And Prehistoric Times' Best Dinosaur Toy of 2018 is...

[Ravonium]

...the Safari Ltd Malawisaurus! (according to ED's Twitter)

Additionally, the Mastodon won the Best Non-Dinosaur Toy, and the BOTM Dromaeosaurus albertensis won the Best Prehistoric Animal Model of 2018 (the tweet shows the Fan's Choice version, but it isn't specified which version won)

[Jose S.M.]

That's interesting and for me unexpected! it's a really nice sculpt and I love it but I thought the coloration was a bit "excentric"to win something like this poll. But congrats to Safari and the sculptor anyways.

[suspsy]

The American mastodon definitely warrants that honour and I congratulate Doug Watson for his hard work and talent. I may have to amend my review to reflect this development.

The Malawisaurus, however, is an utterly indifferent choice in my book. It's by no means a bad toy, but it's never struck me as a remarkable one aside from the uniqueness of the genus. I think the Triceratops, the Regaliceratops, the Ankylosaurus, or the CollectA Deluxe Iguanodon deserved to win much more.

[Ravonium]

The Malawisaurus, however, is an utterly indifferent choice in my book. It's by no means a bad toy, but it's never struck me as a remarkable one aside from the uniqueness of the genus. I think the Triceratops, the Regaliceratops, the Ankylosaurus, or the CollectA Deluxe Iguanodon deserved to win much more.

Pretty much my opinions on the Malawisaurus winning (although my list of preferred frontrunners would have had the Anzu on it instead of the Regaliceratops).

[PumperKrickel]

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[John]

The thing about these contests is that they are really comparing apples to oranges most of the time.The Safari Ltd. Malawisaurus is perfect for it's species,as is the Triceratops from the same line,but neither is inherently superior to the other.It's like comparing the best pizza to the best burgers.A more fair contest would be between two different lines' take on the same species in my opinion.

[Halichoeres]

That reminds me, we haven't done a best of 2018 poll on the forum. I guess nobody wants to go to the trouble of setting it up (I certainly don't).

[Faelrin]

Glad to see both the Safari Ltd American Mastodon and BotM Dromaeosaurus getting recognition here. I'm quite surprised the Malawisaurus won though. Not a bad figure, but like others here saying, I was thinking something else would take it (such as another Safari Ltd or CollectA).

[DinoToyForum]

I'm really pleased the Safari Ltd Malawisaurus won!

[Shonisaurus]

I'm happy for the winners, the Safari malawisaurus is an outstanding figure although he preferred other 2018 Safari figures as the triceratops, his colors are more realistic or beautiful. On the other hand I'm happy for Doug Watson mastodon 2019 is a very beautiful figure, but I understand that there were other works of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals of collection and toy like other figures of Doug who could have taken the prize to the best dinosaur .

Also Collecta, Papo, Eofauna, Vitae, Schleich and Favorite to put several examples have made legendary figures who also deserved the award for the best figure. Anyway, I'm happy for the dinosaurs and prehistoric animals (mastodon) qualified as best figures of the year.

[postsaurischian]

I was certain the CollectA Iguanodon was going to landslide win this year. Obviously all modern Safari sculpts are absolutely gorgeous and worthy of winning this category, but the Iguanodon is absolutely perfect in my opinion.

  No chance! It's not an American figure .

[RobinGoodfellow]

I was certain the CollectA Iguanodon was going to landslide win this year. Obviously all modern Safari sculpts are absolutely gorgeous and worthy of winning this category, but the Iguanodon is absolutely perfect in my opinion.

  No chance! It's not an American figure .

Totally agree.

[terrorchicken]

I agree that malawisaurus is an unexpected winner,  thought Papo's Iguanodon would win.

Weird that BOTM are considered models and not toys.

I went to a Barnes and Noble the other day and was surprised to find a copy of PT on the mag stands, I didn't know they were still making print issues!

[ceratopsian]

Well the Malawisaurus was a great surprise. But a very pleasant one. I particularly loved this toy when mine arrived. So much better than the photos. And good to have a sauropod taking the limelight, and quite an obscure one too.

[Halichoeres]

I was certain the CollectA Iguanodon was going to landslide win this year. Obviously all modern Safari sculpts are absolutely gorgeous and worthy of winning this category, but the Iguanodon is absolutely perfect in my opinion.

  No chance! It's not an American figure .

Totally agree.

There is a hint of the provincial in the magazine, it's true.

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I'm also surprised the malawisaurus won. It isn't a bad figure, but it isn't extraordinary, either. I think I would have chosen the Safari ankylosaurus, myself.

[Libraraptor]

A nice figure,  a well deserved pole position.

[Shonisaurus]

Sincerely I like the iguanodon and was worthy of the prize as so many other figures, but honestly I am glad that it is the Safari malawisaurus is a rare figure in the market of the collection and / or toy dinosaur I understand that it is the only one of its kind for now.

For having the Safari audacity to carve a dinosaur unknown in the world of collecting, I think Safari is the deserved winner.

[stegosauria]

I think the Malawisaurus deserved that prize. Of course not everybody will like its paintscheme but I really like that. If somebody says it doesn't look natural than we can say that these are its mating colours.

[Doug Watson]

I was certain the CollectA Iguanodon was going to landslide win this year. Obviously all modern Safari sculpts are absolutely gorgeous and worthy of winning this category, but the Iguanodon is absolutely perfect in my opinion.

  No chance! It's not an American figure .

Totally agree.

There is a hint of the provincial in the magazine, it's true.

Well.... when I last asked in 2014 PTs circulation was 10,000 and many of those readers are from Europe. All you have to do is read the letters to the editor and in almost every issue I have picked up today there is at least one letter from Europe, Asia, South America or even that strange country shrouded in mystery, Canada. For example this issue has two letters from the US and one from Tailand. So either those non-Americans are voting for Safari Ltd or they don't bother to vote. CollectA won in 2012 and tied with my Sauropelta in 2015. I can only find the winners going back to 2010 so maybe that is when the contest started. And if you think the publisher "cooks the books" I asked him why he didn't break the tie in 2015 and he said he would always leave it to the readers. Actually when it comes to biases I have always felt the online forums have a bias towards European companies. I believe my 2017 T rex is the only Safari figure by me to win on the DTF for figure of the year and I don't think any of my extant figures have even made the list of nominees on the ATF or STS.