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Toy Industry Unveils Nominees for 2013 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards; Announces Inductees into Toy Industry Hall of Fame
NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2012 -- The Toy Industry Association (TIA) kicked off the holiday shopping season today by announcing the 84 finalists for the prestigious 2013 Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY). Between now and January 13, 2013, toy lovers of all ages can visit http://ToyAwards.org to vote for their favorite playthings in 12 categories – from e-Connected and Innovative to Educational and Outdoor toys – and sign up to win exclusive prize packages!
"Each year, TOTY celebrates the creative spirit of the toy industry and honors the joy that toys and games bring to kids of all walks of life," said Carter Keithley, TIA president, at a New York City press conference unveiling the nominees. "We are proud to announce that the TOTY Awards will once again support the inspiring work of the Toy Industry Foundation, which annually delivers one million toys and games to deserving children around the world."
This year's finalists – representing 69 unique products or properties from 46 companies – were selected from nearly 650 nominees submitted for consideration. Nomination committees comprised of academics, journalists, toy trend experts, play therapists, toy inventors and designers, and toy retailers narrowed the field to the slate of finalists that were introduced today.
"The toys in the 2013 TOTY line-up emphasize play value, originality and innovation across all market sectors," said Stacy Leistner, TIA vice president of strategic communications. "To elevate the excitement surrounding the awards, this year we are introducing the 'People's Choice Award.' The winner in this category will be selected exclusively by votes received on our ToyAwards.org website. It will be the public's choice of the most popular plaything of the year!"
Five ballots – for consumers, mass retailers, specialty retailers, media, and TIA members – were launched during the press event and will remain open through January 13, 2013. These ballots will be weighted and used to determine each of the category winners. The overall "Toy of the Year" award will be selected based on votes received from journalists and bloggers, retailers and TIA members.
The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on Saturday, February 9, 2013 as the kick-off to the 110th American International Toy Fair.
2013 Hall of Fame Inductees Join Toy Industry Icons
Also announced today were the next inductees into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Judith (Judy) Ellis, founder and chair of the nation's first baccalaureate program in Toy Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and the late Russ Berrie, former chief executive and chairman of Russ Berrie & Company, will be recognized for their outstanding contributions and service to the toy industry during the TOTY Awards ceremony in February.
About the Toy Industry Association (TIA)
TIA is the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and bringing toys and youth entertainment products to kids of all ages, representing more than 550 companies who account for approximately 85% of domestic toy sales. Toy safety is the number one priority for the toy industry. TIA has a long history of leadership in toy safety including the development of the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 30 years ago, and working with government, consumers and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play. For more information, please visit http://www.toyassociation.org or http://www.toyinfo.org.
ACTIVITY TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that inspire creative play through various forms of activity
BOY TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys developed for boys of any age
E-CONNECTED TOY OF THE YEAR
An app-cessory or other physical toy that interacts with a smartphone, tablet or gaming device
EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that help children to develop special skills and knowledge through play
GAME OF THE YEAR
Children's board, card, CD-ROM or electronic game formats. (NOTE: All electronic games must have an ESRB "Early Childhood" rating)
GIRL TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys developed for girls of any age
INFANT/TODDLER TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys developed for infant children and toddlers (ages up to 36 months)
INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that utilize innovative design, technology, or manufacturing processes to enhance play value
OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys designed for outdoor play
PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys developed for preschool-aged children (aged 3-5)
PROPERTY OF THE YEAR
Property that had the greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry
SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys primarily distributed through specialty retailers
Follow TOTY on Twitter at #TOTY13
Submitted by News on Tue, 2012-11-20 02:52