In the runup to Christmas, The Toy Association has announced the 2021 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award finalists and unsurprisingly, toys based off the hit Disney+ show, The Mandalorian has picked up a number of nominations.

Known as the “Oscars” of the toy industry, the TOTY Awards program recognizes the top playthings on the market and is a vital fundraiser for The Toy Foundation, which delivers the magic of play to millions of children in vulnerable situations.

“Throughout history, the toy community has demonstrated a remarkable ability to inspire generations of play, in both good times and bad. During the pandemic, we have witnessed firsthand just how important toys are in bringing fun, laughter, and learning into the home,” said Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “This year’s TOTY finalists, carefully reviewed by a panel of expert judges, truly represent the creative spirit of the North American toy industry and our members, as well as the critical role toys play in bringing joy to kids and adults alike. It is a great honor to unveil the incredible slate of finalists today!”

Winners in each category, as well as the coveted overall “Toy of the Year” winner and “People’s Choice” honoree (based solely on consumer votes), will be announced at the virtual TOTY Awards gala on Friday, February 12, 2021. The celebration will include the induction of four industry trailblazers into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame and shine a spotlight on the inspiring philanthropic work of the toy industry and The Toy Foundation.

Here is a look all the categories with nominations involving the Mandalorian or other Disney+ related shows:

CONSTRUCTION TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that include building as the primary play pattern

BRIO Motor Set (BRIO)
LEGO Friends Rescue Mission Boat (LEGO)
LEGO Star Wars The Razor Crest (LEGO)
MEGA Construx Halo – Pelican Inbound (Mattel)
Plus-Plus GO! Street Racing Super Set (Plus-Plus)
Snap Ships Sabre XF-23 Interceptor (PlayMonster)
SolarBots: 8-in-1 Solar Robot Kit (Thames & Kosmos)

DOLL OF THE YEAR
Toys that include baby, toddler, and fashion dolls

Barbie Color Reveal (Mattel)
Cave Club Fashion Dolls (Mattel)
Disney Junior Doc McStuffins Wash Your Hands Singing Doll (Just Play)
FailFix (Moose Toys)
Healthy Roots Dolls: Zoe Doll (Healthy Roots Dolls)
L.O.L Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Dolls (MGA Entertainment)
Rainbow High Fashion Dolls (MGA Entertainment)
The Fresh Dolls (World of EPI and Just Play)

INNOVATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that utilize innovative design, technology, or manufacturing processes to enhance play value

Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market (KidKraft)
Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad with Eye-Soft-Technology (Crayola LLC)
Go Go Bird (Zing)
KidiZoom Creator Cam (VTech)
LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course (LEGO)
L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Remix Super Surprise (MGA Entertainment)
Squeakee (Moose Toys)
Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition Toy (Hasbro)

LICENSE OF THE YEAR
Character or property that has had success spreading its brand through the development and merchandising of products developed from the intellectual property

Baby Shark (Pingfong)
Blue’s Clues & You (Nickelodeon)
L.O.L. Surprise! (MGA Entertainment)
Marvel (Marvel)
PAW Patrol: Dino Rescue (Spin Master and Nickelodeon)
Pokémon (The Pokémon Company International)
Ryan’s World (pocket.watch)
Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Disney)

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

Dolce Primo Kangaroo (Magformers)
Eco Nation (Aurora World, Inc.)
Little Rebels Dolls (Little Rebels Inc.)
Shore Buddies (Shore Buddies)
Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Child 11″ Plush (Mattel)
Story Magic Unicorn Dream Dollhouse (Horizon Group USA)
Whatsitsface (Whatsitsface)

VEHICLE OF THE YEAR
Toy cars, trucks, trains and other vehicles in all scales, including R/C vehicles but exclusive of ride-ons

L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Glamper (MGA Entertainment)
LEGO Technic Lamborghini Sian (LEGO)
Monster Jam Megalodon Storm RC (Spin Master)
Pick Up Pete (Fotorama USA)
PJ Masks Transforming 2 in 1 Mobile HQ (Just Play)
PLAYMOBIL Back To The Future DeLorean (PLAYMOBIL)
Power Treads (WowWee)

The finalists were selected from 557 nominees submitted by 205 companies. Eighteen judges, including toy and play experts, retailers, academics, and journalists, reviewed and ranked the products in categories relevant to their areas of expertise. The judges then participated in a discussion to determine the finalists in each category. They considered each product’s creativity, design, play value, and marketing.

 

Will you be adding any of these toys to your collection?

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Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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