzle (Thinkfun)
STEM/STEAM Toy of the Year
Toys that encourage kids to develop skills (foundational or curricular) in the core disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or art.
- Amazing Rescue 50Pc Set (Magformers)
- Artie 3000 (Educational Insights)
- Beaker Creatures Alien Experiment Lab (Learning Resources)
- Crayola Color Chemistry Arctic Lab (Crayola)
- Gumball Machine Maker (Thames & Kosmos)
- LEGO Boost Star Wars Droid Commander (LEGO Systems)
- Mech-5 Mechanical Coding Robot (Elenco)
Vehicle of the Year
Toy cars, trucks, trains, and other vehicles in all scales, including R/C vehicles but exclusive of ride-ons.
- Grrrumball (Alpha Group US)
- Hot Wheels Mario Kart Die-Cast Vehicle Assortment (Mattel)
- L.O.L. Surprise! 2-in-1 Glamper (MGA Entertainment)
- Monster Jam Mega Grave Digger Remote Control Vehicle (Spin Master)
- PJ Masks PJ Seeker (Just Play)
- Star Wars D-O Interactive Droid (Hasbro)
- X-Power Dozer (Jakks Pacific)
Vote now for your favorites at toyawards.org.
