The ceremony recognised top toy and game innovators from around the world.
The Chicago Toy & Game Group has revealed the winners of the 12th annual TAGIE Awards. The winners were announced at a Gala event, The Power of Magic, on 22nd November at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom in Chicago.
Attended by nearly 500, the Gala event kicked-off with with industry innovators in the spotlight. Mark Setteducati (magician, author and inventor of magic, illusions, games and puzzles), John Railing (magician and author) and Max Temkin (magician and Co-Founder of Cards Against Humanity) impressed attendees with their magic tricks, while guests enjoyed music from Skip Towne and the Greyhounds, along with Jay Horowitz on piano. In addition, Robert Victor, and his team at Kite and Rocket Research, led the inaugural launch of their latest creation, the World’s Largest Kid-Powered Rocket.
The awards programme was hosted by Karri Bean, senior licensing manager, Disney Parks Experiences & Products, and the new Star Wars D-O Remote Control Droid by Hasbro also made a special appearance on stage. The keynote address was delivered by Richard Dickson, president & COO of Mattel and the evening culminated with a Lifetime Achievement Award honouring industry legend Ivan Moscovich.
“The TAGIE Awards Gala is always an inspiring evening as we celebrate the amazing innovators behind some of the most successful toys and games,” said Mary Couzin, founder and president, Chicago Toy & Game Group. “This year was especially memorable as Ivan Moscovich shared his life journey, from surviving concentration camps as a teenager to becoming one of the most prolific inventors in the industry over the past seven decades.”
To see the full list of official 2019 Toy and Game Innovation (TAGIE) Award winners, click here.
Mattel was the presenting sponsor for this year’s TAGIEs Gala. Other sponsors include Hasbro, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Oxford Games, Hassenfeld Family Initiatives, ASTRA, Nextoy, Rummikub, Exploding Kittens, The Toy Association, Longshore, ThinkFun and Cartamundi, among others.
