Tomboy is an educational Canadian short animation film that debuted in 2009 on CBC

CBC Television

CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...

. It is a 14 minute 2D animated video/movie that follows a day in the life of an elementary school Latina Canadian girl named Alex, as she maneuvers her way through the obstacles of being a gender neutral tomboy who wears unisex clothes and has short hair. This film explores issues of gender expression, bullying and diversity in a very sensitive way, bringing light to the issues that surround children, through the choices they make, and the emotional repercussions that follow. Tomboy

Tomboy

A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...

  is based on the book Are You a Boy or a Girl?, by author Karleen Pendleton Jimenez, which was a finalist in the Lambda Literary Awards 2000 (U.S.).

Production

Tomboy was developed by filmmaker Barb Taylor and Karleen Pendleton Jiménez in association with Coyle Productions. On its initial debut after being completed Tomboy

Tomboy

A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...

  was the recipient of the CBC Canadian Reflections Award (2006), Jury Award & Audience Award, Short Animation, Reeling Festival (2008), Best of Festival, Austin Women’s Film and Literary Festival (2008), Jury Award Up and Coming Toronto Film Maker, Inside Out Festival (2008), KIDS FIRST! Best Award! (2009), Best Animation, Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (2009), Jury Award Animation, Orlando Hispanic Film Festival (2009), Best Web Animation, Savannah Animation Festival (2010).

Characters and cast

Main Article: List of Tomboy

Tomboy

A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...

film characters

• Alex (Athena Karkanis
  Athena Karkanis
  Athena Irene Karkanis is a Canadian actress best-known for her role on The Best Years as fictitious Dominican-American actress Dawn Vargaz.-Filmography:*Chappelle's Show .... Caller...
  
  ) is the tomboy girl who finds it difficult to be who she wants to be, when the other kids start making fun of her and calling her a boy, and questioning her femininity. Even though she tries to stand up for herself, Alex finds it hard to be different in a world where being the same is more readily accepted than being different.
• Mom (Alex Castillo) is Alex’s caring and supportive mom who assures her it's ok to be herself. Mom comforts Alex by letting her know that history is filled with people who are picked on for being different, but in the end, it’s not what others think that will make her special or successful… What's important is that she's doing what makes her happy and is right for her.
• Postman (Michael Cohen
  Michael Cohen
  Michael Cohen may refer to:*Michael Cohen , Director of the Graduate Program in International Affairs at The New School*Michael Cohen , a Canadian actor...
  
  ) is the whistling mailman who mistakes Alex for a boy, after complimenting her on her excellent whistling… Oops!
• Teacher (Sandi Ross) is the well informed politically correct teacher who teaches her class how to deal with each others fairly and without discriminating.
• Berto (Julie Lemieux
  Julie Lemieux
  -Character voices:Julie Lemieux has provided the voice for characters such as Sammy Tsukino and Young Sapphire in Sailor Moon, Darien Shields in Sailor Moon R the Movie: Promise of the Rose, and Peruru in Sailor Moon Supers the Movie: Black Dream Hole. She has also played Funshine Bear Care Bears:...
  
  ) is the outspoken boy who believes that girls should be girls and that Alex is as confused as he is about whether she is a girl or a boy. But most importantly, he believes that if Alex is a girl, she should not be playing soccer with the boys at recess.
• Kareem (Orville Maciel) is the well intentioned boy who doesn’t know what side to take in the identity crisis dilemma that his friend Alex seems to be having at school. And even though he is uncomfortable with Alex being picked on, he doesn't know what to think or do. So when asked for his advice by Alex he gives her the best advice he can, which doesn’t help at all.
• Kati (Aaryn Doyle
  Aaryn Doyle
  Aaryn Élan Doyle is a Canadian actress, voice actor, singer, rapper, songwriter, dancer, and model. She is best known for her role as Lola Scott in the Disney Channel Original Movie "Camp Rock" performing her feature song "What it Takes"...
  
  ) is the princess that Alex talks about rescuing when the movie opens… But in the end princess Kati comes to Alex’s rescue in the school playground, explaining to the very opinionated Dionne; that there is nothing wrong with Alex’s short hair. In fact, it's OK if Alex likes to play sports with the boys, or chooses to wear clothes that don't look girly.
• Dionne (Rebecca Brenner) is the blond, doll-toting girly girl who's somewhat of a bully at school. Dionne likes to stir things up with her opinions and complains constantly about how un-girly Alex is and that she needs to change her ways if she is to ever fit in.