The Toy Industry Association has named 122 finalists for the 2018 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards.
The finalists were selected from more than 600 nominees submitted by more than 150 companies. Twenty judges—including toy experts, retailers, academics and journalists—made the picks from 17 categories, three of which (Creative Toy of the Year, Playset of the Year and Plush of the Year) were new this year.
Mattel leads the nominations with 10 nods, while Spin Master and Hasbro are tied with nine apiece. Mattel is a finalist in the Action Figure of the Year, Collectible of the Year, Doll of the Year, Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year, Innovative Toy of the Year, Playset Toy of the Year, Preschool Toy of the Year and Specialty Toy of the Year categories.
Hasbro, meanwhile, was acknowledged for its entries in the Action Figure, Doll, Game, Innovative Toy, Outdoor Toy, Preschool Toy and Vehicle categories.
As for Spin Master, its Hatchimals IP, which won the TOTY Award last year in the Innovative Toy category, made the Collectibles finalists this year for its Colleggtibles 4 Pack line.
Just Play (six nods), LEGO (five nods) and Moose Toys (five nods) also saw success in multiple categories.
Consumers can vote for the winners in all 17 categories—and the coveted Toy of the Year and People’s Choice awards—at www.ToyAwards.org. Voting will be open until January 5 and the winners will be announced at the TOTY Awards ceremony on February 16 in New York. The ceremony will kick off the 115th North American International Toy Fair.
Here’s a list of nominees in a few of the key entertainment-focused categories. The complete list of nominees can be found here.
License of the Year
Disney Pixar’s Cars 3 (Disney Consumer Products & Interactive Media)
Hatchimals (Spin Master)
Nickelodeon Slime (Nickelodeon Consumer Products)
PAW Patrol (Spin Master)
Peppa Pig (Entertainment One)
PJ Masks (Entertainment One)
Star Wars (Disney Consumer Products & Interactive Media)
Collectible of the Year
Disney Pixar Cars 3 Diecast Cars (pictured) (Mattel)
Fingerlings (WowWee USA)
Funko’s Mystery Minis (Funko)
Hatchimals Colleggtibles 4 Pack (Spin Master)
L.O.L. Surprise! (MGA Entertainment)
Pikmi Pop! Surprise Pack (Moose Toys)
The LEGO Batman Movie Minifigures (LEGO Systems)
Action Figure of the Year
IAmElemental’s Series 2/Wisdom Lunch Box Carrying Case with Complete Set of 7 Action Figures & Accessories (IAmElemental)
Imaginext DC Super Friends BatBot Xtreme (Mattel)
Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy Dancing Groot Figure (Hasbro)
PJ Masks Duet Figure Packs (Just Play Products)
Star Wars Forces of Destiny Adventure Figures (Hasbro)
Stikbot (ZING)
WWE Superstars Action Figures (Mattel)
Doll of the Year
Baby Alive Sweet Tears Baby Doll (Hasbro)
Barbie Fashionista Ken Dolls (Mattel)
Disney Princess Dance Code Belle (Hasbro)
DreamWorks Spirit Riding Free Spirit & Lucky Deluxe Feeding Set (Just Play Products)
JoJo Siwa Singing Doll (Just Play Products)
Luvabella (Spin Master)
Wonder Crew Superhero Will (PlayMonster)
Preschool Toy of the Year
Beat Bugs Musical Submarine (Blip Toys)
Disney Junior Doc McStuffins All-in-One Nursery (Just Play Products)
PAW Patrol My Size Lookout Tower (Spin Master)
Play-Doh Magic Oven Set (Hasbro)
Racing Adventures Mickey (Just Play Products)
Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart (LeapFrog)
Thomas & Friends Super Station (Mattel)
Game of the Year
Beasts of Balance (Sensible Object)
Boom Blast Stix (Moose Toys)
Happy Salmon (North Star Games)
Hearing Things (Hasbro)
Roller Coaster Challenge (ThinkFun)
Soggy Doggy (Spin Master)
Ultra Dash (PlayMonster)
Innovative Toy of the Year
Dropmix Music Gaming System (Hasbro)
Hexbug BattleBots Arena (HEXBUG)
Hot Wheels MindRacers (Osmo)
Klask (Buffalo Games)
Lightseekers Starter Pack (TOMY International)
Rubie’s Jurassic World T-Rex Inflatable Costume (Rubie’s Costume Company)
Think & Learn Teach ‘n Tag Movi (Mattel)