The 4th Annual Designer Toy Awards Finalists Announced!
From the over 700 entries placed for consideration, the Designer Toy Awards's Nomination Committee — comprised of over two dozen industry professionals — have painstakingly narrowed each award category down to the top 6 nominees in each, with the three fan choice versions consisting of the top 12 nominees. Announced earlier today on Toy Break, watch the video HERE and/or read the list of Finalists for the 4th Annual Designer Toy Awards below!
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Best Blog, which is open to any online news outlet or resource with a main focus on Designer Toys.
1. SpankyStokes
2. Toy Break
3. The Toy Chronicle
4. ToysREvil
5. Urban Vinyl Daily
6. Vinyl Pulse
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Best Collaboration acknowledges an excellent and innovative collaboration between two or more artist that do not standardly work together, culminating in a 2013 release that neither artist could have created individually.
1. Bartholomew Punchyface by Luke Chueh & Scott Tolleson (3DRetro)
2. Bunnywith Vintage Packaging by Alex Pardee & Retroband
3. Chainsaw Panda by Pause & Kevin Gosselin
4. Hermees Plush by Gary Ham & Lana Crooks
5. Target: Self Medicated by Jason Freeny & Luke Chueh (Munky King)
6. Terror Boys by Brandt Peters & Ferg (Playge)
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Best DIY Platform recognizes the best blank toys actively sold in 2013, allowing artists from every walk of life to use the basic form as a blank canvas.
1. Android (DYZ Plastic)
2. Fonzo (Freak Store)
3. Jumping Brain by Emilio Garcia (Toy2R)
4. MAD*L by Jeremy Madl (Solid)
5. Munny (Kidrobot)
6. Raaar! (Dynamite Rex)
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Best Media Tie-in is presented to an outstanding Designer Toy release from 2013 that is derived from an officially licensed or creator approved entertainment property. Whether from film, television, video games, comics, or books, toys in this category are judged on their creative interpretation of the original property.
1. Alien ReAction Figure 2-pack (Super7)
2. Boba Fett Companion by KAWS (Medicom)
3. SpongeBrain (Unbox Industries)
4. Star Wars x Baby Milo: VCD Darth Vader by BAPE (Medicom Toy)
5. The Simpsons: Zombie Bart (Kidrobot)
6. The Walking Dead Mini Figure: Negan (Skybound Entertainment)
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Best Mini Series honors excellence from 2013 in the 2" to 5" mini figures that are branded as a cohesive series, whether blind boxed, sold as a set, or sold individually.
1. Alien ReAction Figures (Super7)
2. A little Misfortune 2 (Playge)
3. Android Mini Series 04 (DYZ Plastic)
4. Chaos Bunnies: Chaos Minis by Joe Ledbetter (The Loyal Subjects)
5. Devilman Artist Series (Secret Base)
6. Greasebat & Friends Gummi Playset by Jeff Lamm (Unbox Industries)
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Best Plush celebrates the most innovative Designer Plush, or soft sculpture, creation made in 2013, regardless of whether it was mass produced, made in a limited run, or a unique construction.
1. Bartholomew Punchyface by Luke Chueh & Scott Tolleson (3DRetro)
2. Bubu by Stitches & Glue
3. Claude's Chameleon Carnival by Carisa Swenson
4. Flat Wooper Looper by Flat Bonnie & Gary Ham
5. Hermees Plush by Lana Crooks & Gary Ham
6. The Herald of Illumination by Amanda Louise Spayd
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Best Resin is presented to the best Designer Toy released in 2013 that was cast in resin, rubber, or similar materials.
1. Chainsaw Panda by Pause & Kevin Gosselin
2. GeekWok by UME Toys
3. Half Mermaid by McBess
4. K3K0 by Fools Paradise
5. Prey For Me by Godmachine (Disturbia Clothing)
6. Sideways by Yoskay Yamamoto (Mighty Jaxx)
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Best Sofubi is awarded to the best Designer Toy figure from 2013 produced primarily in soft Japanese vinyl.
1. Autopsy Zombie Staple Baby by Miscreation Toys)
2. Krawluss by Skinner & Mutant Vinyl Hardcore
3. Mr. Ree by Paul Kaiju
4. Rotten Rex by James Groman (Lulubell)
5. skullHevi (the hydroDevil) by Pushead (Secret Base)
6. X-Ray Alter Beast by Scott Wilkowski & Monster Worship
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Best Toy Store honors a physical, brick-and-mortar retailer that specializes in Designer Toys and has distinguished itself with a wide selection of products as well as overall outstanding activity in 2013.
1. Dragatomi
2. Lulubell Toy Bodega
3. myplasticheart
4. Rotofugi
5. Toy Art Gallery
6. Toy Tokyo
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Best Online Toy Store celebrates the outstanding achievement in 2013 by an online retailer that specializes in Designer Toys, marking itself as a step above the rest with not only a wide selection of products but also fantastic website presentation and customer service.
1. Dragatomi
2. Munky King
3. myplasticheart
4. Rotofugi
5. Tenacious Toys
6. Toy Art Gallery
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Best Vinyl is presented to the best Designer Toy from 2013 manufactured in non-Japanese, 'Western vinyl' or other plastic material.
1. BittaCritta by Scott Tolleson (3DRetro)
2. Bullet Belt by Skinner (Unbox Industries)
3. Isobelle by Ashley Wood (3A)
4. Les Viandardes by McBess (Kidrobot)
5. The Passage by Coarse
6. Toy Titans Toytem by Gary Ham
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Brand of the Year celebrates a Designer Toy company whose product releases in 2013 were consistently outstanding, of high quality, and had a breadth of diversity. Vanity brands, meaning those owned & operated by the sole artist that releases through it, are not eligible for this award.
1. Circus Posterus
2. Funko
3. Kidrobot
4. Mighty Jaxx
5. Munky King
6. Super7
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Break-through Artist recognizes an artist who gained significant field-wide notice in 2013. This artist could be relatively new to the scene or a professional who has toiled away for years, the only restriction is that they didn't have a production figure financed by anyone but themselves or a crowd-sourcing method prior to last year.
1. Lisa Rae Hansen
2. Otto Björnik
3. Pause
4. Retroband
5. Seymour
6. The Bots
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Outstanding Production honors a single toy release from 2013 that excelled in every aspect, from the release's sculpt, materials used, paint application, and packaging design.
1. Les Viandardes by McBess (Kidrobot)
2. Sideways by Yoskay Yamamoto (Mighty Jaxx)
3. The Passage by Coarse
4. Murder by Craww (Kidrobot)
5. DigesTED by Alex Pardee (Kidrobot)
6. Ghost Pig by Big Trubble
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Artist of the Year recognizes a single artist, artistic duo, or collective who designed and/or produced a variety of outstanding new releases in 2013.
1. Alex Pardee
2. L'amour Supreme
3. Luke Chueh
4. RESTORE
5. Ron English
6. Skinner
In addition to the above six finalists, the following six are finalists in the Artist of the Year: Fan Choice award…
7. Ashley Wood
8. Jason Freeny
9. Jeremiah Ketner
10. Mutant Vinyl Hardcore
11. Scott Tolleson
12. Tara McPherson
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Custom of the Year celebrates a single custom Designer Toy from 2013 that excelled in terms of concept, paint execution, and overall attention to detail.
1. Amarok by Charles Rodriguez
2. Ecto-1 by Sket-One
3. Kokio's Courier Service by Huck Gee
4. Papa Smurf Dissected by Jason Freeny
5. Ring Toss Marshall by 64 Colors
6. Wood Pandalope by Amanda Visell
In addition to the above six finalists, the following six are finalists in the Custom of the Year: Fan Choice award…
7. Boards Don't Hit Back by Pause
8. Constant Gardener by fplus
9. Fungus Infected Kaiser by Paul Kaiju
10. Joker & Grumpy by Jon-Paul Kaiser
11. TMNT by Davidkraig
12. untitled (custom Omen) by Jon-Paul Kaiser
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Toy of the Year recognizes a singularly outstanding toy that captured the imagination of fans and became one of the most popularly demanded items in 2013.
1. Alien ReAction Figures (Super7)
2. Bartholomew Punchyface by Luke Chueh & Scott Tolleson (3DRetro)
3. Boba Fett Companion by KAWS (Medicom)
4. Hermees Plush by Gary Ham & Lana Crooks
5. Les Viandardes by McBess (Kidrobot)
6. Target: Self Medicated by Jason Freeny & Luke Chueh (Munky King)
In addition to the above six finalists, the following six are finalists in the Toy of the Year: Fan Choice award…
7. Bunnywith Vintage Packaging by Alex Pardee & Retroband
8. Flat Wooper Looper by Flat Bonnie & Gary Ham
9. Sideways by Yoskay Yamamoto (Mighty Jaxx)
10. SpongeBrain (Unbox Industries)
11. Star Wars x Baby Milo: VCD Darth Vader (BAPE)
12. The Passage by Coarse
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Remember: Voting has begun at DesignerToyAwards.com — with anyone being able to cast their votes in Best Blog, Best Toy Store, Best Online Toy Store as well as the Fan Choice versions of Artist of the Year, Custom of the Year, and Toy of the Year. As opposed to past years, each person can only vote once in each category; not once per day, but once for the entire process. So make your voice count carefully!
