MADAGASCAR!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good Morning! Today we are looking into the super fun film; “Madagascar” on it’s 21st anniversary! I was even lucky enough to ask famous comedian Cedric the Entertainer who voiced Maurice in the film a couple of questions!

“Madagascar” arrived in theaters in 2005 and quickly became one of DreamWorks Animation’s biggest comedy hits. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, the film followed four pampered zoo animals from New York who suddenly find themselves stranded on the wild island of Madagascar. The movie mixed fast-paced jokes, colorful animation, and a soundtrack packed with energy, helping it stand out during a competitive era for animated films. One of the film’s funniest running gags came from the mischievous penguins, who became so popular that they eventually received their own spin-off projects.

The idea for the film grew out of DreamWorks’ interest in making a comedy centered around animals reacting to life outside captivity. Early concepts went through major changes before the studio settled on the final lineup of Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippo. The filmmakers wanted the movie to feel like a classic buddy comedy mixed with a road-trip adventure. Animators also studied real animal behavior while exaggerating movements for humor, which gave the characters their exaggerated personalities. The wild dance scenes and cartoony facial expressions became a major part of the film’s identity.

A huge part of the movie’s success came from its voice cast, including Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and Jada Pinkett Smith. Cedric the Entertainer voiced Maurice, the patient but sarcastic aye-aye who often found himself dealing with King Julien’s chaos. Cedric gave the character a laid-back personality that balanced perfectly against the louder performances around him. His chemistry with Sacha Baron Cohen’s wildly energetic King Julien helped create some of the movie’s most memorable scenes, especially once audiences began quoting “I like to move it, move it” everywhere.

Critically, “Madagascar” received a mixed-to-positive response at release, but audiences embraced its humor and memorable characters almost immediately. The film earned over $500 million worldwide and launched a major franchise that included sequels, television specials, video games, and theme park attractions. Over time, many viewers have come to appreciate how unapologetically cartoonish the movie was compared to more realistic animated films of the era. More than twenty years later, “Madagascar” still feels energetic and playful, proving that a strange idea about zoo animals escaping New York could become one of DreamWorks’ defining animated worlds.

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: What was it like working on “Madagascar”?

Cedric: One of the biggest surprise money makers of my career!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Cedric: “Always be your authentic self!” - Steve Harvey

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo