Andy
The annual Designer Toy Awards took place in the Big Apple NYC last Saturday, celebrating all that is great within the Designer Toy community. Like previous years, a night for friends from around the world to catch up and be at the centre of a talking point Contradictions to everyone who made it to the finals and people who took their time to nominate and vote for this years DTA’s. So without further ado, here are the winners of the 2019 Designer Toy Awards.
Artist of the Year (Fan voted)
Recognizing a single artist, artistic duo, or collective who designed and/or produced a variety of outstanding new releases last year as well as garnering a strong base of followers and a steady demand for new material.
Winner Quiccs
Finallists
Artist of the Year (Panel Voted)
Finallists
Toy of the Year (Fan Voted)
The Toy of the Year recognizes a singularly outstanding platform, whose design and manufacture was of the highest quality and execution. This award celebrates a Designer Toy that captured the imagination of the fans and became a popularly demanded item.
Winner Ravenger By Quiccs x Martian Toys
Finallists
Toy of the Year (Panel Voted)
The Toy of the Year recognizes a singularly outstanding platform, whose design and manufacture was of the highest quality and execution. This award celebrates a Designer Toy that captured the imagination of the fans and became a popularly demanded item.
Finallists
BEST RESIN (Panel Voted)
Presented to the best Designer Toy platform cast in resin, this category considers the quality of the finished piece, the sculpted design, and innovative use of color dies and paints.
Winner FORBIDDEN BRAIN by Emilio Garcia
Finallists
Best Online Store (Fan Voted)
Celebrating the outstanding achievement by an online retailer that specializes in Designer Toys and has been active last year. Criteria for consideration include range and selection of products, overall website presentation, ease of use, and customer service.
Winner MyPlasticHeart
Finallists
Best Toy Store (Fan Vote)
Winner Toy Tokyo
Finallists
Best Vinyl and Plastic (Panel Voted)
Presented to the best Designer Toy platform manufactured using “Western vinyl,” which typically means manufactured in China. The manufacturing quality, sculpting, and innovative color variations will all be considered for this award.
Please note: This category is only open to platforms cast in “Western vinyl” produced in a rotocast method (usually from China). Pieces made out of sofubi (Japanese vinyl), or other slush cast soft vinyl should be entered in the Best Soft vinyl category.
Max Cash by Pete Fowler x Superplastic
Finallists
Best Non-Plastic (Panel Voted)
Celebrating the most innovative designer toys made mainly out of non-plastic materials to be released during the eligibility period. These are judged on design, construction, material usage, and overall execution
Wood Bodega by KaNO x knocksonwood
Finallists
Best Licensed (Panel voted)
Presented to an outstanding Designer Toy release with a design derived from an officially licensed (or creator approved) entertainment property: film, television, video game, or anything else. Nominees in this category will be judged not only on their quality as a toy but also their representation of the original property.
Mickey and Minnie by James Jean x Good Smile Company
Finallists
Best Non-Licensed (Panel Voted)
Presented to an outstanding Designer Toy release with a design derived from an unofficially licensed or bootlegged entertainment property: film, television, video game, or anything else. Nominees in this category will be judged not only on their quality as a toy but also their representation of the original property.
Winner Untooned Spongebob by Miguel Vasquez x VTSS
Finallists
Best Production Sculpt (Panel Voted)
Recognizes a singularly outstanding sculpt for a production toy. This award celebrates a sculpt that captured the likeness of the artist’s concept and transformed it into a 3-dimensional object.
Winner Mister Self Indulgence by Nouar x Martian Toys
Finallists
Best Soft Vinyl (Panel Voted)
Presented to the best Designer Toy manufactured platform using a Soft Vinyl Material (such as SOFUBI or SOFVI) usually, but not exclusively, in a slush cast method (Japanese soft vinyl style of production). This category celebrates the manner in which a Japanese led production technique and design style has become a mainstay for the Designer Toy market. The manufacturing quality, sculpting, and innovative color variations will all be considered for this award.
Winner Fungoid Man by Wonder Goblin x Skinner
Finallists
Breakthrough Artist (Panel Voted)
Presented in recognition of an artist who gained significant industry-wide notice last year. While they could be relatively new to the scene or a professional who struggled for years, their dedication to Designer Toys and making a place for themselves within the community is honored with this award. Not only should they have had a variety of outstanding releases last year, but also an increased fan base and overall visibility.
Finallists
Best Mini-Series (Panel Voted)
Whether a production platform or customized toy series, this category acknowledges excellence in 2″ to 5″ mini figures that have been produced in multiple quantities. Aspects considered in judging include quality of manufacturing, design, packaging, and even innovative use of the smaller size.
Winner Janky Series 1 by Superplastic
Finallists
Brand of the Year (Panel Voted)
Celebrating a designer toy company whose product releases last year have been consistently outstanding, of high quality, and had a breadth of diversity. While their toy releases are the most important other aspects will be considered, including events, sponsored promotions, and other supportive contributions to the Designer Toy community.
Winner Unbox Industries
Finallists
The custom of the Year (Fan Voted)
Recognizing a single artist, artistic duo, or collective who transformed an existing Designer Toy into an individually expressive art object. Consideration will be based on the custom’s merits of concept, paint execution, additional sculpting (if applicable), and overall attention to detail.
Winner Embraced in the Storm by Josh Mayhem
Finallists
The custom of the Year (Panel Vote)
Recognizing a single artist, artistic duo, or collective who transformed an existing Designer Toy into an individually expressive art object. Consideration will be based on the custom’s merits of concept, paint execution, additional sculpting (if applicable), and overall attention to detail.
Winner WAR OF KINGS By JRYU
Finallists
Hall of Fame
Lifetime Achievement:
Akamatsu
Best Media (Fan Vote)
This award recognizes outstanding work by any news outlet with the main focus on Designer Toys. The category is not only open to traditional blogs but also podcasts, video blogs, or any other online resource for industry news. Nominated websites should have brought intelligent, informed, and diverse reporting to the Designer Toy niche.
As the organizer of these Designer Toy Awards, Clutter has recused themselves from being nominated in this category.
Winner The Toy Chronicle
Finallists
THANK YOU, this goes out to you guys, each and everyone one of you, without you guys we wouldn’t be doing what we do. Thank you to all who voted The Toy Chronicle for the best media outlet! Once again it clearly means our time has not been wasted bringing the community together in one place.
I would like to thank each and every one of you who have clicked liked and shared content. Special thank you to our TTC Family who have given their time to TTC, Lai Yui Wai, Madelon Rietveld Maddie Madwolfie, Farrah Orosco Peterson, the crew at mytoyhoard, Vanessa Fong, Rachel Pingel, Nicole Alexandra Harris, Amber Cunningham, Ara from atoyaday using their own time to bring you coverage around the world we couldn’t do it without you all.
Our base goal was to bring art collectables and less known artists to the masses and build on the community and this DTA cements our job. This award isn’t just for us, it’s for you too including all the podcasts and other blogs and groups.
Thank you to our friends and family putting up with the amount of time we have spent on bring you everything for The Toy Chronicle and not spending as much time with loved ones. We salute everyone who supported us right from the start of this journey.
Last but not least grateful that Clutter Magazine for putting on another The Designer Toy Awards for everyone, lord know how many hours and sleepless nights organising the event.
Love The Toy Chronicle
P.s sorry if you find grammar and spelling mistakes (Andy) you should be used to it by now
Don’t see you top artist/art/brand in the mix? Don’t miss out next year and VOTE for it, make your vote heard. When it comes to the nominations in 2020, you should totally *NOMINATE or tell your friends to nominate your favourite artist/art/brand.
https://www.designertoyawards.com/
Credit goes to our friends at Marsham Toy Hour for the list and designertoyawards.com and trampt.com for the media content.
Have you checked out our TTC Mobile App. Designer Toy News the EASY way! As it totally should be. Totally FREE. Totally ACES. You won’t be disappointed. Go search for ‘The Toy Chronicle’ on the App Store & Google Play store.
https://www.designertoyawards.com for further info.
