Earlier this month, the toy industry came together in Chicago to celebrate the achievements of 2022.
People of Play’s Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) returned as an in-person event for the first time since 2019.
“The evening was absolutely magical,” says Mary Couzin, president and founder of People of Play. “After back to back years of virtual events, it was so wonderful to all be together again.”
The TAGIEs honored three industry titans with Lifetime Achievement Awards: chairman and CEO of TOMY Kantaro Tomiyama, former Hasbro chairman Alan Hassenfield, and Jenga inventor Leslie Scott.
“It is my honor and privilege to accept this recognition from my peers,” Tomiyama says. “I share this award with all of the TOMY colleagues who have always made a sincere and continuous effort to become friends with children around the world for nearly 100 years of TOMY’s history. Without their help, this honor would not have been possible. This award is certainly not our final goal. TOMY will continue to evolve and grow.”
Hassenfield says that the award highlights the work of the entire Hassenfield family.
“It is said that our greatest natural resource is our children. To be honored for trying to bring smiles to the faces of kids around the world and be a part of creating a hopeful future for them, I am overwhelmed with this Lifetime Achievement Award,” Hassenfeld says. “I accept it humbly on behalf of three generations of Hassenfelds and our extended Hasbro family who are our greatest asset. As we enter our 100th year at Hasbro in 2023, we are indebted to The TAGIEs, our industry, and children the world over.”
Other winners include:
TOY INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Bang Zoom Design and SG Labs for DJ Bouncin’ Beats (Fisher-Price)
GAME INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by the Michael Kohner Corporation
Daryl Andrews for the Real Truth Game (Goliath Games)
RISING STAR INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by TOMY
Julian Miller and David McGranaghan for It’s Bananas, Fire In The Hole, and UpRoar
MOST INNOVATIVE PR AND MARKETING TEAM OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Spin Master
Hasbro PR, NERF Team, and the Martin Agency for Murph: “Unleash the Play in You” Campaign
MOST INNOVATIVE ART AND DESIGN VISUALS OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Longshore
Rita Orlov and Jack Fallows for The Light in the Mist
MOST INNOVATIVE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Wizards of the Coast with R.R. Donnelley
MOST INNOVATIVE RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Snakes and Lattes
MOST INNOVATIVE LICENSE OF THE YEAR
New York Times and Hasbro for Wordle: The Party Game
YOUNG INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR (under 18 years old) – Sponsored by Disney
Cooper Dean for Chicken Poo Bingo (Goliath Games)
2022 GAME CHANGER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Mattel
James Howard for Black Inventors Got Game
