People of Play, champions of toy and game industry innovators around the world, announced its Lifetime Achievement Award and Industry Game Changer recipients for the 17th Annual Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (The TAGIEs).
Themed “Toys Through Time” at the 2024 edition of the event taking place on Friday, November 8th, the evening will honour Mary Danby and Dan Romanelli as Lifetime Achievement recipients, and Alan Dorfman as the Industry Game Changer.
Mary Danby, British toy inventor and game designer, is celebrated for her decades-long career developing board games, puzzles, and toys. Her Mysteries of Old Peking games (branded Junior Detective by Buffalo Games in the United States) have earned multi-generational audiences since first publishing in 1987.
Dan Romanelli, leader and founder of Warner Bros. Consumer Products, revolutionized the studio’s licensing and merchandising division. His leadership and innovative approach to product licensing led to the success of franchises such as Batman, Harry Potter, and Looney Tunes. His work continues to influence the entertainment and licensing industries.
Alan Dorfman, co-founder and president of Super Impulse USA, is known for creating the World’s Smallest line of miniaturized toys and games based on iconic properties such as the Easy-Bake Oven, Universal Monsters, Kerplunk, and others. Prior to Super Impluse USA, Dorfman founded Basic Fun, which he led from 1991 to 2011. Throughout his career, demonstrated the ability to create unique categories that blend nostalgia, play value, and fresh concepts that reimagine established favourties.
In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Awards, nine TAGIE awards will be presented in various categories, including Toy Innovator of the Year, Most Innovative Art and Design Visuals of the Year, Rising Star Innovator of the Year, and others. Finalists will be announced in September.
Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder of People of Play shared, “We are so excited to be able to honor these titans of the toy industry with Lifetime Achievement Awards as well as all of the TAGIE nominees and winners. The toy and game industry is truly a family that celebrates and supports one another. We can’t wait to see you in Chicago on November 8 at this extraordinary event.”
The TAGIE Awards will be hosted by Karri Bean, Senior Licensing Manager at Disney Parks Experiences & Products. Tickets for the event are available on the Chicago Toy and Game Fair website.
The TAGIEs are sponsored by Oxford Games, Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, and Nextoy.
