A Brave Little ‘Duckling’ Teaches a Heartwarming Human Lesson

Elmer Duckling would rather paint a picture, read a book or put on puppet shows than play baseball, and that makes him different; he’s got the bruises and hurt feelings to show how his classmates feel about that.

In HBO’s animated special “The Sissy Duckling,” however, Elmer follows his own heart until knee-jerk prejudices, bullying and intolerance give way to acceptance.

Sharon Stone narrates this earnest “Ugly Duckling” spinoff; the cartoon, voiced by a star-studded cast, was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein.

Fierstein lends his deep rasp to Elmer; other cast members are Ed Asner, Dan Butler, Andy Dick, Melissa Etheridge, Estelle Getty, Debi Mazar, Kathy Najimy, Stephen Root and Dionne Warwick.

With Mama Duck (Etheridge) offering him moral support, Father Duck (Asner) making no secret that his son is a disappointment and classmates led by bully Drake (Butler) calling him “sissy” and ganging up on him after school, Elmer has a hard time indeed.

Trying to fit in but miserable, Elmer finally takes off into the woods alone. When Father Duck is wounded by a hunter, though, and can’t migrate south for the winter, it’s Elmer’s bravery and his particular creative and nurturing gifts that see them both through and win respect when the flock returns in the spring.

Fierstein’s heartfelt messages come through loud and clear: We all are different, whether on the outside or on the inside; name-calling and bullying are wrong and say more about the perpetrator than the target; be true to your heart, no matter what people say.

* “The Sissy Duckling” on HBO tonight at 7:15; repeats Thursday, 6:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m.; Sept. 22, 3:15 p.m.; Sept. 26, 1:15 p.m.; Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m. TV-Y7 (may be unsuitable for children younger than 7).