The toy and game industry has lost a bright and beloved figure.
Julien Mayot, co-founder of Blue Orange Games, was a creative force whose passion for play, infectious energy, and generous spirit left a lasting mark on everyone he met. From his early days introducing Gobblet to retailers with boundless enthusiasm to helping make Spot It! a global phenomenon, Julien built more than a company — he built connections, friendships, and joy that stretched across the world.
Known for his warmth and unmistakable French charm, Julien had a gift for making everyone feel like part of the Blue Orange family. Whether greeting colleagues on the Toy Fair floor, celebrating the day’s success with a glass of champagne, or simply sharing a laugh with friends, he embodied the heart and spirit of this industry. Beyond his work, he was a talented musician, a loyal friend, and a constant source of positivity and inspiration.
Julien’s creativity and kindness touched the lives of countless people. His legacy continues in the games that bring people together and in the community that now celebrates his life and impact.
What follows are reflections from those who knew him best — friends and colleagues who remember not only his accomplishments, but the light and laughter he brought to every moment.
“For the better part of three decades, Blue Orange Games — designed by Julien and the team — has dominated our early childhood game departments, serving more than 50 million families with delight, learning, bravery, heart, and a deep commitment to good toys.
The Blue Orange team traveled all over the U.S. and Canada to show up in every local store, teach how to play and sell games, and bring a joyous spirit and humor that left beloved feelings in our hearts, too.
It is a sad day and such a loss for us all.”
— Heather Smith, President, The Good Toy Group
“It feels like just yesterday, Julien was selling his first game, Gobblet, out of the trunk of his car — charming every local toy shop with that big smile and his unmistakable French accent, proudly saying, ‘Please play Go-blet.’ I’ll never forget watching him turn Spot It! into a true household name. I used to text him photos from my kids’ birthday parties, where they’d end up with four copies of Spot It! — all from different classmates. That’s how much joy his work brought to families everywhere.
Julien, Dan Rowen, Brian Turtle, Alexander Provda, and I all started out together — just a bunch of kids hanging with Kevin McNulty from Endless Games at the Pomona Fairplex Toy Show. We’d work tiny booths by day, close down the Sheraton bar by night, dreaming big and talking toys. Those were magical days, and Julien’s passion made them shine even brighter.
What many might not know is that Julien wasn’t just a brilliant toy guy — he was also a great drummer. We had a band together, Toy Trainwreck, and just a few years ago, we even performed at the TAGIE Awards. I’ll always treasure those moments — the laughter, the music, the friendship.
Julien, your creativity, your energy, and your heart touched so many lives. You’ll be deeply missed, my friend.”
— Matt Nuccio, Design Edge
“For a tiny Frenchman, Julien Mayot was as large and as bright as the sun. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious. I beat him in a game of Gobblet once, and it was like beating Bobby Fischer in a chess match. Always the gentleman, Julien simply said (in his smooth French accent), ‘You are getting very good at this game, Mister Brian.’ I never really understood why he added the ‘Mister’ when he addressed me by name, but I wore it like a badge of honor.
Julien would close out each day at Toy Fair with champagne in the Blue Orange booth. He’d always welcome me in to celebrate the day’s success and talk about games. In retrospect, it’s fitting that he’d sign off with a toast — a moment to acknowledge this great industry and the people in it. He was one of the best in the business, and today I am thinking of him as I raise my glass in his memory.”
— Brian Turtle, Goliath/Pressman
“I first met Julien Mayot when I was a retail buyer at Wizards of the Coast/Game Keeper, and he was launching Gobblet in the U.S. for Blue Orange. Our shared Frenchness and love of aviation led us to a long and trusting friendship. Julien was a smart and entrepreneurial spirit — curious, daring, and full of joy for every new adventure. He had a rare combination of vision, kindness, and generosity that inspired everyone around him. I will miss him.”
— Stephan Brissaud, All About Games Consulting / WorldWise Imports
“I so distinctly remember the first time I met Julien at Toy Fair, with his card table near a pylon on the main floor of the event! His passion for Gobblet and his excitement to share it with everyone were undeniable. He was so creative in his approach to marketing Gobblet — it wasn’t about building a company, it was simply his passion to share an incredible game with as many people as possible and to celebrate the simplicity and ingenuity of its gameplay. It was infectious.
Julien lit up every time he got to demo a game with anyone. His passion for play was so real. I also remember how much he loved Happy Bunny, because he said he would enter the room to find his kids playing the game with no assistance at all. It was like catching them in the act of play, which made him so very happy.”
— Yvonne Fugate, The Collection in Vermont
“Julien Mayot always stood out. With his French accent, his energy, and his absolute love for sharing games, he could pull you in from across an aisle to see what he was excited about — and you were glad he did. At Toy Fair, the Blue Orange booth was always packed, alive with color and laughter, and that spirit came directly from Julien’s leadership.
He brought us iconic games like Gobblet! and Spot It!, but more than that, he helped create the concept of in-store demo experiences. Blue Orange was one of the first companies to provide dedicated, color-coded demo tables and stands that made their products stand out and invited play right in our stores. It wasn’t just clever merchandising — it was a reflection of Julien’s belief that games are meant to be shared, not just sold.
Julien’s enthusiasm, creativity, and joy touched so many of us in the toy industry. He will be deeply missed, but his influence and spirit will continue to inspire play for years to come.”
— Gwen Ottenberg, Imagine That Toys
Julie always showed up for his friends.
A few years ago, I was meeting with Julien to discuss a game concept, and he remembered that the next day was a significant birthday. He asked if I was doing anything special. I told him I was actually flying down to the LA toy show in the morning, and for my birthday party that night, Ben Dermer and I had concocted this idea of renting a party bus, loading it with guitars, portable amps, and beer, and creating a band with Benny, Nuccio, and some of our musician toy industry friends. The plan was to cruise around LA, jamming and looking for crowded street corners to hop out and play a set, but unfortunately, I just heard that our drummer couldn’t make it, so it wasn’t going to be as rock ‘n’ roll. He shook his head and said, “Well, have a great time anyway and happy birthday.”
The next morning, I was at the airport, and I got a call from Julien wishing me a happy birthday and asking when I was flying out. “ I’m just boarding now,” I told him. “ Me too,” he said. I looked up to see him cut in line in front of me, holding a pair of drumsticks, carrying a set of electric portable drums, and wearing that mischievous grin. He said, “Mind if I join the band?”
We had an epic night together as we all drove from Venice to Hollywood, Julien pounding out the beat, spinning his sticks after a drum roll, and giving me a look like, “You think I would miss this?!” We would hop out on corners, set up, and play a song really quickly, then get back on the bus “before the cops came.” He had a roll of $1 bills and would go up to random people, giving them a dollar if they would watch us play, so we would have a crowd.
At 1 am, everyone was saying goodnight, and Julien asked where I was staying. I told him I was sleeping on a couch in the basement bar of my son’s house — and he said, “Let’s go.” When we got there, one of my son’s UCLA roommates started playing the organ, and Julien set up his drums again. At 4 am, we finally crashed on the couches, feeling like cool college kids, enjoying the spontaneity of it all, and fell asleep still smiling.
Every time we got together was special.
Julien had a magical ability to connect and enjoy the moment — and when you were around him, that quality was infectious.
We played music together, we played games together, we traveled together, we windsurfed together, and we enjoyed family time together. I will be picturing him, and missing him, in all those moments.”
—Dan Klitsner, K.I.D Group
“Was Julien sitting up late in a hotel room thinking, “I know how I can sell more games. I’ll find really cute young guys from France with great personalities and have them travel around the U.S. selling my games.”?
I heard endless stories: “They were so cute, and with that French accent, I couldn’t resist. I way overbought, but hopefully I’ll sell them someday.”
He also brought over Adeline Beatrix, a graduate student from France. She went on to become one of the top salespeople in specialty toys.
With the Blue Orange team, Julien had an amazing eye for talent.
He also had an amazing eye for product. Spot It became one of the decade’s biggest hits. It was the genius of Julien’s sales and marketing that made it so.
He was always ready to try something new. Remember the wooden Blue Orange game floor displays? Remember using proceeds from game sales to replant rubber trees in Asia?
If Julien had an idea that needed implementing… sign me up. I loved his creative mind.
I also loved the passion he brought to everything he did. I truly enjoyed working with him. He was a titan in the specialty toy industry.
As you can see from all these testimonials, he touched so many of us in a profound way and will be sorely missed.”
— Sandy Ruben, Sandy Ruben and Associates
Julien and I started our journeys in the toy industry in late 1999/early 2000. Back then, we both had single-product game companies, and the late, great Frank Martin placed us side by side in his aisle at the Pomona show, now known as ToyFest.
Surrounded by industry veterans and emerging inventors, I watched Julien demonstrate Gobblet with a blend of passion and confidence that defined him. He quickly built Blue Orange Games into a strong, diverse line of titles, while I did the same with Playroom Entertainment. Each year, we looked forward to seeing the new developments in each other’s product lines.
Julien and I shared a deep love for this industry with a zeal for great games that were fun, engaging, and truly brought people together. I always admired his innovative style, his commitment to quality, and his ability to grow into broader markets without ever losing sight of the specialty retailers who supported him from the start.
He also pioneered a memorable sales approach: recruiting teams of young, good-looking French students, bringing them to the U.S., and sending them on the road to visit every store they could. With their enthusiasm, charm, and unmistakable accents — paired with Julien’s training — they became an incredibly effective and beloved force behind Blue Orange’s growth.
Some of my favorite memories with Julien come from our time together at trade shows across the U.S. and around the world — including celebrating the wedding of colleagues on an island in the South of France.
We both sold our companies after about 18 years, but I was saddened when Julien chose to step away from the industry. I was proud to call him a friend, and I’m deeply heartbroken by his passing at such a young age. His influence, his kindness, and his impact on our industry will be long remembered.
— Dan Rowen, Prime 3D / Playroom Entertainment
Julien’s legacy is one of joy, friendship, and creativity — the very ideals that make this industry special. The Toy Book team joins the global toy and game community in honoring his memory and celebrating the playfulness he shared with the world.
You can view and share memories of Julien at Kudoboard.
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