The eighth annual Premier Asian Licensing Awards announced this year's winners in a gala ceremony at the Hong Kong International Licensing Show, Jan. 9-11, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The show opened its 10th year Monday in conjunction with the Hong Kong International Toy Fair, Baby Products and Stationery Show.

The Premier Asian Licensing Awards recognize outstanding licensed properties, licensing companies, licensing agents, advertising and promotional firms for development, launch and promotion of licensed products and trademarks throughout Asia.

Nominees were required to be executed, promoted and/or available for sale in one or more retail markets in Asia from Sept. 1, 2010 until Aug. 31, 2011. In addition, sales performance had to either meet or exceed pre-determined targets and nominees had to demonstrate outstanding, unique and creative execution of product design and/or artwork.

The final winners were chosen based on the highest aggregated average score from the professional comments of the judging panel and the result of online polling in respective categories.

• Best entertainment license: Walt Disney Company (Asia Pacific) for Cars2

• Best licensee: Bossini Enterprises for Bossini X M&M’s

• Best licensing agency: Promotional Partners Group for Thomas & Friends

• Best licensed premium promotion: Mars Hong Kong, Bossini Enterprises for Bossini X M&M’s

• Best Asian property: Toei Animation for One Piece

• Best brand and design license: Toy2R Holdings for Qee

Judges included Danny Simon, president and chief executive officer, The Licensing Group (U.S.); Charles Riotto, president, International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (U.S.); Anita Leung, partner, JonesDay (Hong Kong); Bianca Lee, managing director, Greater China, South East Asia and India, Warner Bros. Consumer Products (Hong Kong); Christine Cheung, senior consultant, Asiawide Franchise Consultants (Singapore); Harry Yoon, vice president, SAMG Animation (Korea); Ivan Chan, chairman and chief executive officer, Promotional Partners Group (Hong Kong); Josephine Law, managing director, Greater China & Asia, Beanstalk Group (Hong Kong); Kazuo Rikukawa, president, Character Databank (Japan); Marilu Magsaysay Corpus, president and chief executive officer, Click! Licensing Asia (The Philippines); Priscilla Wong, managing director, Long Wise (Hong Kong); Raymond Choy, founder and president, Toy2R Holdings (Hong Kong); Roger Chan, vice chairman, Asian Licensing Association (Hong Kong); Stanley Yeung, vice president, Yeung's Group (Hong Kong); Tani Wong, managing director, International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association, S.E. Asia (Hong Kong); Wennie Wong, business development manager, S.E. Asia, Japan & Korea, Hasbro Asia Pacific, Global Brand Licensing and Publishing (Hong Kong); and Yizan He, managing director, LMCA Asia (Chinese Mainland).

First round judges included Andy Y. Toyama, managing director, Sanrio Far East Company (Japan); Dulce Lim Chen, vice president, Asia Pacific, Cartoon Network Enterprises, Turner Entertainment Networks Asia (Hong Kong); Francesca Ash, publisher, Total Licensing (United Kingdom); Hurbert Co, president, Empire International Merchandizing Corporation (The Philippines); Ira Mayer, publisher and executive editor, The Licensing Letter (United States); Richard Latter, director, Guide to the Licensing World (United Kingdom); Steven Ekstract, group publisher, License! Global Magazine (United States); Toby Chan, managing director, Regent Lane (Hong Kong); and Y.T. Chin, chairman, Asia Animation (Hong Kong).