The hugely popular Barbie movie may do something for the Ken doll that 60-plus years on toy store shelves couldn’t do: Get him into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
The Ken doll is one of 12 iconic toys named as finalists for induction into the The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame, in Rochester, N.Y.
The Toy Hall of Fame announced the 12 finalists today. Ken will be competing against classics like baseball cards and bingo, as well as newer brands like Nerf and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Members of the public can vote for their favorite toy finalists for the next week, starting today, at toyhalloffame.org. The three toys that receive the most votes from the public will be entered into final consideration along with the top choices of the National Selection Advisory Committee. Three of the 12 finalists will be inducted into the Hall. The winning toys will be announced on November 9.
The Toy Hall of Fame was established 25 years ago, and is a part of The Strong National Museum of Play, a museum devoted to toys and collectibles.
Since 1998, 80 toys have been been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Barbie was in the first group of toys named to the Hall in its inaugural year.
While Barbie, who became the largest selling fashion doll of all time within a year of her 1959 launch, was something of a shoo-in for the Toy Hall of Fame, it may be tough for Ken to join her there.
As the Barbie movie noted, Ken’s fate has been to be a mostly ignored, and largely under-appreciated brand accessory to the real toy star, Barbie.
In naming him as a finalist, the Toy Hall of Fame Ken bio notes that Ken has been at Barbie’s side for more than six decades (apart from a 2004 break-up publicity stunt). “Throughout it all,’ the bio states, “he has consistently reflected the times with his outfits and sparked conversation about popular culture, sexuality, acceptance, play, and gender roles.”
Ken is going up against some tough competition however. In addition to bingo, baseball cards, Nerf and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, he is competing against the games Battleship, Bop It, and Connect 4; the Cabbage Patch Kids doll; the outdoor play toy Little Tykes Cozy Coupe; the gamebook series Choose Your Own Adventure, and the activity play category known as slime.
According to the Toy Hall of Fame, inductees are selected based on four criteria:
- Icon Status – the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered.
- Longevity – the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations.
- Discovery – the toy fosters learning, creativity or discovery through play
- Innovation – the toy profoundly changed play or toy design.
Ken definitely is the underdog in this competition, but the Barbie movie gave him a rare chance to shine (and some movie reviewers and movie-goers liked his onscreen performance better than Barbie’s). Maybe that will be enough to get him a place in the Toy Hall of Fame.
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