National Toy Hall of Fame announces 12 finalists, including Care Bears and bubble wrap

The finalists range from the simple swing to complicated card games, showing the full scope of the evolution of play 

Feliks Garcia
New York
Wednesday 14 September 2016 20:11 BST
<em>Josh Trainor/Getty</em>
Josh Trainor/Getty

The National Toy Hall of Fame has revealed a shortlist of 12 finalists for induction in 2016.

Judges from the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, sorted through millions of emails from people naming the toys they believed deserved to be immortalised in the hall. The list contained expected characters, such as Care Bears and Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, and less traditional toys like your everyday swing and even bubble wrap.

About two or three winners will be announced at an induction ceremony on 10 November.

This year’s nominees are Care Bears, Clue, the colouring book, Dungeons & Dragons, Fisher Price Little People, Nerf, pinball, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, the swing, Transformers, and the Uno card game.

“What they really show is the scope of play – from the swing to more modern action figures,” public relations director Shane Rhinewald told USA Today. “We are looking for iconic toys – instantly recognisable. And they have longevity.”

To be considered, a toy must go beyond its popularity and longevity, however, it also has to have influenced how toys are played with and their design.

The hall has inducted 59 toys to date, including the GI Joe action figure, rubber duckling, Crayola crayons, and the blanket.

Read the full list of candidates below:

Care Bears

(Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Originally created as greeting cards for the American Greetings Corporation in the early 1980s, Care Bears first emerged as a teddy bear line by 1988. They became incredibly popular and spun off to have their own television series, movies, and storybooks.

Uno

( Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Uno first appeared in 1971 and became a staple among American families. The point of the game is to shed your hand of cards, while forcing your opponents to draw more.

Transformers

(Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Before they were featured in Michael Bay’s series of summer blockbusters, Transformers were one of the more complex toys that had children changing their toy cars into gun-wielding robots. Hasbro, Inc launched the action figures in the mid-1980s, which then became popular characters in a television series and Marvel comics.

Swing

(Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

The most ancient toy on the list of nominees, the swing can trace its evolution back to cave drawings in Europe and other artistic illustrations of antiquity. The modern swing, according to the Strong museum, was first developed in the 18th century for wealthy Europeans, before becoming a playground staple in the early 1900s.

Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots

(Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots first set foot in the ring of American game rooms in 1965. Created by Louis Marx & Company, the game features two robots in a boxing ring, which players manipulate to punch their opponents head off.

Pinball

(Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

No self-respecting arcade can function without at least one pinball machine among the first person shooters and drag race simulations. Pinball machines date back to the 18th century game, bagatelle, the museum wrote.

Nerf

( Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

The foam material that changed how youths play sports in their yard – and orchestrate covert special ops attacks in their gardens – was a simple sphere made for throwing indoors at its 1960s premier. The 1989 debut of the Nerf ‘Blast a Ball’ in 1989, however, made the safe, foam material a staple among children who prefer action to sport when playing outdoors.

Fisher-Price Little People

(Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Fisher-Price first debuted the wooded "Little People" toys in their 1959 toy, Safety School Bus. The toy was designed for young children to use their imaginations with the figurines.

Dungeons & Dragons

( Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

The role-playing game was developed in the 1970s and requires players to use their imaginations in a world with magic and monsters. According to Strong, D&D had a massive influence on the computer gaming industry.

Colouring Books

(Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Although colouring books can be traced to a much earlier history, the New York printing company, McLoughlin Brothers, are credited with their creation in the 1880s.

Clue

( Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Clue emerged during World War II, when it was developed by a retired solicitor’s clerk. The game received its patent in 1947 and reached a critical mass in popularity in subsequent years. Players must solve an elaborate murder mystery committed by at least one oddly named aristocrat. Clue is one of the best-selling board games in history.

Bubble wrap

( Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York)

Although not technically a toy, the Strong Museum cites bubble wrap’s amusement factor as a reason for its popularity. Accidentally developed in 1957, bubble wrap is intended for use as packing material for fragile goods – but it is near impossible to resist popping the bubbles.

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