My Little Pony has finally arrived at the winner’s circle.
The pastel-colored pony was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Tuesday, along with Transformers action figures and Phase 10 card games over the years.
The winner was selected from a pool of 12 finalists by a panel of experts and the public. This year’s field includes the party game Apples to Apples, balloons, the Choose Your Own Adventure gamebook, Hess toy trucks, a Pokemon trading card game, remote-controlled vehicles, sequences, a stick horse, and a trampoline. I did.
“These are three very valuable toys that showcase a wide range of ways people can play,” Christopher Bensch, vice president and chief curator of collections, said in a statement. “But this is a year of further validation, especially for My Little Pony. The beloved toy was a finalist seven times before finally crossing the finish line.”
Hasbro’s mini-horses, distinguishable by their various “cutie marks” on their butts, were introduced in the 1980s, reintroduced in 2003, and even outperformed Barbie dolls for several years.
These collectibles were recognized for their increased popularity over time as they encouraged the creative play of fantasy and storytelling required of the Hall of Famers.
“The My Little Pony series has endured for decades because it combines some traditional doll play with children’s interest in horses,” says doll and toy curator Michelle Parr. Net Dwyer said. ”
Phase 10 was introduced in 1982 by inventor and entrepreneur Ken Johnson. Today, Mattel sells 2 million decks of card games annually in 30 countries and more than 20 languages. The game is one of the best-selling card games in the world, according to the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, which is home to the Toy Hall of Fame.
In the style of Rummy, the game challenges players to collect groups of cards and complete 10 phases in order before their opponents.
“Whether you play in its original format or one of its variations, Phase 10 encourages multigenerational social and competitive play,” said Mirek Storey, curator of board games and puzzles at the museum. It has become an iconic game title that will continue.”
Transformers first appeared in the 1980s, when Hasbro purchased the rights to several existing Japanese toy lines featuring transforming robots. It was first sold as a comic book and then transitioned into a series of live-action films. Social media sites can be used to discuss which figures are essential and to demonstrate the complex process of manipulating figures from robots to vehicles and other alternative forms.
Bensch said new Transformers characters are introduced regularly to keep collectors coming back. “But the toys are also popular because they are very suitable for how children play. The toy line feeds children’s imagination and fantasy play.”
Anyone can nominate a toy for the Hall of Fame. Museum staff narrows the selection to 12 finalists each year. Fans can vote online for their favorite titles, and the results will be tallied with ballots from a national advisory panel of historians, educators, and other industry experts.
