Madagascar is an American media franchise of DreamWorks Animation. The voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith are featured in the films. It began in 2005 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, followed by Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in 2008 and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted in 2012. A spin-off film featuring the penguins, titled Penguins of Madagascar, was released in 2014. A fourth main film, Madagascar 4, was announced for 2018, but has since been removed from its schedule indefinitely due to the studio's restructuring in 2015.
The overall plot through the series follows the adventures of four anthropomorphic Central Park Zoo animals who have spent their lives in blissful captivity and are unexpectedly shipped back to Kenya initially but are shipwrecked on an uninhabited Madagascar. Now they must struggle to survive while attempting to return to New York City with the help of a crafty cadre of Adélie penguins and with many other characters along the way. The franchise's films have received mixed-to-positive critical reviews.
Films Film U.S. release date Directors Screenwriters Story by Producer(s) Main series Madagascar Tom McGrath & Eric Darnell Tom McGrath, Mark Burton, Eric Darnell & Billy Frolick Mireille Soria Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Etan Cohen, Tom McGrath & Eric Darnell Mark Swift & Mireille Soria Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell & Conrad Vernon Eric Darnell & Noah Baumbach Spin-off Penguins of Madagascar Eric Darnell & Simon J. Smith John Aboud, Brandon Sawyer & Michael Colton John Aboud, Brent Simons, Michael Colton & Alan Schoolcraft Lara Breay & Mark Swift
Main films Madagascar (2005) Madagascar is a 2005 animated comedy film and the first film in the series. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, the film tells the story of four Central Park Zoo animals: Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith). These animals have spent their lives in comfortable captivity and are unexpectedly shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar.
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $532 million worldwide.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is a 2008 animated comedy/adventure film and the sequel to the 2005 film Madagascar. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, the film continues the adventures of Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria, who try to fly back to New York, but they crash-land in Kenya, where Alex is reunited with his parents Zuba (Bernie Mac) and Florrie (Sherri Shepherd). However, Zuba's rival Makunga (Alec Baldwin) is plotting to overthrow Zuba as alpha lion of his pride.
The film grossed over $603 million worldwide, which is higher than its predecessor.
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is a 2012 animated comedy film, and the third installment in the series, directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, along with Conrad Vernon. Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman are still struggling to get home to New York. This time, their journey takes them to Europe where they purchase a failing traveling circus as they become close friends with the staff like Stefano the sea lion (Martin Short), Vitaly the tiger (Bryan Cranston), Gia the jaguar (Jessica Chastain) and Sonya the bear (Frank Welker), King Julien's (Sacha Baron Cohen) true love. Together, they spectacularly revitalize the business even as the fanatical Monaco Animal Control officer Captain Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) relentlessly pursues them. In the end, the zoo animals finally get back to New York, only to find that they have grown too much in spirit to return to captivity and decide to stay with the circus instead.
The film grossed over $746 million worldwide, and was the highest-grossing film in the series.
Untitled fourth Madagascar film (TBA)
DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said in December 2010 that a fourth installment in the franchise was likely, stating: "Ultimately they will come back to New York, and they will come to terms with that, which they will do in this next chapter. Because of the way that movie concludes there's probably one more for them." However, in June 2012, DreamWorks Animation's head of worldwide marketing, Anne Globe, said, "It's too early to tell. There hasn't been a lot of discussion about that." A month later, Eric Darnell, who co-directed all three films, spoke about the possibility of the fourth film, noting, "Two things have to happen. One is that the world has to want Madagascar 4, because if they don't want it, it doesn't matter what we do. And the other thing is even if the world wants Madagascar 4, we have to make sure that we have an idea that is incredible, that is great, that is unexpected. If the audience wants it and we have a great idea, we will see – maybe." In June 2014, Madagascar 4 was scheduled to be released on May 18, 2018. In January 2015, the film was removed from the release schedule following a corporate restructuring and DreamWorks Animation's new policy to release two films a year. In April 2017, Tom McGrath stated about the film: "There are things in the works, nothing is announced yet, but I think they'll show their faces once more..." In January 2026, McGrath stated that DreamWorks still wants to make a fourth Madagascar film as long as there is a good story to tell.
Spin-off film Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
A spin-off film featuring the penguins had been in the works since 2005, when the first Madagascar film had been released, with a release date planned for 2009. In March 2011, it was announced that the penguin characters would be given their own feature film, similar to the 2011 Puss in Boots movie, to be directed by Simon J. Smith (the co-director of Bee Movie), produced by Lara Breay and written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons (the writers of DreamWorks' Megamind). In July 2012, at Comic-Con, it was announced that the film, titled The Penguins of Madagascar, would be released in 2015. Robert Schooley, one of the producers of The Penguins series, said that the film will be unrelated to the TV series of the same name, but he did say that could always change. In September 2012, 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation announced the release date for March 27, 2015, and a new pair of writers, Michael Colton and John Aboud. In August 2013, it was reported that Benedict Cumberbatch would voice Agent Classified from the North Wind and John Malkovich the film's charming villain, Dr. Octavius Brine/Dave. On May 20, 2014, the film's release date was moved up to November 26, 2014, switching places with DreamWorks Animation's other film Home.
The film, despite grossing $374 million worldwide on a $132 million budget, underperformed at the box office, causing DreamWorks Animation to take a $57.1 million write-down on behalf of the film, along with another underperforming DreamWorks Animation film released earlier that year, Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
Television series
The Penguins of Madagascar (2008–2015) The Penguins of Madagascar is an animated spin-off television series that aired on Nickelodeon. The series follows the adventures of the four penguins: Skipper (the leader of the group), Kowalski (the smartest), Rico (the craziest) and Private (the youngest) after the events of the second film in New York City's Central Park Zoo. The penguins rule the roost at their Central Park habitat, carrying out secret missions in the heart of the city. At times, their missions beckon them to venture outside the zoo. King Julien is also a resident of the zoo (though it is unknown how he, Maurice, and Mort got there) and the penguins must compete against him to maintain order in the zoo. While Tom McGrath, John DiMaggio, Conrad Vernon and Andy Richter reprised their roles as Skipper, Rico, Mason and Mort respectively, Jeff Bennett replaced Chris Miller as Kowalski, James Patrick Stuart replaced Christopher Knights as Private, Danny Jacobs replaced Sacha Baron Cohen as Julien and Kevin Michael Richardson replaced Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice. The series also features several new characters, including Marlene, an otter voiced by Nicole Sullivan.
All Hail King Julien (2014–2017) All Hail King Julien is the second animated spin-off television series. It stars King Julien and set before the events of the first film. The series debuted on December 19, 2014, on Netflix, when the first five 22-minute episodes were released. The series features the voices of Danny Jacobs (replacing Sacha Baron Cohen and reprising his role from The Penguins of Madagascar) as King Julien; Henry Winkler as Julien's regal predecessor, Uncle King Julien; Andy Richter as Mort; Kevin Michael Richardson (replacing Cedric the Entertainer and reprising his role from The Penguins of Madagascar) as Maurice; and India de Beaufort as Clover, the king's special-ops expert.
Madagascar: A Little Wild (2020–2022) Madagascar: A Little Wild is the third animated television series that premiered on Hulu and Peacock on September 7, 2020. It's the second prequel in the franchise, centering on the younger versions of the four main characters that first appeared in Madagascar (2005), and the first television series in the franchise starring them (though Alex has made one-off appearances in previous series).
Short films The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005) The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper is an animated short film, which premiered in theaters on October 7, 2005, with the stop-motion film, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The short was directed by animation veteran Gary Trousdale, produced by Teresa Cheng, and written by Michael Lachance. Set on Christmas Eve, the 12-minute film features four penguins from Central Park Zoo who discover that one of them has gone missing.
Madly Madagascar (2013) Madly Madagascar is a direct-to-DVD Valentine's Day-themed short film released on January 29, 2013, starring all the main characters from the Madagascar film series. The story appears to take place some time before the end of the second film. It featured many of the same voice actors as the films, including Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith. However, voice actor Danny Jacobs once again replaced Sacha Baron Cohen as the voice of the character King Julien. Its plot centers around King Julien who finds a love potion and starts selling it to members of the watering hole, including Marty who instantly becomes attractive to all the females. Skipper and the penguins organize a rescue mission for his doll girlfriend and Melman tries to make his first Valentines Day with Gloria special.
All Hail King Julien: New Year's Eve Countdown (2017) All Hail King Julien: New Year's Eve Countdown is a three-minute animated film about celebrating the new year in Madagascar.
All Hail King Julien: Happy Birthday to You (2017) All Hail King Julien: Happy Birthday to You is a one-minute animated special.
Television special Merry Madagascar (2009) Merry Madagascar is a Christmas special first broadcast on NBC in November 2009, which starred the characters from the Madagascar film series. The story appears to take place sometime between the first and second films. It featured many of the same voice actors as the films, including Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith. However, voice actor Danny Jacobs replaced Sacha Baron Cohen as the voice of the character King Julien. Carl Reiner provided the voice of Santa Claus. Santa Claus crash lands in his sleigh on Madagascar and loses his memory after Alex shoots him down, leaving him, Marty, Gloria and Melman to be Santa for the night. King Julien realizes that Christmas is about giving and not receiving.
Cast and characters