Madagascar (franchise)

Madagascar
Franchise title as seen in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
Created by	Mark Burton Billy Frolick Tom McGrath Eric Darnell
Original work	Madagascar (2005)
Owners	DreamWorks Animation (Universal Pictures)
Years	2005–present
Films and television
Film(s)	Madagascar (2005) Escape 2 Africa (2008) Europe's Most Wanted (2012) Spin-off film(s): Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
Short film(s)	The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper (2005) Madly Madagascar (2013)
Animated series	The Penguins of Madagascar (2008–2015) All Hail King Julien (2014–2017) Madagascar: A Little Wild (2020–2022)
Television special(s)	Merry Madagascar (2009)
Theatrical presentations
Play(s)	Madagascar Live! (2011–2013)
Musical(s)	Madagascar: The Musical (2018)
Games
Video game(s)	Madagascar (2005) Operation Penguin (2005) Escape 2 Africa (2008) Madagascar Kartz (2009) The Penguins of Madagascar (2010) The Penguins of Madagascar: Dr. Blowhole Returns – Again! (2011) Madagascar 3: The Video Game (2012) Penguins of Madagascar (2014) DreamWorks Universe of Legends (2017) DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing (2023)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)	Madagascar (2005) Escape 2 Africa (2008) Europe's Most Wanted (2012) Spin-off film soundtrack(s): Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
Miscellaneous
Theme park attraction(s)	Madagascar: A Crate Adventure (2011–2022) King Julien's Beach Party-Go-Round (2011–2022) Madagascar Madness (2012–2023)
Official website
https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/madagascar

Madagascar is an American media franchise owned and produced by DreamWorks Animation. The voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith are featured in the films. It began with the 2005 film Madagascar, the 2008 sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and the third film 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.

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 Africa (to Madagascar initially). Now they must struggle to survive while attempting to return to New York City with the help of a crafty cadre of penguins and with many other characters along the way. The franchise's films have received mixed-to-positive critical reviews.