Cover for the film, Tegan the Vegan featuring a bunch of claymation characters

Tegan the Vegan

13m

NR

2010

Last Updated: 13 August 2021Published On: 5 August 2021

Tegan the Vegan is the story of a 12-year-old who faces intolerance and peer pressure as she struggles to follow her heart.

Cover for the film, Tegan the Vegan featuring a bunch of claymation characters

Tegan the Vegan

13m

NR

2010

Last Updated: 13 August 2021Published On: 5 August 2021

Tegan the Vegan is the story of a 12-year-old who faces intolerance and peer pressure as she struggles to follow her heart.

Cover for the film, Tegan the Vegan featuring a bunch of claymation characters

Tegan the Vegan

13m

NR

2010

Last Updated: 13 August 2021Published On: 5 August 2021

Tegan the Vegan is the story of a 12-year-old who faces intolerance and peer pressure as she struggles to follow her heart.

NOTES FROM THE FILMMAKERS

Synopsis

Tegan is 12, in love with the coolest boy in class, and just found out where meat comes from. Tegan struggles against her friends, her teachers, and her family in her attempts to stay true to her heart, and at 12 years old – that’s no mean feat!

Tegan The Vegan began life as a 12-minute short animated film that won lots of awards a film festivals around the world. She is getting ready to expand her world due to her popularity, so keep an eye on our favorite Vegan!

The film is about one girl’s journey into veganism, about her efforts to stay true to her beliefs in the face of adversity from peers and teachers, and tolerance – why does anyone care what she eats if she’s healthy.

Tegan loves animals. Her ‘totem’ animal is a turtle – it can be seen all over Tegan’s spaces (her phone screensaver, her jumper, her costume to the party). Green is her safe color (the spaces where she is comfortable and confident such as her home and Tofurama). It is only when Tegan is able to ‘come out of her shell’ and stand up for her beliefs that she finds her happiness.

About the Filmmakers

Tegan the Vegan was created and produced by Marisa Martin of EoR Media: Enemies of Reality. Find out more about the film at www.teganthevegan.net.

Critic Reviews

“Tegan inhabits a simple world of bright colours and rustic charm. Her brother, Dorian, is irritating and her best friend Elenore is blond, blue-eyed, and simpers at Trent with the confidence that comes with being the prettiest girl in class. Her idyllic life is shattered one day when she makes the connection between meat and animals and vows never to eat meat again. Not only does she have to face the cruel reality of animal suffering, but her friends turn on her with mocking spite, egged on by the schoolteacher, purple-haired and odious Mrs. Poodle, played by Noni Hazelhurst. Hazlehurst also plays Tegan’s mother, the polar opposite of Mrs. Poodle. Her response to Tegan’s declaration that she cannot eat anything that comes from animals is to explain what veganism is and conclude calmly that, “we’ll figure something out.” They do, and Tegan’s courage in sticking to her principles and being true to herself win Trent’s heart and the respect of her schoolmates. But the film is much more than clay boy meets clay girl, it’s a witty and magical study of social exclusion and prejudice that resonates with children and adults alike.” – Jacky Sutton. Her Canberra. Tegan the Vegan – A Short Film About Love and Courage. 24 June 2014

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