NEW YORK and CHICAGO, Jan. 22, 2025 // The Toy Book®, the leading trade publication serving the North American toy industry since 1984, officially reveals the winners for its inaugural Pulse of Play Awards™.
Timed with The Toy Book’s 40th-anniversary celebration, the Pulse of Play Awards celebrates the individuals, companies, and activations that shape the toy industry’s heartbeat and drive its pulse across toys, licensing, entertainment, and the overall business of play.
“The toy industry is a vibrant place powered by some of the most creative people on the planet, and that creativity transcends the toy department as it shapes experiences and other consumer products while intersecting with adjacent industries. Our inaugural Pulse of Play Awards recognizes hard work and the constant pursuit of excellence,” said James Zahn, Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book and Director of The Pulse of Play Awards. “We congratulate all of this year’s winners and look forward to honoring them in The BIG Toy Book, debuting March 1 at Toy Fair New York.”
The 2025 Pulse of Play Awards Winners
PURVEYORS OF PLAY
- Display of the Year: Moose Toys x MINISO: XOX Kweenie
- Rep Group of the Year: Toy’n Around
- Distributor of the Year: ACD Distribution
- Retailer of the Year (Mass, Mass Specialty): Amazon
- Retailer of the Year (Independent, Specialty, & Hobby): FAO Schwarz
MARKETING MAESTROS
- Product Launch of the Year: RealFX Disney Stitch (Wow! Stuff)
- Cultural Moment of the Year: Fisher-Price x John Legend: The Music Starts Here (Mattel)
- Viral Hit of the Year: MGA’s Miniverse (MGA Entertainment)
- Influencer Activation of the Year: Hatchimals Alive Mystery Hatch x Jason Kelce (Spin Master)
- The Cinematic Art of Selling Fun: Commercial of the Year: MAGNA-TILES “Build On” (MAGNA-TILES)
- Crossover Collaboration of the Year: Squishmallows x Harry Potter (Jazwares x Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products)
- Outbound Licensing Program of the Year: Transformers (Hasbro)
- Entertainment-Driven Property/Project of the Year: Despicable Me Franchise (Universal Products & Experiences)
CREATORS & INNOVATORS
- Toy Inventor of the Year: Soppycid for Soppycid Reusable Water Balloons (Dongguan Saienchuangke Technology Co., Ltd)
- Game Inventor of the Year: The Op Games Team + Eric Olsen for Flip 7 (The Op Games)
- Digital Studio/Team of the Year: 10:10 Games x Funko for Funko Fusion
TOY BOOK INTERNATIONAL
- Retailer of the Year: Smyths Toys Superstores
- Location-Based Experience (LBE) of the Year: Bluey x CAMP (CAMP, BBC Studios, Ludo Studio)
- Manufacturer of the Year: Playmates Toys
THE OVERALL PULSE OF PLAY AWARD
This award honors outstanding achievements in all categories of the business of play, including retail, manufacturing, design, sales, and beyond.
- The LEGO Group
Nominees were submitted by authorized representatives and members of an independent industry panel last fall. 101 finalists were revealed on Dec. 18, 2024, and voted on by the industry panel and Adventure Media & Events team members to determine this year’s winners.
The Toy Book’s 41st volume begins on March 1, 2025, with this year’s edition of The BIG Toy Book debuting at Toy Fair New York. The Toy Book and its sister publications, The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, can be found in Booth No. 3327 at The Javits Center from March 1-4.
Plans are already underway for the second annual Pulse of Play Awards. The nomination period for the 2026 program will open this summer. Visit pulseofplayawards.com for more information.
About The Toy Book
The Toy Book®, an Adventure Media & Events Company, has been on the Pulse of Play™ as the leading trade publication serving the North American toy industry since 1984. Its seasoned editorial staff maintains close relationships with retailers, manufacturers, industry analysts, and market research groups to keep its finger on the pulse of what’s hot and what’s next. The Toy Book covers toys, games, licensing, video games, kids and family entertainment, business trends, retail, and more. Its first issue debuted in print at the North American International Toy Fair in New York in Feb. 1985. The Toy Book also publishes The Toy Report, an industry newsletter released on Thursday mornings.
About Adventure Media & Events
Adventure Media & Events, LLC (AM&E) is the publisher of The Toy Book, the leading trade publication serving the North American toy industry; The Toy Insider, the leading consumer guide to kids’ toys, tech, and entertainment; and The Pop Insider, the only publication dedicated exclusively to licensed merchandise for “kidults” and pop culture enthusiasts. The company produces live events and awards programs for B2B, media, and consumer audiences, including Sweet Suite, Holiday of Play, Spring Fling, and more. Additionally, AM&E offers FUNfluential, the only influencer campaign management software built explicitly for the toy and family industries.
