Madagascar
They weren't born in the wild... They were shipped there.
Overview
Four animal friends get a taste of the wild life when they break out of captivity at the Central Park Zoo and wash ashore on the island of Madagascar.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Madagascar (2005) is based on the real-life Central Park Zoo in New York City. However, the film creatively fictionalizes the zoo animals' lives before being relocated to the zoo. The story also highlights the importance of nature conservation and the challenges faced by endangered species.
- The film offers humorous and entertaining dialogue, combined with a heartwarming storyline that appeals to both children and adults.
- Madagascar's unique blend of computer-animated visuals creates a visually stunning and immersive experience for the viewers.
- The movie showcases an engaging mix of adventure, comedy, and character development, keeping the audience engaged throughout.
Fun Facts
- In the movie, Alex the lion's favorite food is steak, a nod to Marlon Brando who provided his voice. Brando was famously known for his love for steaks.
- The character King Julien XIII is named after the long line of kings in Madagascar, with the number 13 being included as a tribute to filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who executive produced the movie.
- The penguins' repeated attempts to reach Antarctica are based on a true story of African penguins at the Cape Town Aquarium that had been trying to escape for several years.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"They weren't born in the wild... They were shipped there."
Français
FR
Title: Madagascar
"La vie sauvage, ce n'est pas pour eux."
Deutsch
DE
Title:
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Pусский
RU
Title: Мадагаскар
"«Кто-то Выпустил на Свободу Целый Зоопарк»"
Italiano
IT
Title: Madagascar
""
svenska
SE
Title: Madagaskar
""
Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
A surprisingly good and very funny movie. I laughed throughout this movie. Great family movie.
"Alex" the lion is quite literally king of the castle at the Central Park zoo in New York. He even has his own, built in, tanning machine. His pals, though - well they are not so enamoured of the place. After an encounter with the penguins doing their best to tunnel to Antarctica, "Marty" the zebra yearns for the wild and decides the best he can do is a train to Connecticut. When his friends discover that he has done a bunk, "Gloria" (the hippo), "Melman" (the giraffe) and "Alex" set off in hot pursuit. They don't get very far but inadvertently they do get their wish - the humans decide that these creatures should be free and so off they are shipped. En route, the pesky penguins realise that Africa is no use to them so they commandeer the ship and divert it to chillier climes. Not before, however, the crates carrying our intrepid travellers topple overboard and end up on the island of Madagascar. There they discover the population of lemurs ruled with a rod of lettuce by "King Julius" and terrorised by the local foussa (think very small lions). Of course when we hear the animals speak, we hear words. When the other creatures hear "Alex" it is a mighty roar - just what the lemurs need to keep their foes at bay. Will the visitors settle in, or miss their home comforts and want to head back home? Will their more natural instincts start to kick in and start to test the strength of their friendships? Although there is, for me at any rate, just way too much relentless dialogue - especially from the giraffe and the zebra, this is a fun family adventure with loads of action, some enjoyable pith from quite a witty and observational script and, of course, we have the message for all to adhere to about loyalty and friendship etc... The jungle animations are fun and there are not too many songs to clutter up the steady pace of the proceedings. Makes you wonder just how many animals in a zoo would actually want to be repatriated to the wild (assuming they were ever there in the first place!) to fend for themselves!
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
Haven't Nominated for Oscar
Media
Clip
Swimming Back to New York Extended Preview
Clip
Madagascar (2005) - Caught in Grand Central Station Scene (1/10) | Movieclips
Trailer
Trailer