The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has revealed this year’s nominees for the 2012 International Licensing Excellence Awards.

The awards, which recognize outstanding creativity and performance in trademark licensing, will be announced on June 12 during the Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas.

The 85 nominees from a record 270 entries were selected from the following categories: Art or Design, Character or Toy, Corporate Brand, Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment, Sports or Sports-themed Entertainment, Licensed Promotion and Retailer of the Year.

The nominees include:

Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Hard Goods:

Added Extras, Hello Kitty/cosmetics & bath products
Commonwealth Toy & Novelty, Angry Birds/toy and novelty products
CSS Industries, Angry Birds/Halloween costumes
Fashion Angels Enterprises, Monster High Monster Maker Machine
K’NEX Brands, Mario Kart Wii Building Sets

Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year – Soft Goods:

Fifth Sun , Angry Birds/apparel
Jay Franco and Sons, Mickey & Minnie/home collection
Mighty Fine, My Little Pony/fashion tee line
SGFootwear, Pillow Pets/slipper collection

Best Character or Toy Brand Program of the Year:

Angry Birds, Rovio Entertainment
Hello Kitty, Sanrio
Lalaloopsy, MGA Entertainment
Monster High, Mattel
Moshi Monsters, Mind Candy
Paul Frank, Saban Brands

Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Program of the Year:

Disney, Pixar Cars 2, The Walt Disney Company
Justin Bieber, Bravado International Group
One Direction, Global Merchandising Services/Rights Management International
Peppa Pig, Entertainment One
Sofia Vergara Collection, Latin World Entertainment
The Biggest Loser, NBC Studios and Reveille/Joy Tashjian Marketing Group, Consumer Strategies, Ladder Up Media

Best Licensed Promotion of the Year:

Coca-Cola Walmart Holiday Pallet Train, The Coca-Cola Company/Brand Licensing Team
Hello Kitty Beauty at Sephora, Sanrio
M•A•C Wonder Woman Collection, DC Comics/Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Mater’s Secret Mission, The Walt Disney Company
Pillow Pets Slippers at Walmart, CJ Products/The Wildflower Group/SGFootwear

Best Overall Licensed Program of the Year:

Angry Birds, Rovio Entertainment
Dena, Dena Designs/Alex Meisel
Jelly Belly, Jelly Belly Candy Company/The Licensing Company North America
Justin Bieber, Bravado International Group
NBA, National Basketball Association

For a complete list of the nominees in each award category, please click here