Toy of the Year Awards

Congratulations to LeapPad Explorer (LeapFrog) for being crowned the 2011 Toy of the Year at the London Toy Fair on 24th January 2012.

Although 2011 didn't prove to be one of those "Teletubbies years" when mass hysteria caused one particular product to be the envy of most the population, the year was undoubtedly the Year Of The Tablet.

With VTech and LeapFrog locking horns at the end of the summer by releasing two very similar products, the battle was finally won by LeapFrog's LeapPad Explorer which ultimately had more features and a sleeker, smarter design. Both products generated substantial revenue and PR for both companies though, and Inspiration Works looks set to cash in on the current love of tablets with the release of Kurio this year.

About the Awards
Ever since 1965, an annual dinner and presentation ceremony, (organised by the Toy Retailers Association and coinciding with the London Toy Fair), has been the venue for the Toy of the Year Awards. A potential shortlist of toys is always announced at the Dream Toys event which typically takes place in October each year. Many of these toys will go on and win category prizes at the Toy of The Year Awards, but occasionally there are some interesting surprises.

Recent winners of this prestigious award are:
2010: Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear (Mattel)
2009: Zhu Zhu Hamsters (Character Options)
2008: Ben 10 Action Figures 10” and 15”
2007: In the Night Garden Blanket Time Igglepiggle
2006: Dr Who Cyberman Mask
2005: Tamagotchi Connexion
2004: Robosapien
2003: Beyblades
2002: Beyblades
2001: Bionicles
2000: Teksta

Other household-name favourites to have won the coveted award include Action Man (1966), Mastermind (1973), Rubik's Cube (1980) and Teletubbies (1997).

Not to be confused with Dream Toys or Toy of the Year, several major toy retailers always predict what they think will be the top-selling toys each Christmas. See our top toys for Christmas page for more details.