From ‘Merely Ken’ to National Toy Hall of Fame Finalist?

Could this be the moment for Barbie’s longtime companion, Ken, to transition from merely being her sidekick to becoming an inductee into the National Toy Hall of Fame?

Introduced in 1961 by Mattel, and recently popularized through his character portrayal by Ryan Gosling in the blockbuster film “Barbie,” Ken is among the dozen candidates vying for a spot in this year’s Hall of Fame induction. The announcement came this Wednesday from the National Toy Hall of Fame itself.

Ken faces stiff competition from an array of iconic items, including baseball cards, the board game Battleship, bingo, the interactive game Bop It, Cabbage Patch Kids, Choose Your Own Adventure gamebooks, Connect 4, Little Tykes Cozy Coupe, Nerf products, slime, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The National Toy Hall of Fame, situated within The Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with an impressive list of finalists, according to Christopher Bensch, Vice President for Collections at the museum.

“While this may have been Barbie’s year at the box office, it’s conceivable that Ken may also capture some of the limelight through his potential induction,” Bensch noted, referencing the character’s musical performance of “I’m Just Ken” in the film.

Barbie herself gained entry into the Hall of Fame during its inaugural class in 1998.

The selection for this year’s inductees will be finalized on November 9, following a voting process that includes both a 22-member expert committee and a public vote. Each committee member will cast ballots for their top three choices. Public votes gathered by September 20 will constitute a single ballot in the decision-making process.

While nominations for the Hall of Fame are open to the public, qualifying for induction requires that a toy has attained iconic status, demonstrated longevity across multiple generations, and has contributed in some way to fostering creativity or learning through play.

Last year, the Hall of Fame welcomed three new additions: Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe, and the spinning top, thereby increasing the total number of inductees to 80 up to that point.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about National Toy Hall of Fame

More about National Toy Hall of Fame

• National Toy Hall of Fame Official Site
• Mattel’s History of Ken
• The Strong Museum in Rochester
• List of Previous National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees
• Ken’s Role in Barbie Movie
• Criteria for Nomination to the National Toy Hall of Fame