Disney blockbuster Toy Story 3 was saluted as the best licensed program of the year by the international Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association last night at the annual Licensing International Expo 2011 in Las Vegas.

Last night’s Excellence Awards recognized 15 successful licensed properties and products in seven categories including Art/Design, Character/Toy, Corporate, Film/Television/Celebrity/Entertainment, Sports, Promotion and Retailer.

This year’s winners within the entertainment and toy categories are:

Character/Toy Brand

Best Character/Toy Brand Program: Hello Kitty (by Sanrio, Inc.)

Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee: Hard Goods – Smart USA (for Hello Kitty)

Best Character/Toy Brand Licensee: Soft Goods – Loungefly (for Hello Kitty)

Corporate

Best Corporate Brand Program: Animal Planet (by Discovery Communications/The Joester Loria Group)

Best Corporate Brand Licensee: Shabby Chic for Simply Shabby Chic at Target

Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program: Toy Story 3 (by The Walt Disney Company)

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee: Hard Goods – Lego (for Harry Potter)

Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Licensee: Soft Goods – Awake (for Glee)

Sports and Sports-Themed Entertainment

Best Sports Program: NASCAR Team Properties (by NASCAR and Teams)

Best Sports Licensee: Jakks Pacific (for Ultimate Fighting Championship)

Promotion

Best Licensed Promotion: Dove Glee (for All by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.)

Retailer

Best Retailer: Boots (for Strictly Come Dancing)

Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year

Toy Story 3 (by The Walt Disney Company)