RealFX Disney Stitch Puppetronic Takes Home Coveted "Toy of the Year"; Story Time Backgammon Wins "People's Choice" Award

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The most creative and innovative toys and games earned top honors at the 25^th Anniversary Toy of the Year^® (TOTY^®) Awards tonight, where nearly 800 toy, play, and youth professionals gathered to celebrate excellence in play, as well as the industry icons inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the awards program and event supports The Toy Foundation™ (TTF), the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association™, which delivers play to millions of children when they need it most.

The RealFX Disney Stitch Puppetronic (WOW Stuff!) — a cuddly animatronic puppet based on the popular alien character — earned the prestigious "Toy of the Year" award, in addition to taking home the "Tech Toy of the Year" award. Story Time Backgammon (Story Time Learning), a unique story-based board game teaching kids as young as 3 how to play one of the world's most popular games, took home the "People's Choice" award for pulling in the most online votes from consumers.

TOTY awards were also handed out in 16 categories and given to the following:

• Transformers One Power Flip Optimus Prime (Orion Pax) (Hasbro, Inc.): Action Figure of the Year
• Deddy Bears Plush in Coffin (Innov8 Academy): Collectible of the Year
• Gecko Run: Marble Run (Thames & Kosmos, LLC): Construction Toy/Playset of the Year
• Mini Brands Create MasterChef (ZURU, Inc.): Creative Toy of the Year
• 12" Rainbow Brite Doll (The Loyal Subjects): Doll of the Year
• National Geographic Epic Circuits Science Kit (Blue Marble): Educational Toy of the Year
• UNO Show 'em No Mercy (Mattel, Inc.): Game of the Year
• LEGO Ideas JAWS (LEGO Systems, Inc.): Grown-Up Toy of the Year
• Scan & Sort Grocery Cart with Lights and Sounds (The Radio Flyer Company): Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year
• Bluey (BBC Studios): License of the Year
• PoppinColorz Hydra 2-in-1 Blaster (South Beach Bubbles): Outdoor Toy of the Year
• Emotional Baggage (Solobo Toys): Plush Toy of the Year
• Melissa & Doug Sort, Stock, Select Wooden Vending Machine Play Set (Spin Master Corporation): Preschool Toy of the Year
• HEXEL (Plus-Plus USA): Specialty Toy of the Year
• RealFX Disney Stitch Puppetronic (WOW! Stuff): Tech Toy of the Year
• RoboRails: The Robot Monorail System (Thames & Kosmos, LLC): Vehicle of the Year

"The TOTY Awards celebrate the best of what the toy industry has to offer — innovation, imagination, and the ability to bring joy to kids and families. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees on their tremendous achievements," said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. "The toy industry is deeply passionate about bringing play to all children, and we are proud to unite this collective philanthropy at the TOTY Awards and year-round to deliver comfort and positively impact children when they need it most."

During the evening, toy industry trailblazers Maxine Clark, founder & former chief executive bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop; Sharon DiMinico, founder & chair of Learning Express Toys; and Professor Erno Rubik, inventor of the Rubik's Cube, were inducted into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame's posthumous inductees were honored with a special tribute and include Edwin S. Lowe, founder of the E.S. Lowe and Company; Charles Pajeau, founder of the Toy Tinker Company & inventor of Tinkertoy; Marty Scheman, CEO of Illco Toy & President of Tyco-Preschool; and Izannah Walker, American dollmaker & inventor. All seven Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees are showcased in a state-of-the-art exhibit at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.

TTF unites the toy industry's philanthropic spirit for the benefit of all children in need. There are immediate opportunities to have an impact, including by participating in the TOTY Awards online auction of stand-out products, collectibles, and experiences (open through March 4) and making a cash donation online.

For more information about the TOTY Awards voting and selection process, visit ToyAwards.org.

Follow The Toy Foundation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for programmatic updates and to learn more about the toy industry's impact delivering play to children when they need it most.

About The Toy Foundation™ toyfoundation.org
The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)(3) children's charity and philanthropic arm of The Toy Association. The uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry for the benefit of all children in need, TTF works with small, medium, and large companies to create a world where every child experiences the comfort, joy, and extraordinary physical, emotional, and educational benefits of play. Thanks to the toy industry's support, TTF has delivered play to more than 34 million children in need around the world.

About The Toy Association™ toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.org
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association^™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $157.5 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair^™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association's philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation^™, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.

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SOURCE The Toy Foundation