The toy industry has its 84 toy, game, and property finalists for the 2014 Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY), according to the Toy Industry Association (TIA). The annual TOTY awards program is sponsored by the toy industry to recognize the top toys available across 12 categories—from e-connected to activity to educational and outdoor toys.
The 2014 finalists represent 68 unique products or properties from 41 companies, and were selected from more than 520 nominees submitted for consideration by 153 companies. Sixty academics, journalists, toy trend experts, play therapists, toy inventors and designers, and toy retailers staffed the nomination committees that narrowed the field to the slate of finalists.
Through January 13, toy lovers of all ages can visit ToyAwards.org to vote for their favorite playthings. Each vote is a chance to win one of twelve TOTY prize packages filled with the toys and games featured in each category.
Four additional ballots—for mass retailers, specialty toy retailers, media, and TIA members—were also launched today and will remain open through January 13. All five ballots will be weighted and used to determine each category winner. The overall, “Toy of the Year,” award will be selected based on votes received from journalists and bloggers, retailers, and TIA members; the, “People’s Choice Award,” will be selected based on votes solely from consumers on ToyAwards.org.
The winners will be announced during an awards ceremony held on February 15 as the kick-off to the 111th American International Toy Fair.
The seven nominees for each category are as follows:
ACTIVITY TOY OF THE YEAR
- Hot Wheels Car Maker by Mattel, Inc.
- Rainbow Loom by Choon’s Design LLC
- Crayola Melt ’n Mold Factory by Crayola
- Lego Minecraft by The Lego Group
- Play-Doh Perfect Twist Ice Cream Playset by Hasbro, Inc.
- Glitzi Globes Glitzi Showcase by Moose Toys
- Spirograph Deluxe Kit by Kahootz Toys
BOY TOY OF THE YEAR
- Battroborg 3-in-1 Battle Arena by TOMY
- Despicable Me 2 Special Feature Minion Dave Talking Action Figure by Thinkway Toys
- Disney Infinity by Disney
- Lego Legends of Chima by The Lego Group
- Skylanders Swap Force by Activision Publishing Inc.
- Transformers Construct-bots by Hasbro Inc.
- Disney Planes U-Command Supercharged Dusty by Thinkway Toys
E-CONNECTED TOY OF THE YEAR
- Lego Mindstorms EV3 by The Lego Group
- Skylanders Swap Force by Activision Publishing, Inc.
- Disney Infinity by Disney
- Barbie Digital Makeover by Mattel Inc.
- LeapPad Ultra by LeapFrog Enterprises Inc.
- Kurio Touch 4s Handheld by Techno Source
- Photo Mix & Mash by Crayola
EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR
- GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine by GoldieBlox Inc.
- LeapPad Ultra by LeapFrog Enterprises Inc.
- LeapReader by LeapFrog Enterprises Inc.
- Lego Mindstorms EV3 by The Lego Group
- Demolition Lab: Triple Blast Warehouse by SmartLab Toys
- Magformers 62 Piece Set by Magformers LLC
- Nancy B’s Science Club MoonScope and Sky Gazer’s Activity Journal by Educational Insights
GAME OF THE YEAR
- Boom Boom Balloon by Spin Master Ltd.
- Chain Letters by Patch Products
- Draw Something Party Game by Hasbro Inc.
- Hedbanz Act Up by Spin Master Ltd.
- Settlers of Catan by Mayfair Games
- Skylanders Swap Force by Activision Publishing Inc.
- WordARound by ThinkFun
GIRL TOY OF THE YEAR
- Disney Princess Palace Pets: Furry Tail Friends by Blip Toys
- Flutterbye Fairy by Spin Master Ltd.
- Furreal Friends Cuddles, My Giggly Monkey by Hasbro, Inc.
- Lego Friends Heartlake High by The Lego Group
- Monster High 13 Wishes Doll Assortment by Mattel
- Nerf Rebelle Heartbreaker Bow by Hasbro Inc.
- Rainbow Loom by Choon’s Design LLC
INFANT/TODDLER TOY OF THE YEAR
- Big Hugs Elmo by Playskool
- Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Crawl Around Car by Mattel
- Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station Playset by VTech
- Lamaze Franky the Hanky Whale by TOMY
- Farm Mash-Up by LeapFrog Enterprises Inc.
- Mirari Pop! Pop! Piano by Patch Products
- Skwish Stix by Manhattan Toy
INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
- Barbie Digital Makeover by Mattel
- Battroborg 3-in-1 Battle Arena by TOMY
- Flutterbye Fairy by Spin Master Ltd.
- GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine by GoldieBlox Inc.
- Laser Maze by ThinkFun
- Skylanders Swap Force by Activision Publishing Inc.
- Zoomer by Spin Master Ltd.
OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR
- Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk by Crayola
- Razor Crazy Cart by Razor USA LLC
- Sky Ripperz by Zing
- Sky Viper Stunt Quadcopter by Skyrocket Toys
- SkyTrix by Daydream Toy
- Y Glider 3 in 1 by Yvolution
- Ziggle by Radio Flyer
PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR
- Big Hugs Elmo by Playskool
- Dino Construction Company by Educational Insights
- Doc McStuffins Get Better Check-Up Center by Just Play
- Furreal Friends Cuddles, My Giggly Monkey by Hasbro Inc.
- Go! Go! Smart Wheels Airport Playset by VTech
- Shelby’s Snack Shack Game by Educational Insights
- Sofia the First Talking Sofia and Animal Friends by Mattel
PROPERTY OF THE YEAR
- Despicable Me 2 (Universal Partnerships & Licensing)
- Disney Junior’s Doc McStuffins (Disney Consumer Products)
- Disney Junior’s Sofia the First (Disney Consumer Products)
- Minecraft (Mojang AB)
- Monster High (Mattel)
- Skylanders Swap Force (Activision Publishing, Inc.)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Nickelodeon)
SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR
- Animal Parade A to Z Puzzle by BeginAgain
- Bunny Peek A Boo by Smart Toys and Games, Inc.
- Laser Maze by ThinkFun
- Nanoblocks Deluxe Space Shuttle by Ohio Art
- Rainbow Loom by Choon’s Design LLC
- Spirograph Deluxe Kit by Kahootz Toys
- Magnetic Wooden Blocks 42-Piece Set by Tegu
